10 Tips for Keeping Your Horse’s Tail Tip Top

The most important thing for you to remember is that a horse’s shiny coat, healthy skin and tremendous tail comes from proper nutritional care.

Without the right amounts of protein, amino acids and vitamins no number of potions or conditioners will be able to give it the luscious locks you’re after.

That being said, here’s another nine things you can do to add new life to your horse’s tail end:

1. I know you’re tempted, but don’t brush your horse’s tail every day.  You may love the look of a well-groomed tail, but it may take years to regrow a long strand of hair that is pulled out.
2. If you insist on brushing something, brush the tail bone and dock of your horse’s tail with a dandy brush every day.  This increases blood flow and stimulates hair growth.
3. If your horse’s tail is looking tired and thinned out from rubbing, always try to solve the problem behind the rubbing first.  A dirty tail or dry skin may be the cause and rubbing his tail may bring some temporary relief.  Help a horse out, why don’t you?
4. Bring on the bubbles!  Put a small amount of shampoo in a bucket and add water to create suds. Hold the bucket in one hand and dunk your horse’s tail in with the other. After swishing it around thoroughly, rinse and ensure all traces of shampoo is gone.
5. Keeping your horse’s tail off the ground while it dries, is easy enough with a simple loose slip knot.
6. If wrapping, never wrap the top of your horse’s tail.  Yes, you’ve guessed it:  The irritation caused by a tight wrap may encourage rubbing.  Not good.
7. When using gel or hairspray during a show to smooth down the short hairs at the top of the tail, ensure you wash the tail thoroughly afterwards. Drying products may itch and, yes – lead to rubbing.
8. Have you ever considered trimming the sides on top of your horse’s tail, rather than plucking it to tidy up for showing?
9. A good bang always makes an impact! Cut only the longest hairs straight across the bottom of your horse’s tail. For best results, trim when the hair is wet and combed out.
10. Bring snacks.  Your horse asked me to add this.