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BlackWaterEquine · Dec 4, 2017 1:55 PM

So, I care for about 20 Gypsy Vanner horse and they all have soooo much hair.

I need to find a new way to keep their manes from tangling and twisting into knots, but it can't be super labor intensive

I need all the tips and hints you guys can give me; Product names, Instructions, DIY stuff etc

**I would love to add some pictures of them on here but I have no idea how to do that lol**

ParadisePark · Dec 4, 2017 1:59 PM

http://www.horsechannel.com/equine-university/horse-college/horse-grooming-college/session-100/manes-and-tails-article.aspx
Found a link that might help :D

Goobanni · Dec 4, 2017 2:08 PM

I have a great tip.... Send them to me....I will groom them and keep them all happy and healthy....you know, just to help you out :D

Riverstone18 · Dec 4, 2017 2:34 PM

*Sticks Hand up* I agree and i'm with Goobanni!!!!! gypsy are my most favorite Breed ever!!!
and i heard about a shampoo named Cowboy Magic :3 read the testimonials and how the gypsy owners say about it :x
http://cowboymagic.com/testimonial/
http://cowboymagic.com/products/

supersarah · Dec 4, 2017 2:39 PM

Have you tried a heavy leave in grooming oil like Shapeleys no2 ? I have heard that pure coconut oil also works, but have not tried.

BlackWaterEquine · Dec 4, 2017 3:05 PM

Sooooo as much as I wish I could have someone to help me groom, that's not possible lol XD

I use cowboy magic at the other barn I work at, great stuff but I think i'm leaning towards finding a way to deep condition the hair with some super awesome conditioner.

Coconut Oil some good stuff but a hassle to handle, would be easy to find a coconut oil based conditoner maybe

Ammit · Dec 4, 2017 3:42 PM

Have you tried a good sharp pair of clippers. >:)

Realistically you will need to braid everything.

Oil should never be left in manes and tails. Oil attracts dirt and that causes far worse tangling and causes hair breakage.

kintara · Dec 4, 2017 4:28 PM

You can braid them but I have Gypsies and personally I don't like how they get over long with braiding, so I don't do it, plus I find they get thinner, I leave them natural and they still get long enough, and thick.

The best thing I find is simply wash with a mild shampoo every month, and put in a good human conditioner. You are then detangling fairly regularly so they don't ever get big matts and knots, and I can wash each one quite quickly. I finger comb them after well conditioned, but I will do a quick brush when dry too. Just don't over do brushing the mane, the tails are so thick I don't miss any hairs that brush out!!

The feather I oil with just a bit of inert mineral/white oil. Dirt sticks to it but easily washes off when you need to be clean, and feather actually stays cleaner.

All the above I only do too with horses I might want to show, sell or more on public view, realistically most of the time, most of them just hang out being natural horses!!

KniKna · Dec 4, 2017 7:17 PM

I vote for Cowboy Magic! It is magical stuff. The detangler spray works amazingly well on my clydesdale's thick mane and tail. They also make a green spot remover which is fantastic!

There is a gypsy breeder near me who shaves her broodmares' tails, but that is a very drastic measure!

KenworthFarms · Dec 4, 2017 7:32 PM

Healthy Hair Care and/or Cowboy Magic. I've had successful results with both over the years :)

ColorGoodStables · Dec 5, 2017 12:56 AM

Whatvdies a gypsy look like when you shave them? Anybody ever seen it done? I imagine they look like a thick cob

ShowHorseRescue · Dec 5, 2017 1:04 AM

Cowboy magic and alao MoracleGroom! Miracle groom is amazing! It repels dirt and conditions and protects!

Also people thought that I was weird but I used to apply MTG to repel water from my horses legs. It prevented mud fever and the mud its self.

kintara · Dec 5, 2017 1:19 AM

In the UK if they aren't showing as traditionals they are often all clipped up, with even their manes hogged, just called show cobs I think, the maxi cobs especially clip off the mane and feathers

Also, they are a thick cob LOL, that's why they are called cobs in the UK! The traditionals are the hairy feathered cobs

dark star · Dec 7, 2017 7:42 PM

This is why I own a Fjord. Fjord mane maintenance is so much easier.

Maribo · Dec 8, 2017 9:44 AM

Aw, I love Fjords. My first horse was a mix between a Fjord and a Dole. My second was a three year old Fjord that I broke myself. That horse tried to kill me more times than I can count, but when we finally got along we did amazing things. He was my heart and soul. Wish I could have kept him, but I am lucky to have contact with his owner. He will be turning 20 in May, and is still full of himself. I hope I get a chance to go see him again.

Sorry for going off topic :P

Cheers · Dec 8, 2017 12:42 PM

A paste of cornstarch and water can help take manure stains out of white spots on the coat. It also masks the stain nicely. Make the paste, apply, let dry and brush out the excess powder with a soft body brush. My first pony was a flea bitten gray QH. After that I stuck to bays with minimal markings!

Cheers · Dec 8, 2017 12:52 PM

I don’t have any experience with trying to groom Vanners, coming from a pretty conservative Hunter or Western Pleasure area of rural Arkansas. However, I did work with a Friesian mare and a big Belgian Draft gelding. Their owner would mud tail their tails on wet days when they were in the pasture to keep them from dragging the bottom of the tail through the mud.

The only other thing I’d say is as a curly haired human, dry hair is more prone to tangling. Use a really good conditioner and comb it through the mane wet. Then use some sort of leave in moisturizing product if you can. It will help lessen both tangling and breakage.

PaintsStables · Dec 9, 2017 6:18 AM

I always used 'Cowboy Magic' with my show horses for the manes and tails. Just wash, put on 'Cowboy Magic' comb through. It is a no rinse, mane and tail detangler. I even use it on my own hair. Just don't use it where a saddle is going to go. It is very slippery, slick. The tangles are real easy to get out, and it doesn't take long to do it.

Peninsula · Dec 9, 2017 10:17 AM

I use mane and tail spray on my traditional, cheap and easy to use

Peninsula · Dec 9, 2017 10:23 AM

Mines the idiot on the left. I can never do this image thing right so may take a while.

https://imgur.com/a/sXRlS

Painted Dreams · Dec 18, 2017 7:12 PM

I've cared for a few Gypsy Vanners and I have found that show sheen if your best friend. The kind in the spray bottle is the easiest to use and it keeps their manes silky for at least a few days. Also braiding is the easiest way to keep all that hair out of the way. For their manes a running braid is pretty easy to do and doesn't take a ton of time, especially once you've practiced a few times. Their tails are so thick a braid won't do much good so brushing it with the show sheen once a day will keep it smooth and untangled.

EasternShowBarn · Jan 1, 2018 8:02 AM

I don’t have a gypsy but my mares mane and tail are super thick and her mane is long. I put her mane in braids in the winter and wrap them with MTG or cowboy magic and just unwrap them and unbraid every couple weeks, wait a week or two, then put it back up. It saves her mane from knots most the time. Her tail I comb out every few days to a week with cowboy magic or a good detangler and leave it down. We put her tail up one time and for the most part it was out of the way and wasn’t to bad of a hassle after we took it out. We don’t normally do much with her mane and tail during the spring/summer but this summer I’m planning on doing more work with her so I’ll braid her mane while riding or working with her so none of the equipment gets tangled in it and I’ll do a simple braid in her tail for the same reason. I normally would comb them every time I brought her in which is maybe 3 times a week. If she has wind tangles or burdocks then I’ll comb them out when I get her in but other than that she’s normally out with the herd doing her own thing. Also sorry for the long post, I really hope it helps.

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