My two horses belong to the short tail club. They both have beautiful tails but they don’t seem to grow past their fetlocks. Does your horse have a thin or short mane and/or tail? I have tried a few things over the years and have successfully increased the length and thickness of my horse’s manes and tails.
My Arabian has rubbed a hole in the middle of his mane which is growing back successfully and his tail has grown several inches in the last year. I like the combination of feed and products that I have used to help grow his mane and tail. Here are a few things you can try to get that mane and tail growing!
#1. Keep it Clean
I wash my horse’s manes and tails about two-three times per month. Over-washing strips all the oils off and can hurt the tail more than help it. I also put product and conditioner in their manes and tails, so it is a good idea to rinse all that off occasionally and get the hair clean.
#2. Feed Can Help
I bought flax seed and biotin (both brands were for horses.) I have seen better hair growth results with the biotin (for horses) which is a product known for helping hair and hooves grow. The flax seed did make my horse’s coat SUPER shiny and beautiful and I still give him a little bit. Adding the recommended dosage of biotin can help your horse’s hair and hooves grow.
#3 I Love M-T-G
I heard about M-T-G Oil
#4. Bag it Up
I really don’t like bagging my horse’s tail, but I have to say it does seem to help. The hair stays better conditioned and just feels healthier and stays cleaner when I do bag it. I prefer the soft bags, like the ones you can make out of a long sock. I braid the tail and tie it in a few inches below the tailbone so I don’t cut off any circulation.
If your horse has a thick or long mane, braiding it into sections can help the hair grow and keep it untangled. Be sure to take them out once a week and redo them. If you notice your horse itching its braids, the may be too tight or irritating to them, and you may have to take them out and leave the mane free.
#5. Conditioner is Your Friend
I alternate between using the MTG and conditioner. One week (or a bit longer) I will use conditioner and the alternating week I use the MTG. I wash everything out in between switching the products. I do not put conditioner on AND MTG- it is recommended you do not mix these two. I use the Mane & Tail brand conditioner. I have heard that coconut oil is good as well but have not yet tried that. I live in Arizona so it is VERY dry and I use a LOT of the conditioner here 😎
#6. Drop That Brush
The best thing you can do for a tail is finger comb it. Brushing it pulls out all of the hair that the tail needs! I worked for a Dressage barn and I was not allowed to brush their tails- only do a finger comb to get out the big tangles.
I also do NOT use any metal comb or brush. For some reason those really rip out the hair. I use a brush similar to a human’s hair brush.
If you do need to brush the tail, start at the bottom and work your way up. Hold the hair as you brush with your hand as you brush the hair below your hand. Do this in small sections and work your way up the tail. This can help prevent ripping out excessive tail hair.
These tips can help protect your horse’s mane and tail and encourage growth. Keep the hair clean and be sure to wash out everything a couple of times a month. Horse hair needs maintenance just as human hair does! Go easy on the brushing and get a good conditioner to help your horse’s mane and tail.
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