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Discussion on Pulling mane
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Member:
Maggienm
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Posted on Friday, Apr 22, 2005 - 9:57 am:
Hi,
I am wondering if there is a topical product a person can buy to rub on the base of the mane, to numb the skin slightly, so mane pulling is not so tramatic.
My horse has a very full double mane. He stood quite well the first time I pulled. I didn't do the full mane. maybe I should have. Now when I try to do more shakes his neck over and over. I do not blame him at all.
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Member:
Chohler
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Posted on Friday, Apr 22, 2005 - 1:18 pm:
I don't know if there is anything for horses but if you are near a beauty supply you can purchase so skin topical anesthetic used for waxing hair , I know it comes in a lotion or spray. You could also use clove oil in small areas but then your horse smells like cloves.......
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Member:
Canter
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Posted on Friday, Apr 22, 2005 - 1:31 pm:
Lori,
Are you pulling the mane before or after excercise? Everything I've read says to do it after the horse has worked as for some reason it makes it easier on the horse. I can't vouch for it myself as the one horse I ever had to pull for shows was a real trooper and would stand for hours--I did all the pulling after we worked just because I wanted to make it as easy as possible for him but I suspect he would have stood there regardless.
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Member:
Aannk
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Posted on Friday, Apr 22, 2005 - 2:08 pm:
I pull my horse's mane every time I groom. Just a little at a time. He doesn't like it, but at least I don't have to pull a whole lot all at once. I also have heard that if you do it after exercise, the pores are more open so it is easier. I have also heard listerine (dilluted 10 times with water) sprayed on makes it less painful. I don't do either of these, but that is what I have heard.
Alicia
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Member:
Chrism
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Posted on Friday, Apr 22, 2005 - 2:24 pm:
Try to do a little bit at a time after exercise - even better while eating hay or a snack. Make sure you only pull a few hairs at a time, and move around the whole mane so it doesn't look like you "pulled to here and stopped."
I have used Ambusol on the roots (spelling? it is for teething babies) or, if the horse is dark colored, spray choloraseptic (for sore throats). You can also ice the roots prior to pulling.
If a horse seems to really feel discomfort, you can shorten the mane by teasing a bit and snipping with scissors on an angle. If you work this only a bit at a time, it doesn't appear to be cut.
I'm not sure I'd like having my hair pulled out either.
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Member:
Leilani
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Posted on Friday, Apr 22, 2005 - 2:53 pm:
I don't pull my mares' manes, but then I don't cut their bridle paths either. I use high grade hair scissors and cut the stray hairs. They have great looking manes.
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Member:
Liliana
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Posted on Friday, Apr 22, 2005 - 3:40 pm:
Wooo, pulling manes  I have had more than one good horse turn Munster thanks to main pulling, specially a horse with a thick mane like a welsh or most cobs.
Lori have you tried thinning seassors? just like with pulling do a little at the time so you can see how the mane will react, it has the same effect as pulling, only it does not hurt!! so you can do it whenever it calls for it.
Regards.
Liliana
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Saturday, Apr 23, 2005 - 1:51 am:
When you pull a mane for the first time, I think patience is the key.
Long hair that have never been pulled have stronger roots, so pulling more than 5 hair is very likely to be too much for the horse. With sensitive horses you may need to pull only two hair at a time.
Hair must be pulled with a sharp tug straight up, any other way of pulling makes it very uncomfortable for the horse.
All horses are rather insensitive at the lower part of the mane, close to the withers, but as you go closer to the poll discomfort increases significantly. The bridle path, right at the poll is the most painful to pull, and I guess this is a good reason, besides neatness, to have it clipped and not pulled. With a fine-skinned, very sensitive horse, clipping the bridlepath 15-20cm long will save the horse of a lot of discomfort. As that is the thickest part of the mane, it will also save you of a lot of work.
Pulling the mane when the roots are warm makes the procedure a bit easier. However, I believe pulling the mane after exercise is not so horse friendly, as that should be time for the horse to relax. A hot towel some other time works well and horses like it a lot.
For the very first time, a twitch or light sedation may be a good idea. After that, the pulled mane is thin and the roots of younger hair somehow weaker, so the horse is likely to tolerate it a lot better.
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Member:
Maggienm
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Posted on Saturday, Apr 23, 2005 - 10:04 am:
Thank you for the tips, great ideas. This boy's mane is sooo thick if I tried thinning scissors it would look roached. I need the mane quite thin and short for dressage.
I will try the suggestions on myself first, then let you know what I found out.
Christos, I agree, after a work out I do not want ot reward him by pulling his mane. A hot towel is a great idea.
Here is a trick I used years ago on a thick maned horse that I wanted a long mane on and whose mane kept flipping half to one side. I flipped the mane to the side I did not want it to stay on, carefully I cut a row of mane from near the withers up to the bridle path. I cut it about two inches so it wouldn't poke up through the rest of the mane. Then I flipped the mane back to the side I wanted it to lie on. I braided it to hold it in position for several days and voila! When I took the braids out The mane laid on the correct side and looked full and beautiful.
