Those tresses atop your horse’s neck can be fashioned into more than one style and subsequent grooming routine. We want to know: Which mane look is your main fave?

 

1.LONG AND LUSH. I condition manes lavishly and keep them in protective braids except for special occasions, like shows.

2.SHORT, FOR BANDING/BRAIDING. I like manes shortened to 3 or 4 inches, suitable for banding or braiding.

3.SHAVED OFF (ROACHED). I use clippers right at the mane bed to move all mane hair except  a withers tuft and forelock.

4.NATURAL, WITH TRIMS. I let manes grow as they will, with occasional trims of dry or uneven ends.

5.WILD THING. I don’t bother with mane care.

As always, we love to get your glimpses into your life with horses!

--The H&R Editors

 I'm a minority -- I roach that sucker off!  I used to let it grow out (I don't pull manes) but I HATE HATE HATE braiding and discovered in the eventing rule book that the mane just has to be neat and the judge must be able to see the crest line.  I have now discovered that nice muscly neck looks quite lovely with a 1-2" mohawk, a sharp military look and we've gotton compliments everywhere we go!

You may be in the minority, Solaris, but I am right there with you. I recently starting roaching the mane on the horse I show, and I love it (how retro--that's how we showed horses when I was a kid).

I'm a sucker for short enough to be able to band/ braid. I think it looks tidy and professional and can turn any horse into looking like a pro. It has to be done right though, or it will stick up. The best way to cut a mane short is to follow the natural curve in the horse's mane so it will lay flat. Otherwise, it will be flopping over and up in the air.

All we've ever done is roach.  Except for my fleabit grey QH whose mane is white and pretty thin so it looks better au natural!

I have considered roaching my pony's mane, but decided to just leave it wild... I don't do anything to it cept wash him and brush out his mane and tail prior to heading to ARHA shows. :) He gets a short bridle path clipped and that's about the extent of his hair-care!

 

 

Gosh I don't know what mine falls under. I just love to brush out my girl's mane - I like it nice and long so it blows in the breeze or at the canter and I love to spray on leave-in conditioner and brush it out. Hers was roached when I bought her and I even had nightmares that someone would roach it agian on me! I figure I"m like a little girl who just loves to brush her sister's hair, except I'm middle aged and never had a sister!

 For my show horses I pull the mane short and keep it tidy, but for my trai/pasture horses their manes just stay however long the horses want and get brused out occasionally. I do have an appy that the previous owner roached his mane and with him being an appy it's gunna take a while to grow back. 

4. Natural with trims, for my two. 

In the Arab "world" they say that everything should remain "natural".  For showing I mean.  No braiding or cropping of the mane or tail.  But they also require roaching the mane halfway down the neck.  The arabs do look pretty with a long looking neck but after show season you have to deal with the "tomahawk" look. 

 I love long flowing manes.  Mystery's mane hasn't in 14 years decided what side it wants to lie on but that's okay.  I keep it as nature intended.

What a CUTE photo fluffyD!

 I would say I fall under 4. Natural, with trims. I don't show yet so I think this is better for my horse because it helps keep the bugs off her. Once I start showing I would have to go with  2. Short for banding and braiding

I'm in the #4 camp (except that I keep manes clean and conditioned).  After years of owning horses that were shown with their pulled manes braided in button or hunter braids, I now have three (!) horses of breeds traditionally shown with long manes.  I don't miss pulling manes at all (and I am sure that the horses don't mind, either). 

 

 

2, short enough to braid.  I love the neat and polished look, though my mare hates having her mane messed with, which can make upkeep a challenge.

I was long and lush for a LONG time..with reiners, I think it is gorgeous to see a horse;s mane long and silky..Im a long hair freak, I even refuse to cut my hair, save trims..however, Im not in number 4. Ihavent had time recently to condition, braid and slinky up my horses, so they are all natural.