[analise]

goneriding:

this is Pink though I actually use the aerosol version, personally.

[Chardavej]

I love the cowboy magic. Had a horse here that came in with it's tail a solid mass of dreadlock down to the tailbone. Soaked the mat in CM and worked it in with my fingers. Started pulling hair loose from the outside, then massaged and spread the mat, pulled some more, massaged and spread the mat. Let it sit a day and finished it the next day, took about 2 hours but worth it as he has the thickest loveliest tail!

[Frizzle]

Eqyys Detangler is by far my favorite. I do like the Pink Oil, but I don't it's quite as heavy-duty in the detangling department as the Eqyys (although it is quite moisturizing, which I like).

[laughATTACK]

Biosilk - the human hair care product. Works awesome and smells good!

[billiebob]

Vetrolin detangler. I used it on a pony who's tail was completely matted up to his tailbone, and the job got done in about 2 hours. Just got in there with my fingers and picked picked picked. The tail dragged on the ground by about a foot when I was done.

[Shermy]

This is what I use for the BAD tangles. You dont need to use very much at all. Much less than if you use Cowboy Magic. I think it was under $5.

http://www.folica.com/hair-care/hair...zz-shine-serum

* Got2be Glossy Anti Frizz Shine Serum is now called: "Got2b Cosmic Shimmering Serum" - its a made-over version.*

So, it has changed names since I bought it.

Is supposed to be less drying than Cowboy Magic too.

I get it at Wal-greens. I think I am still on my 1st bottle, and it probably has been almost 2 yrs since I got it. I probably will need to get a new bottle for this cockle burr season.

[Plainandtall]

I like baby oil because it works- and the price is so low- you don't hesitate to use a TON... if you just shelled out $20 for some fancy product- you probably aren't going to use the amount you need to penetrate the big knot.

Always work from the bittom up- and I sometimes use a hook/ pick type tool that can dig into parts of the knot too tight for fingers.

I also like that pink product, learned about it here- but I think that it does leave a slightly sticky residue after it's been on there a day or two and it's not quite as slippery as baby oil for working knots.

[Hippolyta]

Does the Cowboy magic leave it oily? Does stuff (dirty, bedding, etc) tend to stick to it?

Cowboy Magic is silicone, so nothing sticks. In fact, everything should slide right off... You can use it on feathers to reduce mud & stuff from sticking. There are a lot of similar products for ppl (like the got2b linked above) that contain the exact same ingredients.

as for brushing vs picking out a tail: growing up, our Morgan & Saddlebred trainer told us that we get a slap for every hair that breaks, so it was always by hand.

Since I no longer live in fear of potential beatings, as a grown-up I pick out my Friesian's thick tail with a spikey brush or comb, using a lot of whatever detangler is around. I am trying to leave it be & only do it once every few weeks to prevent big knots.

Good luck, OP>

[T-storm chick]

I don't know, guys...I've used Cowboy Magic and maybe I did it wrong but I don't think it's all it's cracked up to be. Try Canter Mane and Tail! Way better in my book.
http://www.smartpakequine.com/canter...x?cm_vc=Search
Smells great. Really lasts for about two weeks once you spray it in. To get it to work best, spray on (liberally for a bad knot); let it sit for 5 minutes or so. I have cleaned out tails so solid with burrs you could have driven nails with them this way. (My guy is genius like that...if there is a burr in 100 miles he will find it )
I also had a bad experience with Pink. Tried using it on the same horse to make his tail hair grow. One application and he promptly went outside and rubbed half of the hair out of his dock . Grrr! Again, maybe I goofed or my horse is just weird, but I won't use that stuff again.

[VaqueroToro]

Vetrolin detangler has worked great on some very persistent knots.

This and its cheaper than Cowboy Magic too! Massage it with your hands, then work in small sections to get the knots out with your fingers. Finish up with a brush. Worked well on a itchy pony that ended up turning her tail into something a rabbit would be jealous of. I also use it in the winter when I don't want to spray cold Mane & Tail on my horse to keep his tail snaggle free.

[Mosey_2003]

For a big job like that either baby oil (I like the stuff with vitamin e added, but no biggie) or good old Show Sheen. Completely DRENCH it. Let it sit five minutes or so and start picking it apart from the bottom. I like to use a clean Oster hoof pick (it has a pointy end rather than the normal blunt ones) to start snagging the outsides. Once it's all done use dish soap to wash out and then whatever conditioner you like. There's no sense wasting normal detangler on something like that, especially not the creamy ones as you aren't going to get them into the middle of the mat anyhow.

[Belg]

Vetrolin for the win. Smells nice too.

[kewpalace]

Another Vetrolin fan here. I've done most of the other suggestions and always come back to Vetrolin. Maybe cuz I like the smell.

[suzier444]

I condition first if I can (I like human deep conditioners that they sell at Sally's, especially the Feria stuff that's in the hair dye section) and then after the tail dries, I use liberal amounts of Biosilk on both the tail and my hands, and I hand pick. I survived a Friesian tail using this method.

[Belg]

I survived a Friesian tail using this method.

Appropriate choice of words.

[Natalie]

I don't know, guys...I've used Cowboy Magic and maybe I did it wrong but I don't think it's all it's cracked up to be. Try Canter Mane and Tail! Way better in my book.
http://www.smartpakequine.com/canter...x?cm_vc=Search
Smells great. Really lasts for about two weeks once you spray it in. To get it to work best, spray on (liberally for a bad knot); let it sit for 5 minutes or so. I have cleaned out tails so solid with burrs you could have driven nails with them this way. (My guy is genius like that...if there is a burr in 100 miles he will find it )
I also had a bad experience with Pink. Tried using it on the same horse to make his tail hair grow. One application and he promptly went outside and rubbed half of the hair out of his dock . Grrr! Again, maybe I goofed or my horse is just weird, but I won't use that stuff again.

I second the Carr Day & Martin stuff--definitely one of the best detanglers I've ever tried!

[Bluey]

Another Vetrolin fan here. I've done most of the other suggestions and always come back to Vetrolin. Maybe cuz I like the smell.

You and I are not the only ones.
At horse show booths, I think Vetrolin detangler is the first item to sell out.
No matter how much they bring, they seem to always end up short.

[HydroPHILE]

Another Cowboy Magic person here (for horses and humans )

A little dab'll do you, and I never noticed any sort of smell either. It's the only thing that would get cockleburrs out of a horse's mane one year. They just slid right out.

For humans, a VERY little dab'll do you. I used to use it when there was high humidity.