Pull or Cut?

Mane I mean.  And the answer is I don't know.  I guess I should say I don't know how.

[Quick side note ... yesterday, Memoirs of a Horse Girl blogged about this very thing.  I actually wrote this post over the weekend, but it's funny how we're all thinking about or dealing with the same issues.  Check out what Val was doing with Harley's mane at Memoirs of a Horse Girl.]

This is an Arabian's mane left loose for endurance racing ...

Montoya DSA

Okay, I am just trying to be funny.  Not all Arabians, nor all endurance horses, have a mane like Montoya did, but you get the point.  Endurance horses are allowed to have long manes, and in fact, most endurance riders leave them long and full because the mane is natural protection from the flies.  

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Endurance Braids

And if the ride is going to be a hot one, the mane is braided in long individual braids that look like this ... 

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French Braids for Showing

When Speedy G goes to a show, I just do a long French braid that holds fairly well and at least looks neat.  This isn't a very good photo, but I've never thought to photograph his braid before.

I just can't pull or cut his mane.  Arabians need a flowing mane.  Which brings me to Sydney. 

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Dressage Braids

Sydney looks cute with a short main and since he's not an Arabian, it is expected that he be braided for shows.  I've braided his mane and it comes out quite nice, as it did here.

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A Mane That Needs Cleaning Up

Since I don't know how to pull a mane, and I am not sure that I want to learn, I decided to use the scissors and "trim" it.  I am sure the purists are cringing.  I did too.  This is the before shot.

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Trimmed with Scissors

And here's a photo after the scissor job.  It's not great, but it's not a total hack job either.  The angle is horrible, I know.

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Not Quite Even

Here is his cleaned-up mane a week later.  From a distance, it's probably okay. I would sure love some suggestions regarding best length for braiding as well as tips for cutting it without the ends looking so hacked off. If you've got any ideas, please share.

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