The Supreme Products Mane and Tail Pulling Masterclass

A pulled mane and tail is essential in many equestrian disciplines to create a professional look. However it is not always an easy task to do and many horses can be sensitive.

Help in on hand from the team at Supreme Products who will provide you with top tips on how to pull a horse’s mane and tail successfully to create that professional look.

The Art of Mane and Tail Pulling

Preparation

Only pull your horse’s mane and tail after exercise to make it more comfortable for both of you. After exercise your horse will be warm and the pores should be open allowing the hair to fall out more easily and less painfully.A dirty mane and tail will allow you to have a better grip so do not bath your horse before pulling. If you do lose your grip at any time have Supreme Products Easy Plait on hand to spray onto the desired area to give you more grip.

Keep your horse occupied with a haynet, it is surprising how he will not mind as much with one.

Before pulling make sure you have combed through the mane and tail so that there are no knots which would make it painful for the horse. Lastly, pull little and often, if it is a big task and if you try to do it all at once it could leave your horse sore.

Mane

For horses that have their mane plaited a shortly pulled mane is a must in order to produce the perfect plaits. For ponies who compete regularly in Mountain and Moorland competitions a pulled mane can reduce some of the thickness and produce an even look, creating a natural overall picture.

1. Starting at the poll, comb a little of the mane to almost the bottom of the hair, with your other hand hold the longest hairs that sit below the comb.

2. Still holding onto the longest hairs back comb the rest of the mane to the crest and with a sharp tug pull out the remaining long hairs.

3. Always pull out the hairs from the underside of the mane as this is what helps it lay flat.

4. Brush out the mane and repeat until you have reached the desired length and thickness.

5. Continue this process down the mane until you have reached the desired effect.

6. If there are a few remaining un-level hairs, pluck them out using your fingers.

Tail

Many people forget about the tail but the majority of showing classes require a tail to be pulled. Not only will this smarten your horse’s appearance, but it can enhance the hindquarters as well as giving a more professional edge.

1. Starting at the top of the dock, comb a section of the hair out from the edge, grasp the longest hairs and back comb the rest. Pull out the long hairs sharply and quickly, and repeat to about half way down the dock.

2. To achieve the best result pull more hairs from the edge of the dock than from the centre, the dock should appear to be evenly covered with hair. You are aiming to shape the tail to be sleek and thin at the top before gradually widening to the thickness of the tail.

3. Some horses can be very sensitive when having their tails pulled, standing directly behind your horse when pulling is not advisable.

4. When being pulled it is not uncommon for the dock to become sore. If you find it hard to pull a tail or your horse will not stand still, Supreme Products offer a superb alternative - the Supreme Products Thinning Comb. This is fantastic for pulling tails humanely in to shape, it gives the appearance of a pulled tail and is a very popular choice for people who have horses who dislike having their tails pulled.

5. After pulling the tail always brush the top of the tail with a water brush and bandage it, this will encourage the tail to lie flat and look smart. The tail bandage should not be left on overnight.

6. When pulling the tail also check to see if the tail is the correct length - it may need trimming. To avoid cutting it too short put your arm under the dock to raise the tail into position it is when moving. With your left hand measure the tail to the horses chestnut or a couple of inches below the hocks, at this point cut the tail straight across.

Afterwards

To keep the mane in top condition after pulling, use Supreme Products Moisturise & Condition. This is a fantastic spray lotion that moisturises the skin and hair follicle, soothing any soreness or itchiness caused by pulling.

For manes that are regularly plaited, hooded and prone to dry skin Supreme Products Moisturise & Condition is essential in its upkeep, preventing the mane from becoming damaged or dry. This product can also help stimulate hair growth so is fantastic for use on damaged manes, tails or bald patches on the body.

To keep you horse’s tail looking smart and pristine, at the end of every grooming session thereafter, spray the tail with Supreme Products Detangle and Shine, a de luxe detangler which helps protect valuable tail hairs, leaving them silky, shiny and lustrous.

To enhance the appearance of manes and tails when in the show ring, Supreme Products Sparkle is the ‘ultimate’ preparation to produce lustre and shine and to create a glamorous effect – making you stand out from the crowd!

Supreme Products Turnout Tips for the Show Ring

When you enter the show ring you want to catch the judge’s eye as soon as possible. Therefore, turnout is the essential element for creating a good first impression. Once you have the judge’s attention it will become easier to impress them with your horse’s paces and manners.

At Home

Trimming

First make sure your horse looks elegant by trimming out the ears, muzzle and bridle path. Also trim out the heels to remove any unnecessary leg hair.

Mountain and Moorland Ponies should be shown in their natural state, however you can do some trimming on the pony’s head to make it appear more defined.

If you want to trim the mane be careful to make sure it still looks natural, and the tail should be left neat and tidy, but again in a natural style.

Show horses should also have their tails pulled. If you are not comfortable with pulling tails, use a Supreme Products Thinning Comb. This is a humane and efficient bladed comb which thins tails and manes easily and quickly.

Bathing

Firstly wet your horse all over with lukewarm water. For that ultra clean and shiny look choose a shampoo specific to your horse or pony’s colour. These shampoos really help to enhance the colour of the coat.

