Those days when your horse comes in from their pasture and looks like a rat nested in their mane you know it’s time to detangle. Everyone loves a horse with a nice, thick, and flowing mane but that look come with extra care. Detangling can be a daunting task but here are some tips to make it easier on both you and your horse!
Conditioning
A mane tangles easily if it’s dry and unhealthy. When you get ready to detangle it’s smart to introduce moisture back into the hair with a leave- in conditioner such as our IntenseEQ Leave- In Conditioner about a day before you’re ready to start the detangling process. This will soften and strengthen the hair so when you’re detangling there will be less of a risk of breakage. Do not give your horse a bath until the tangles are taken out. Introducing water to matted hair can tighten the matts and make them even harder to get out and even more painful to your horse.
Matts, Burrs, and Debris
When you spot burrs and debris stuck in a matt on your horse it’s time to break out the detangler and work slowly to get the debris out. For this part you may want to throw on some thick gloves to prevent any accidental pokes by sharp burrs. Always start from the bottom and work your way up. Once you’re ready, add a bit of the detangler to the matt and start to gently pull apart the hair with your fingers. As you detangle you can continuously add a little bit of detangler when needed but over using the detangler can make the hair slick and too oily. Using a brush or a comb can cause more damage to the hair so fingers are your best tools here. Once the mat is broken up and the debris is removed you can start using the brush to get out any other smaller tangles.
Prevention
To prevent these matts from happening there are a few things you can do. First is to look into your horse’s diet. Natural oils help keep the hair from tangling as easily. Second, brush through your horse’s mane regularly. A proactive grooming schedule will save you countless hours in detangling. Lastly, look into your horse’s living space. Keeping their stall clean will prevent sticky yellow stains that will in turn help tangling.
Tangles are uncomfortable both for you and your horse so preventing them is the best way to go about it, but if you find yourself in a situation where your horse just had a little too much fun in the pasture then keep these tips in mind. Your horse will thank you for it!
Dr. Groom Recommends: Silverado Detangler
- Protects against UV- A and UV- B rays
- Concentrated, lasts for days, repels dirt and dust, and controls static
- Penetrates even the most dry, brittle, tangled manes & tails, leaving them soft, shiny and tangle-free