| A horse's tail is its prized possession. It's used for | | | | might just need the tail shorted a little so it can be |
| comfort, to swish flies from itself and other horses, and | | | | easily tied up. Show horses like hunters and dressage |
| it's used for balance and communication. Trainers can | | | | horses though, need a perfectly even, or 'banged' tail. |
| use the horse's tail to see if it is frightened, excited, or | | | | Getting a perfectly level tail takes two people - that's |
| uncomfortable. In the show ring, a clean flowing tail can | | | | because you need to try to simulate where the tail will |
| really catch the judge's eye. | | | | be when the horse is moving. One person needs to |
| So how do you get the perfect tail? Well, first of all, it | | | | hold the tail up just a little, so that it hangs where it |
| needs to be clean, and keeping a tail clean - especially | | | | would be when the horse naturally raises its tail when it |
| a white one - is a big topic. Here, we're going to talk | | | | moves. The best way to do this is to put your arm |
| about how you can clip and trim the tail to help your | | | | under the dock and simply rest the tail over. Then the |
| horse look and feel its best. | | | | second person can start trimming. Most people will |
| What kinds of tail trims are there? | | | | choose to cut the tail at about midway up the cannon |
| What type of look you go for depends on your | | | | bone. However, if you are trying to make your horse's |
| horse's breed and what kind of work it will do. Some | | | | legs look longer or shorter, you may want to cut lower |
| breeds, like Arabians, are usually shown with a natural, | | | | or higher, or you may want to cut to match socks or |
| long, free flowing tail. Dressage horses will have a tail | | | | stockings for a more even look. Either way, don't use |
| closely trimmed at the top to accentuate the | | | | scissors. |
| hindquarters. Show ring hunters will need a tail that can | | | | Why not use scissors? Unless your horse has a very |
| be easily braided. Polo ponies and driving horses need | | | | thin tail, there's no way to get a perfect finish. It will |
| close trimmed tails that can be easily tied up short to | | | | take more than one cut, and that means edges and |
| protect them from getting tangled up in traces or the | | | | uneven ends. If you have a lot to cut off, you can start |
| polo mallets. Even horses that don't show will benefit | | | | with scissors, but finish with hand trimmers. Holding the |
| from a tidy tail to help keep it clean and keep it from | | | | trimmers upside down, you can cut along the bottom |
| getting matted and tangled. | | | | of the tail. Unlike scissors, good, sharp clipper blades |
| Once you decide on the look you want, you get | | | | won't push the hairs away, but will catch them and trim |
| started with trimming the tail, and that will help you | | | | them evenly for a perfect flat finish. It takes a little |
| choose which tools you need in your horse grooming | | | | practice, but the results are worth it. |
| supplies. | | | | Choosing a trimmer for tails |
| Trimming the base of the tail | | | | If you are going to be trimming your horse's tail |
| The base, or top of the tail is the most conspicuous | | | | regularly, you should consider having a good set of |
| part. If you are going to braid the tail you will need long, | | | | horse trimmers in your horse grooming supplies. It will |
| smooth hairs that will lie flat in a plait or braid. You will | | | | make keeping a 'pulled' and banged tail tidy easier for |
| need to protect the tail from rubbing with a bandage or | | | | you and more comfortable for your horse. If you are |
| tail guard if your horse has the habit of scratching its | | | | going to be braiding your horse's tail for shows, a good |
| tail on doors or fence posts. Fortunately for you, | | | | set of cordless trimmers will be essential for tidying up |
| though, you don't need to do a lot of trimming. That | | | | stray hairs - not just on your horse's tail but for any |
| said, after you plait the tail, you may find that some | | | | last minute show ring touch ups. Here's some options |
| hairs keep sticking out. Trimming these away with a | | | | form the major suppliers: |
| good set of hand trimmers will make for a perfect | | | | Wahl horse clippers. The Wahl Bravura is a versatile |
| show ring braid. | | | | hand clipper that can be used for manes and tails and |
| If you want a natural tail, again you won't need to do | | | | more sensitive, precision areas. It can be used both |
| much. The real work is for those that want a 'pulled' tail | | | | with the cord and cordless, so you can take it with you |
| - that means keeping the hairs at the top of the tail | | | | to shows, and it's quiet but powerful. It comes with a |
| very short for a close, neat finish. Traditionally, this used | | | | set of four attachments for clipping different areas. It's |
| to be done by pulling out the long hairs, but many horse | | | | a great choice if you can have only one set of |
| owners don't like to do this. There's no doubt that the | | | | trimmers in your horse grooming supplies. |
| horse's tail is more sensitive than its mane, so pulling | | | | Oster horse clippers. The Oster Powermax is a coat |
| the tail is more uncomfortable for the horse than pulling | | | | clipper, rather than a trimmer, but it's a great value |
| the mane. And with some practice, you can get a | | | | choice if you need one clipper that can do everything. |
| better look with hand trimmers than you can get with a | | | | The two-speed operation can get through thick coats, |
| pulling comb. | | | | and the slower speed lets you do more sensitive |
| Why? Well the problem comes as the hairs grow out. | | | | work. You won't get the precisions finish of a specially |
| A newly pulled tail looks great, neat, tidy, and it really | | | | designed trimmer, but if you can only afford one set of |
| shows off the horse's quarters and can accentuate its | | | | clippers this one is more versatile than most. It will |
| movement. But as the hairs grow out, they get prickly, | | | | certainly make a good job of tail trimming, and it |
| and yet they aren't long enough to grasp them to pull. | | | | comes with a selection of attachments. |
| That means you have an unsightly 'bristle' period until | | | | Andis horse clippers. The Andis Freedom Trimmer is a |
| the hairs are long enough to get a grip on them. This | | | | great cordless choice. It's lightweight, lasts for an hour |
| isn't a problem with hand trimmers! | | | | when fully charged, and runs quiet. You get a good |
| With hand trimmers or clippers, you can choose how | | | | choice of blades with the Freedom trimmer, so you |
| short you want the hairs to go. You can use wide | | | | can use these trimmers for careful work on fine hairs, |
| clipper attachments to get slightly longer hairs, which | | | | then switch to more robust blades for the mane and |
| are easy to get to lie flat, this is best for the top of the | | | | tail. |
| tail. Choose a closer trim for the sides of the tail, to clip | | | | Always choose clippers and trimmers from one of the |
| the hairs away and really show off your horse's | | | | main horse grooming suppliers. This way, you will get a |
| quarters. Use a tail bandage and some baby oil or | | | | warranty, you can be sure your clippers are safe to |
| conditioner regularly, and you will get a smooth, | | | | use, and getting replacement parts and blades will be |
| professional finish. Keeping a good set of hand clippers | | | | easy. For trimming a perfect tail, you need to be sure |
| and attachments in your horse grooming supplies | | | | your blades are sharp. If the coarse hairs of the tail get |
| means you will have a perfect finish every day. | | | | caught in dull blades, not only will you get uneven |
| Trimming the end of the tail | | | | edges and broken hairs, but you risk pulling out hairs |
| The end of the tail will also need trimming. For horses | | | | and hurting your horse. Invest in a few sets of blades, |
| that aren't showing, keeping the tail trimmed back to at | | | | so you always have a sharp set in your horse |
| least halfway up the cannon bone will help to keep it | | | | grooming supplies, and you have spares when you |
| clean and prevent tangles and mattes. Horses that | | | | need to send them away for sharpening. With a good |
| show with a natural tail may just need a little tidying up | | | | set of trimmers and sharp blades, you can keep your |
| now and again for a good shape. Working horses | | | | horse's tail looking neat and healthy every day. |