If you keep a horse in wintry climates, you’ve seen what Mother Nature can do to a horse’s tail. Natural condensation of moisture quickly freezes, causing icicles to form around clumps of hair. This cold coiffure is made worse if a horse decides to make a snow angel and roll. The result is an abominable snow horse!
The best way to preserve a tail until springtime is to begin with prevention. Some horse owners resign themselves to snipping off several inches from the tail, so that it can’t drag on damp ground. By springtime, the tail has grown back to its original length. Whether you want to snip or not, you can keep your horse de-iced with a little grooming. Before turning out your horse for winter playtime, brush out his tail and apply a light spritzing of coat polish or detangler to help ward off icicles. You can even braid the tail for further protection.
If you already have Frosty the Snow Horse, there is still hope. Melt away the icicles in your horse’s tail with the use of a hair blow dryer. Of course, you need to make sure that your horse is willing to tolerate the sounds of a beauty salon first. And bring your horse—and your blow dryer—into the barn aisle or stall where it’s completely dry before plugging it in, just as you would with a set of electric clippers. Once his tail is free from ice, you can take those preventive steps to keep it from happening again.
Thanks for the article. It was very informative.
There’s only one place in North America where you can experience top international horse show…
Lexington, Ky. — Current U.S. Eventing Technical Advisor and Chef d’Equipe Bobby Costello has made…
W. Springfield, Mass. — Wondering what’s waiting for you at the 2024 Equine Affaire? Horses,…
It seems like just yesterday that a top-level international fall three-day event was added to…
The Akhal-Teke horse—pronounced like “apple” with a K instead of the P’s, and “techie”—is one of the rarest horse breeds…
Welcome to Barn Banter, the official podcast of Horse Illustrated. In Barn Banter episode 25, hosts Susan Friedland and Horse Illustrated…
Making difficult care decisions for a horse that has been closer to us than many family members can be traumatizing…
There’s only one place in North America where you can experience top international horse show competition combined with all the…
On July 4, 2016, law student Leah McKeever went to the barn for a special project. She and her mom,…
Welcome to Horse Illustrated’s weekly installment of the Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, offered in partnership with the…