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Member:
Maggienm
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Posted on Thursday, May 5, 2005 - 10:45 pm:
Update on mane pulling.
Even tho I thought horse should not have his mane pulled after a work out I did decide to try it. Whether it was because he ws relaxed(tired) after his workout or from the increased body heat I can't tell but it was definately easier to pull his mane. He hardly protested at all.
I also tried a product called Xylocaine, the tube says it is a lodocaine hyDrOchloride jelly, I rubbed it into a section of mane roots. I waited a few minutes and there was a noticeable difference in his reaction to pulling.
I purchased the product at the drug counter.
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Friday, May 6, 2005 - 10:26 am:
Hey! Xylocaine is cheating! 
Good idea, Lori. I have never used the cream, but injectable xylocaine is rather cheap and I think dampening the roots with it will numb them quite a bit.
However, I'd expect that you'll need to wait some 20-30 minutes for this trick to work well.
I'll try it on my yearling tomorrow and report back (he hates his poll being pulled).
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Friday, May 6, 2005 - 5:41 pm:
DrO, the Xylocaine I have is 2% Lidocaine HCl (20mg/mL).
How much of this can one safely rub into a horse's skin without causing systemic or other problems? (no open wounds, no mucous membranes)
PS: Funny, you have all fancy drugs on the index but Lidocaine is not mentioned at all.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, May 7, 2005 - 8:06 am:
And I probably use more volume of it than any other drug, besides maybe bute... I was following this with interest because the common local anesthetics do not penetrate the skin without help. You should be able to demonstrate this by taking some and rubbing it on your forearm and then pulling a few hairs out: I think you will find it stills smarts. However there is some old and new technology that helps electrically polar molecules get through the skin. DMSO would be old technology and whatever the stuff they use in the paint on NSAID that has become recently available is new technology. I am wondering about the cream's property in Lori's post above.
From a safety standpoint lidocaine is very non-toxic and only mildy irritating (that uncomfotable feeling you have following a dental procedure is at least partially due to the residual effect of the local). Some indiviuals are allergic and can have remarkable reactions. I cannot speak to the safety of combining it with DMSO however.
DrO
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Member:
Maggienm
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Posted on Saturday, May 7, 2005 - 7:10 pm:
I didn't really understand the part about the polar molecules-DMSO & NSAID.
I have tried the xylocaine on the short hairs on the bakc of my neck and on my arm. It really does make a difference.
I am not sure about the time, perhaps 10 mins on my arm. when I am working with the horses I loose track of time so not sure if I left it on the horse for 10-20 mins before I tried pulling.
I could tell when I moved from the section with the cream to the part without it.
Glad to know it is a safe product to use.
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Member:
Paul303
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Posted on Saturday, May 7, 2005 - 10:46 pm:
Xylocaine as a topical mainly works on mucous membranes such as the inside of the mouth. Your skin is a marvelous protective organ meant to be a barrier against moisture loss and all hazards we can be exposed to. I'm surprised to hear it could work on it's own....however, there are now all kinds of medications out there with a "patch" delivery....transcutaneous......HEY!! Hurry up somebody!! THE MANE PULLING PATCH!!!
Painless mane pulling!!! NO! WAIT! What about an eyebrow tweezing patch? Splinter removal patch? wax patch!!! It'll make millions!
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Member:
Hwood
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Posted on Sunday, May 8, 2005 - 1:22 am:
I couldn't pull up the Sequist Industries Web Page, but Dr. David Sequist, DVM, of Sequist Animal Hospital in Stowe, VT, has invented and patented a Mane Puller. It can be ordered at:
800-530-2784. It received great reviews by John Lyons and Michael Plumb in their newletters.
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Member:
Miamoo
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Posted on Monday, May 9, 2005 - 8:41 am:
I have the mane puller. I would not work without it. Not only is it easier on my hands - they don't get all cramped up, it is quicker than by hand. I have had my horses stand better for it than for pulling by hand. It doesn't stop the hurt though. They still don't like it.
Ella  Ä
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Member:
Trouble
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Posted on Monday, May 9, 2005 - 11:22 am:
What exactly is this mane puller device? And how much does it cost?
Ella, you say it still hurts, but the horse seems to stand better for it. Is it desiged to make it easier for the human doing the pulling, which may, in effect, make it less painful for the horse?
Lisa
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Member:
Aewheele
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Posted on Monday, May 9, 2005 - 12:11 pm:
I skimmed through all the posts, and was surprised that I didn't notice anyone recommending the use of the Solo Comb to trim mane instead of pulling. If I missed the reference, please excuse me. I bought a Solo Comb through Dover and absolutely love it. My horse would not stand for pulling and this product makes the job painless & fast. My hands don't cramp either.
I would be very interested in hearing from anyone who doesn't like the Solo Comb. The only drawback that I have seen is that my horse's mane remains very thick at the base because you are cutting the mane instead of pulling it out from the root.
Good luck.
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Member:
Miamoo
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Posted on Monday, May 9, 2005 - 2:05 pm:
I think that there are 2 reasons the Mane Puller seems to be less painful. One is that you get a better grip than with a traditional comb so the pull is swifter (imagine waxing your legs with a slow, more drawn out pull rather than a quick jerk) also I think that you can take more hair at once so they dont have to stand for it as long.
