Pulling Manes Is An Archaic Practice
Turnout matters. Keeping your horse clean and well groomed isn’t just about making them look pretty. It’s about their health. While I think that’s something we can all agree on, there are a lot of things we do – like mane pulling – that seem to be more about achieving the “look” than anything else. (I’m also looking at you, whisker clipping)
Traditions, yada yada.
I’m not arguing that a horse’s mane shouldn’t be trimmed. In fact, I think there’s a lot of times where a tidy, shorter mane is quite helpful. I imagine it might be a bit difficult to get a sweaty horse dry under a long, thick mane. It would also be difficult to keep free of burrs and other debris if your horse is turned out. From a rider perspective, it’s definitely easier to “grab mane” if said mane is trimmed up and not long. That being said, ripping your horse’s hair out to achieve that tidy look seems a bit ludicrous, even to someone who has been following suit for years in the name of tradition.
IMO:
Who decided that scissors were the enemy? I know many a mane has been butchered with scissors… but hasn’t just as many unnecessary fights occurred with a protesting horse? A butchered mane can be fixed in a few minutes by skilled hands, but a horse who has been made fearful by being forced into an archaic practice for the sake of beauty will take much longer. And just because your horse stands there and lets you pull doesn’t mean they like it.
No more fighting.
One of my personal goals for this year is the handle my animals more humanely. That is, I am opening myself up to changing the way I do things that I still get the traditional desired outcome without being cemented in old fashioned methods. I know how to scissor a mane nicely, and now I will do so on all my horses, not just the ones who try to kill me when I pick up a pulling comb. Because why have the fight or cause discomfort if you don’t have to?
This hot take originally published in the Heels Down Spark in January 2021. Sign up now for more conversation starters delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.