Once you have the shampoo to hand you can either put some in a bucket of warm water or place it straight on to your sponge. Get a good lather on the coat and where possible leave the lather on the coat for a few minutes to work in. In stubborn areas you can apply the shampoo neat and leave for a few minutes before washing off.

Thoroughly rinse the shampoo off the coat and sweat scrape the worst of the water away. If you want to enhance your horse’s colour further use Supreme Blue Rinse as a finishing touch as this will add shine and enhance the depth of colour for all coats.

After washing the tail spray with Supreme Products Detangle & Shine to help gently brush through the tail when it is dry. You want to leave your horse or pony’s tail as thick and lustrous as possible so only brush through the tail when you really have to.

Plaiting

When it comes to plaiting you want to be able to stand back and be happy that the number of plaits suit the length of the neck.

Sewing in plaits always leaves a much smarter appearance and is the only way to plait for showing classes.

If you find plaits become loose before you sew them in you can always secure with a rubber band at the bottom of the plait and then start to roll the plait up.

There may be occasions when it is easier to plait up the evening before to save time and reduce stress on the day of the competition.

Using Supreme Products Easy Plait will help you achieve a good professional finish. Spray the section of the mane with Easy Plait and this will help you get a good grip and also hold the plaits in place, without being sticky or greasy.

Once you have plaited, fitting a Supreme Products Lycra Mix Hood will protect the plaits and help lay them and keep them pristine. A hood will also lay the coat, as well as adding condition and shine to the neck.

Plaits can be used to disguise problems with your horse’s neck. If your horse has a weak topline then plaits will need to be pushed up onto the crest to give him a better overall appearance. If he has a cresty neck then he will require small plaits set low down.

For a long neck you need fewer larger plaits, and more plaits for a short neck. Stitch in the plaits to keep them secure.

At The Show

Quarter Marks

All show horses can wear quarter marks apart from Mountain and Moorland ponies.

When applying quarter markers use Supreme Products De Luxe Coat Gloss to help provide the perfect canvas and leave a natural looking shine on the coat.

For Show Ponies and Hacks the traditional markings are an upside down V checked board with sharks teeth, for this you will need a small quarter marking comb.

Start on the left and gently comb down to create a small square, leave a space of an equal width and comb in another square. Continue until about 6 squares have been created.

Then comb directly under the blank squares on the row above. Each row should have one less square, this should create the V shape. Then repeat on the other side, making sure they are symmetrical.

Hunters markers are much simpler, they have two or three rectangles which are produced with a wide body brush with closely knitted bristles.

Once the desired marks have been created, it is now time to add the sharks teeth. With a body brush, brush in an upwards direction in one stroke, you should see that the hair is now laying in a different direction. Starting at the same point brush downwards in a diagonal movement.

The next step is to brush up and try and meet the last point down, repeat this exercise until three or four shark’s teeth have been created.

Finishing Touches

Once you have arrived at the show add the last minute finishing touches to your horse or pony before you enter the ring.

Painting feet is a must’. Supreme Products Hoof Paint is great at producing shiny hooves to give your horse that top class effect. It is a paint, not a varnish, so it allows the hooves to breathe whilst creating a shiny finish.

If your horse has any scars or blemishes, or you want to add extra definition around the eyes and muzzle add Supreme Products Make Up

Finish the look by applying Supreme Products Glistening Oil to add those final touches and enhance and highlight your horse’s best points.

Now head off to the arena with a smile on your face and plenty of confidence!

The Supreme Products Guide to Producing a Champion

Most of the preparation for a show horse should be done at home. Giving your horse a quick bath and brush the day before a show will not have him looking in tip top condition. A show horse requires care and attention to keep him looking at his best throughout the season.

Feeding

Finding the correct feed for your horse is essential for making sure your horse looks and performs well. Regular small feeds are essential to a horses wellbeing. If your horse’s coat looks dull, add a splash of soya oil to his feed and he will soon have a shine back on his coat.

Rugging

Rugging your horse will help keep his summer coat looking good and discourage him from growing a winter one. Make sure he is warm - but not too hot otherwise he will be uncomfortable - at all times to help maintain a great coat.

In the summer it can become quite warm so you do not want to over-rug your horse. A Supreme Products Lycra Body Wrap is perfect for keeping your horse cool and comfortable whilst keeping the coat in tip top condition by preventing rug rubs. Add a lightweight rug over the top if necessary on colder periods.

Grooming

Daily grooming is essential to keep him looking good. By thoroughly grooming your horse you will help stimulate oil production and blood circulation, and will remove any dead skin cells and coat to give your horse a healthy glow. After grooming spray with Supreme Products De Luxe Coat Gloss to leave a natural looking shine to your horse’s coat

Trim any stray hairs on your horses head for example the ears, whiskers, jaw line and bridle path with mini clippers. Also make sure all heels are trimmed to create an elegant look.

