Eventing Tails

[Tdeventer]

I used to pull the top of my horses tail but I have started shaving the tail (because it is easier on me and the horse) and was wondering which do most people do. Which do the upper level riders do more often? Is one more correct than the other way?

I always cut the tail at the middle of the tendon to which usually looks correct. Does anyone do anything Different?

To see my horses tails go to www.tristareventing.com

[vbunny]

I prefer the look of a pulled tail and most traditionalists do too. That said, I have had horses that needed to have their tail shaved due to sensitivity or conformation issues. I know plenty of people who shave their horses tails at all levels. i think after a certain point you need to do what works for you and your horse.

[yellowbritches]

I prefer to shave. I TRY to use a closer setting (I have adjustable clippers, so I try to use at least the #15 or the #30). I really can't bring myself to pull, and on quite a few of our horses- who are very mannerly, don't get me wrong- might kick my teeth in! :lol:

I don't know what most upper level riders do, but I know what the one I work for does, and we shave. I think all our horses look pretty good. :yes:

[MTshowjumper]

The upper level rider I used to work for also clipped the tails. I was always terrified to do it because I was afraid I was going over do it and ruin his 4 star horses tail, at that point I would have been drug behind the barn and shot so no pressure!

[Sightunseen]

We all pull, unless the horse is unusually bad...i.e. drugs and or sedation is not effective, but we have had an occasional horse that just looks better with a clipped tail. Basically it just depends. There has been this huge trend at least out here in ca towards doing nothing, no clipping, pulling, or banging. Mainly at lower levels, but it is weird....

[KBG Eventer]

I get an experienced person to clip the top. I should do it myself but know too many people who really screwed the tail up doing it on their own.

I have heard many upper level riders are very against clipping. It is true...once you start then it is hard to go back. If you decide to let the tail grow out again it looks gross. I just make sure to keep up with it all the time so my horse's tail never gets a toilet brush scrubber look at the top. A good pulling job looks nice, but I did not even know people did that until AFTER I started getting to the tops of my horse's tail clipped. And I like I said...it looks bad growing out after clipping.

[roki143]

IMO it looks funny when they grow out after pulling also. I was in a barn where we ONLY pulled, but since moving, I've found that a good clip job does the job just as well - and much easier on my horses behind and no hoof prints on my boobs! :eek:

[agromustang]

What is the reasoning behind clipping/pulling tails for eventers? Is there a practical application? I've never done either.

[Flower's Girl]

The numerous BNTs/Advanced eventers I've groomed for have all had me pull tails and would not allow a pair of clippers near their horses' tails for any amount of money!! I would do a modified version with a disposible razor, but never never clippers. Sorry to those who do, but I was introduced to eventing as a groom for my first BNT and the evils of clipping tails has just been drilled into me!! I guess it is ok for the newer eventers, but the old school eventers (the ones that I know anyway) won't hear of it...

Anyway, on MyCoTH, I started a 3 Day Groom group, here is a link to the 'articles' I've writen up so far - there is a section on tails.

http://www.amandadraper.com/amanda/flower/groom_index.htm

[kookicat]

I clip tails. I hate pulling tails- it makes me feel evil.

Actually, my mare went with a plaited tail. It really suited her. :)

[yellowbritches]

Ya know, I've heard the "it takes forever to grow out" argument. But I don't buy it. Our former event horse started doing the big Eq early summer, and had the slight beginnings of new tail growth. By Harrisburg, where he went to Medal finals that year (so, what, 5 months later?) his tail was long enough to braid. I think at the early shows it was gelled down and wrapped until right before he went in. No big deal.

As I was working on a heavily sedated horse's mane today (we were at the vet's so I was taking advantage of all the drugs), and was still having to fight, I can't imagine trying to pull a tail! :eek: He would have made road kill out of me! :lol: I will continue with my clippers...they do a fine job!

[EventerAJ]

I'm not a big fan of the pulling process, but I like the result. Nothing says "4-star" like button braids, a smooth pulled tail and pristine quarter marks in the jog-up. :)

I hate the "toilet-brush" look of a shaved tail. Yeah, some are done nicely...but many aren't, and they ALL look bad growing out. Not to mention the pokey-pricklies as the hair regrows. Ouch. Trying to rehab that raccoon-tail into a pulled masterpiece is an awful experience, no matter how cooperative the horse.

I have known a couple horses who almost seem to like pulling. My mare, she-of-the-fast-hind-feet, will tolerate it after a few threats. However, when it comes between a pulled tail and your life, ;) the tail can do whatever it "does."


Some horses look better natural, though. My old horse has a fat tailbone, and any sort of "shaping" there just looked silly.

[subk]

The numerous BNTs/Advanced eventers I've groomed for have all had me pull tails and would not allow a pair of clippers near their horses' tails for any amount of money!!
Is it any coincident that the same BN riders who wouldn't dream of having anything but a pulled tail seem to be the same ones that have someone else to pull it?

[cheval80]

I also pull tails. If your good at it and do it correctly by pulling a bit every day till it is done, then the majority of horses have no problem with it. I personally think shaved tails look ugly.

A pulled tail enhances the look of a three day horses refined muscle. Along with quarter marks.

[Gry2Yng]

My horse will actually drop when I pull his tail. Done a bit at a time, I haven't had a horse object to it. Even the ones who are FREAKS about their manes are okay to have their tails pulled.

[Carol Ames]

I started pulling,:eek: switched to clipping ,and finally trimmed the long hairs on the sides with good pair of :yes:scissors; Whatever method you use; wet the tail , and apply tali bandage daily!:yes:

[VCT]

agromustang:
Why trim in the first place?
What is the reasoning behind clipping/pulling tails for eventers? Is there a practical application? I've never done either.

I've also wondered if there was a practical or historical reason behind this tradition.

I personally think pulled/shaved/whatever Eventing tails look FUGLY and have no plans to subject any of my horses to it! :)

[Flower's Girl]

Is it any coincident that the same BN riders who wouldn't dream of having anything but a pulled tail seem to be the same ones that have someone else to pull it?

:lol:

'cause they don't want to get kicked!!! ;)

Actually, I have pulled A LOT of tails and I've never had a horse that minded it... I pulled one mare's tail for years with no incident, while her next owner couldn't get it done even with the horse drugged. I just pulled an ungodly amount of hair out of an Irish's horses tail and it was allllll good! There are several tips to follow though... (these are true for tails and manes!)

- don't pull it all out at once (I pull small amounts over weeks or months)
- don't pull out clumps of hair (I pull a few hairs at a time and I do it after the horse has worked if possible, a warm horse with good blood flow = hair comes out eaiser)
- pull 'up' not 'down'!
- when the horse is "done" so am I! Stop and pick it up again the next day.

For a professional look, there is no other way to go. Clipping is fast and easy, but it shows!!!

[three_dayer]

a couple of my horses actually enjoy it...they lift their tails and flop their ears and fall asleep..i think that is weird...i do pull their tails, but one of my horses would shake so i would clip it cause i felt bad...i also had a horse that liked having her tail pulled but I couldnt touch her mane with a ten foot pole...the reason why we clip/pull the horses tails is to refine the horses...i think it brings out the butt..its the same as in hunters when they braid their tails, clean and refined...yes you can braid the tail, that looks just as nice...and if the horses tail is not done properly, it looks bad...i saw one person who had literally shaved the entire dock...yikes, its supposed to look natural...well im off to put my horses tail..not a fun job, my hands ache just thinking about it...