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How to Bang a Horse Tail

What sets apart the pros from the amateurs? Often it’s the little details. Learning how to properly trim and bang a horse’s tail can give you that polished edge you desire in the show-ring. Banged tails are a popular “hairstyle” in dressage and eventing, and are becoming more common in many western events. The length can vary from the fetlock joint to the bottom of the hock, depending on the natural length you have to start with. In western classes, it is common to see longer squared-off tails, a couple of inches above the ground. A trimmed dock is seen almost exclusively in eventing and dressage. Here are some step-by-step tips to show you how to trim and bang a tail yourself: 




1. To bang the tail, have an assistant hold the tail up to where the horse would carry it in motion.




2. Hold the hair together and run the clippers across the bottom to square the end off.


3.  To shorten the dock hair, blend carefully, clipping in the direction of hair growth. It helps to steady the clippers against the horse’s hindquarters.


4.  You may also choose to edge the long hairs on top a bit. Keep blending for a smooth transition.


5.  The hair has been shortened in a small crescent along the side of the dock, down to the natural breakover point where the horse carries his tail.


6.  The finished tail: banged and trimmed.

How to Braid a Horse’s Tail >>

Horse Illustrated

Horse Illustrated is the magazine for people who are passionate about horses. Each issue offers advice on horse health and care, plus user-friendly training tips for both English and western riders and engaging lifestyle features for horse lovers.

View Comments

  • The info. was useful. I only wish my Appy had enough tail to try them out on!!! LOL!
    I'd like to see info. about roaching his pathetic & uneven mane, please.

  • also if you don't have a buddy handy to hold the tail in working position, you can use one of those smb tendon boots under the tail. I do that with mine and he seems to hold it there while I bang the tail with clippers.

  • Where did the word "bang" come from? I had always heard "trim". When I got the email annoucing the article I thought someone typed in the word bang when they meant "bag a tail". I have never heard the word bang used before to trim a tail. I have been showing horses for over 20 years. Maybe it is a regional term?

  • i think its ugly people bang tail there tails.it should be left normal.they ought to put it up in a tail bag or bandage that dose not pull on there tail.

  • I don't care what show Im going too, I would never bang my horses tail. I won't do something for the show if I can't stand to look at it for long term. You can't beat the look of a natural tail- uneaven, wavy and perfect.

  • Trimming and banging horses tails are not just for looks - they have a purpose! The tails are trimmed around the dock to show off the horse's hind quarters and tails are banged or "trimmed" to keep them from stepping on them while performing high collection movements such as piaffe and canter pirouettes. This REALLY is what separates the amateurs from the professionals!

  • banging a horses tail makes it look neater and fuller....I don;t have a fancy trail horse but when you leave the ends natural it looks ratty, just like if we never got hair cuts

  • I'll have to try this, but I don't have clippers. Do you need them? I don't own a fancy horse either, but that sounds good.

  • And with the area open, the flies get in to the most sensitive area on their bodies.
    I prefer the natural look too.

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