Pay attention to the length of the mane and tail. If you will be regularly plaiting the mane, make sure it is pulled to a length that is manageable and will enable you to create neat plaits. In the show ring a nicely pulled tail looks elegant, however if you are not comfortable with pulling your horses tail the Supreme Products Thinning Comb is perfect for thinning manes and tails quickly and humanely.

Riding

At the start of the year make sure you get your show animals as fit as possible to be able to cope with the long days at shows. Spend a lot of time hacking out and building up the ponies and horses with more intense schooling. Good schooling work is important for the right build up of muscles to make them look more defined.

Throughout the season it is a case of ticking your horse over in between shows. It's a good idea to spend more time hacking the ponies and horses out and turning them out in the field in an attempt to keep their fitness and interest in showing.

Turnout

Turn out as much as possible. Ideally, aim for them to each get a few hours every day. Time in the field is very beneficial for horses and ponies, they get to relax and unwind which should stop them from becoming stale half way through the season.

During the season the ponies should be fit enough so concentrate on keeping them happy and sweet. After a show, give them a couple of days in the field, coming in at night for a feed and to be checked over.

For further information please contact Supreme Products on 01377 217150 or visit www.supremeproducts.co.uk

The Show Season is Coming...Make Sure You're Ready!

Even though there is still a slight chill in the air, summer is definitely on its way. The nights are getting lighter and horses and ponies across the country are starting to bear a slight semblance to the sleek show animals they were last year. Now is the time to start putting the hard yards in so your show horse will look and perform at his best when your first competition rolls around.

Mane tail and pulling is one of the less enthralling tasks that many people will be facing. If you are wondering how to tackle that muddy, matted thatch in front of you, make sure you read the following tips.

Preparation

Only pull your horse's mane and tail after exercise to make it more comfortable for both of you. After exercise the pores are open allowing the hair to fall out easily and painlessly. Also, a dirty mane and tail will allow you to have a better grip so do not bathe your horse before pulling. However, if the mane or tail prove slippery, try using Supreme Products Easy Plait to spray onto the desired area to give you more grip.

Keep your horse occupied with a haynet. It is surprising how he will not mind as much when eating! Before pulling, make sure you have combed through the mane and tail so that there are no knots which would make it painful for the horse. Lastly, pull little and often if it is a big task. Do not try to do it all at once as it could leave your horse sore.

The Mane

For horses that have their mane plaited a shorter pulled mane is a must in order to produce the perfect plaits. For ponies who compete regularly in Mountain and Moorland competitions a pulled mane can reduce some of the thickness and produce an even look creating a natural overall picture.

1. Starting at the poll, comb a little of the mane to almost the bottom of the hair, with your other hand hold the longest hairs that sit below the comb.

2. Still holding onto the longest hairs back comb the rest of the mane to the crest and with a sharp tug pull out the remaining long hairs.

3. Always pull out the hairs from the underside of the mane as this is what helps it lay flat.

4. Brush out the mane and repeat until you have reached the desired length and thickness.

5. Continue this process down the mane until you have reached the desired affect.

6. If there are a few remaining un-level hairs, pluck them out using your fingers.

The Tail

Many people forget about the tail but the majority of showing classes require a tail to be pulled. Not only will this smarten your horse’s appearance, but it can enhance the hindquarters as well as giving a more professional edge.

1. Starting at the top of the dock, comb a section of the hair out from the edge, grasp the longest hairs and back-comb the rest. Pull out the long hairs sharply and quickly, and repeat to about half way down the dock.

2. To achieve the best result pull more hairs from the edge of the dock than from the centre, the dock should appear to be evenly covered with hair. You are aiming to shape the tail to be sleek and thin at the top before gradually widening to the thickness of the tail.

3. Some horses can be very sensitive when having their tails pulled, standing directly behind your horse when pulling is not advisable.

4. When being pulled it is not uncommon for the dock to become sore. If you find it hard to pull a tail or your horse will not stand still, Supreme Products offer a superb alternative; the Supreme Products Thinning Comb. This is fantastic for pulling tails humanely in to shape, it gives the appearance of a pulled tail and is a very popular choice for people who have horses who dislike having their tails pulled.

5. After pulling the tail always brush the top of the tail with a water brush and bandage it, this will encourage the tail to lie flat and look smart. The tail bandage should not be left on overnight.

6. When pulling the tail also check to see if the tail is the correct length it may need trimming. To avoid cutting it too short put your arm under the dock to raise the tail into position it is when moving. With your left hand measure the tail to the horses chestnut or a couple of inches below the hocks, at this point cut the tail straight across.

Afterwards

To keep the mane and tail in top condition after pulling, try spraying Supreme Products Moisturise & Condition. This is a fantastic spray lotion that moisturises the skin and hair follicle, soothing any soreness or itchiness caused by pulling.

For manes that are regularly plaited, hooded and prone to dry skin Supreme Products Moisturise & Condition is essential to help prevent the mane from becoming damaged or dry. It can also aid in hair re-growth and visibly improves the condition of the hair within a matter of days.

To keep you horse’s tail looking smart and pristine, at the end of the grooming session spray the tail with Supreme Products Detangle & Shine, a de luxe detangler which helps protect valuable tail hairs, leaving them silky, shiny and lustrous.