I have tried as Alicia suggested pulling just a few pulls each day. My 3 year old mare got to the point where she did not want me to even brush her mane - she thought I was going to pull. I have gone back to one longer more difficult session but at least she does not associate pulling with every time I touch her Mane.
I am going to try the xylocaine at the base of the roots by the pole also. It can't hurt to add all th ese things together. (exercise, xylocaine and the Mane Puller)
Good luck to you all. I agree with Christine. I don't think I would like my hair pulled out either. I think they are remarkably patient.
Oh, another tip. If your mane is thin enough but it is too long, braid the mane down with traditional english braids (about 3/4 to 1 inch wide at the base of the mane). Put elastics on at the length you want the mane but don't turn them up. If you snip off just below the elastic you will get a pulled look. This doesn't work if the mane is too thick or if you make your braids too wide by using too much hair.
Ella Ù
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Member:
Aannk
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Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 1:00 pm:
Ella,
Sorry my suggestion didn't work. I have used it on the 5 horses I have owned over the years and it worked with all of them. I pull only about 4 inches worth at a time. I have at one point only pulled one hair at a time. That takes about 5 minutes a day to do much, but it really does not seem to bother them at all. My gelding does still pull away, but not in a panic, more in a "geeze, not this again" way.
I hope the stuff works for you!
Alicia
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Member:
Maggienm
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Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 1:04 pm:
Christos, did you try the xylocaine?
I thought of using thinning shears like the hair salons use but I really want the mane thinner at the base as well as the bottom. This guy has such a thick mane if I just thinned the bottom to middle I'm afraid it would stand staight up like a roached mane.
I am making progress and what do you know..he has a neck after all.
I am interested in the mane puller; sounds interesting.
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Member:
Trouble
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Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 1:55 pm:
Dede,
I, too, have a Solo Comb. I believe there is another thread regarding mane pulling that I remember posting about the comb. I love it, and my horse will stand still for it. But, you're right in that it does not help in thinning the mane at the base.
I questioned the length of time I would be able to use it because it was expensive ($30 I think). I have used it quite a few times over the last several years and it still appears not to be dull yet. It is invaluable if you need to have a pulled mane look without the actual pulling.
Lisa
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Member:
Miamoo
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Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 9:36 pm:
Alicia,
I can't blame your suggestion. I tried it before you said it. I thought it was a grand idea. I still think so, just not for my girl. She has her own opinion on most things and doesn't necessarily think that I know best.
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Member:
Paul303
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Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 3:35 am:
DeDe and Lisa: I, too, use the solo comb on my 25 yr. old mare ( home bred ) who has never allowed mane or tail pulling without hystrionics. Since her show career was cut short at around 6, the mane problem was no big thing, and many years, the mane was roached in summer. The roaching seemed to result in an ultra-thick mane. The Solo comb proved fantastic. It might not lay show ring perfect, but it's a great second.
I seem to have noticed that when I let my horses' manes grow really long and just comb and brush carefully, the manes seem to thin down on their own. 'Course you guys on the show circuit can't do that.
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Member:
Trouble
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Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 12:07 pm:
I had a brainstorm for thinning the mane without pulling which I haven't tried yet.
I am thinking about using clippers to clip about 1/4 to 1/2 inch of the underside of the mane as low as possible, then I can use the Solo Comb to shorten it to the right length. I realize that I will have to keep this trimmed regularly so the rest of the mane won't flip up with the new growth, but it would be worth it as my gelding has no problems with being clipped.
If I am barking up the wrong tree on this one, let me know. Seems like a good idea (?)
Lisa
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Member:
Maggienm
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Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 12:34 pm:
Lisa, in an earlier post I mentioned doing what you are thinking of. It did work, and was easy to maintain.
I can't use this method at this time because eventually I will need to braid his mane.
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Member:
Aewheele
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Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 1:15 pm:
Well, I found a problem with the Solo Comb. You can't replace the blades... I didn't know that.
My present comb probably would have lasted longer, but I didn't clean it very well because I thought I could replace the blades easily. I had found replacement blades on Valley Vet but it turns out that they fit a smaller version of the comb. I disassembled my solo comb to replace the blades, and it is now trash! Oh well. I have another comb on order because I can't live without it.
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 3:47 pm:
No, Lori, I haven't tried it yet since DrO says it won't penetrate the skin unassisted.
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Member:
Dres
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Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 4:31 pm:
Ok I had to add what I do.. of course most of my horses don't have manes, but I do have one show mare that has a very think mane.. I use my electric clippers with the long extensions on it and clip from under the mane down... it thins it out nicely and I shorten it at the same time... I then can braid it for shows tight and neat...
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with SPOTS..
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Member:
Trouble
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Posted on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 2:46 pm:
Lori and Ann,
I am glad to know that this has already been done with good results as a disaster could take awhile to grow out!
Dede, my main concern with the Solo Comb was the blades, also. I new before I purchased it that it was a "throw away" comb. It would be nice if they would change that aspect of it.
Lisa
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