Mane Growth

[TheFriesianGirl]

Hi everyone! I've been having a lot of trouble growing my mare's mane. It hasn't grown in over 3 years! What do you all do to maintain it and aid in the growth?

I do braid it, and it seems to keep it nice. Any products that are good and any I should stay away from?

Thanks!

[zahra]

I rub MTG in at the roots and then smear a conditioner (I use Xtreme) on the mane, being sure to also put it on the base so that it helps to weight the hair down and keep it all on one side. I leave this all in and repeat about 2-3 times a week. Wash out once a week.

Unfortunately, I had Zahra at the trainers for 3 months and a week before she was picked up and moved to another barn, she rubbed out 1/2 of her mane! I was not doing this process while she was at the trainers....I think she rubbed it out due to stress. I am just SICKENED by it! Was going to take her to the keuring in Sept...not now :-(

[friesiansownme]

I was told by the person in Holland who I got my gelding from, to use a good human grade conditioner, and be generous about it. I avoid products with silicone, I think over time it breaks the hair, tends to dry it out. I always finger through manes and tails first, and it can take hours! I try not to mess with their manes to muich, and only braid for shows. Even on my thinner manes, I still get growth, unless they get real itchy and rub it out, or if another hrose grabs a bit and pulls it out. I generally use 'mane and tail conditioner", washing it out periodically as it does attract dirt! I just picked up some Rio Vista, mane and tail conditioner. I haven't tried it just yet. That one says wash the mane and tail first, then apply and leave it in. I'll give it a try as I got a bunch on sale!! It better work!! I got 12 bottles! With 3 Friesians, one bottle doesn't last to long!! ;-)

[teamo11]

Hi All,

I too have gone thru a lot of different products. However I found one I absolutely LOVE! The Trophy Line www.thetrophyline.com/ Sharon, the creator of this product is a wonderful lady, responds quickly to your emails for info, etc. I actually thought the problem was that the water was just too hard and products were probably good but I couldnt do anything because of the water. Not so! I discovered Trophy Line because a friend of mine who has a Gypsy used it and the gloss and shine and condition she got on that mane and tail were phenomenal! I also use on Tiemen's feathers. Best ~ DEbbi

[TheFriesianGirl]

Thanks for all of your feedback!

[friesngal]

One of the gals at my barn has a mare who had terrible shelly and cracking hooves. She put her mare on Formula 4 Feet from Emerald Valley. She said her horse's hooves are now the best they've ever been (about 5 months later now) and she's also grown out her forelock which before was always a little tuft, (her horse is not a Friesian). The external hair care is important, but what goes inside seems to make a difference too. www.emeraldvalleyequine.com/formula4feet.cfm
You can also use Formula 4 Feet as a balancer. I have Nylis on it since I cut back his feed quite a bit while he is rehabbing from his front foot issue, I didn't want him to get fat with the reduction in work but wanted to make sure he is getting all the nutrients he needs. I've noticed his forelock that used to always end just below his eyes is now down to just above his nostrils. He's also on a high fat low carb diet, I'm not sure which feed item seems to have helped his hair growth, but it's more now than before!

[friesngal]

Thank you for the reference to The Trophy Line. I went ahead and ordered some conditioner and polisher. I have been using the Eqyss products. Their conditioner smells like coconut, their version of the polisher called Survivor has a wonderful floral scent. They both seem to do a good job, but I like the idea of supporting a small business owner so am now going to try the Trophy Line products. The polisher is a bit thinner so it is easier to spread I think than Survivor, I like how it softens tail hair and seems to do a good job at detangling.

[teamo11]

Hi Friesian gal,
Yes I too used Eqyss products. however when I found The Trophy Line I was hooked! Enjoy! again I use on Tiemen's feathers too! Best Debbi

[crystalthunder]

I use megatech mane strengthener. It is great for growing hair back from bites from my arab where they play over the fence!! When I got Timmie from Holland a year ago parts of his mane were only an inch long now it has grown to about 8 inches. I dilute it with water in a spray bottle and spray it on his mane and tail most days and it is brill!! Quite expensive but I am still on the same bottle that I got a year ago. For scrapes and scars you put it on neat and the hair grows back within 2 weeks and it smells lovely too!

[TheFriesianGirl]

I'm so happy to read all of your feedback. I'm going to take a picture of my mare's mane and see if anyone can "diagnose" the problem and if a visual will help. I have purchased Healthy Hair Care Product's Hair Moisturizer spray. I spray her mane every other day and comb it gently. It seems to have made it shiny and at least appear to look not as brittle and ugly. I am found of sprays and with me leaving for school in a few weeks, I wont be there to wash it regularly. So if anyone else has some spray-type concoctions they use, I'd like to hear the "recipe" Thanks everyone you've been a huge help!

[friesngal]

I got some of the Trophy Line products, the conditioner and the polisher on Debbi's recommendation. I'm almost always ready to try a new hair thing that can preserve what he grows. I love them! They aren't goopy at all and they make Nylis's hair shine and move so free. So soft too. When dry I don't feel a buildup of any kind. I have shampooed his hair, rinse, put in a bit of conditioner, rinse most of it out, then put on the polisher while his hair is wet, then let air dry. I comb out with my fingers or gently with a brush and his hair is like a person's hair, so light. The sort of cord like twirls of long hair just fall apart. I think this is better than the Eqyss products, which I've really enjoyed before.
Thank you!
Kathy

[sedona]

Hi everyone I am new to the group! I joined because most of my friends have Freesians and they are on my horse list of next breed I want to own! I know Debbie and Tieman is one of our poster boys for Mane-ly Long Hair! I just wanted to say thank you to several memebers for your lovely testimonials! If you have questions about the products just ask! If you are interested I can do a promo for this group just lmk and I am happy to!

[janethall]

Hi,
I was wondering if anyone here has tried these mane wraps at ManeWear.com? I have been wanting to protect our horses manes for a long time but it seems like nothing really works that well and still looks nice. This company says theirs are easily washable/durable and they seem really classy but I thought I'd check around before diving in. It looks like the owner is using them for their Friesians. If anyone has tried these please let me know what you think.

Thanks!

[laurieg]

Hi Janet My name is Laurie Grigsby owner of ManeWear. A friend told me about your post so I thought I'd try to answer a few of your questions. I imported my Friesian mare, Jolanda, and her mane nearly reached the ground. I didn't have a clue as to what and how to maintain it or keep it healthy. Our horses get turned out daily all year round and it was going to be a challenge keeping the foxtails, pinecones, and dry grasses out of it, and particularly keeping the mane healthy. I tried a number of different hair care products on the market but nothing seem to work for Jolanda. So I decided that I needed to solve the problem for myself, hence ManeWear.

Jolanda has worn a ManeWear 24/7 for the last 1 1/2 yrs, keeping the sun off of her mane really helps to keep the mane from drying out and splitting. I change mine about once a week and cycle through a variety of colors and styles just for the fun of it. If you have any more questions or thoughts please feel free to email me at laurie.manewear.com

[lifesabeach]

I use "Pink" you can find it in the African american hair products at Walmart. I like the cream. Haven't tried the spray yet. The cost is 5 times cheaper then Show sheen and it works just as good if not better.

I started using it right after I got my 7 month old Friesian cross colt. His mane has grown 2 inches in two months and his tail even more. I also think the cup daily of BOSS (black oil sunflower seeds) also contributes from within. I also feed BOSS and use Pink on my very thin maned Arab and I def see a difference especially in his tail which now touches the ground and I have always had trouble getting his mane and tail nice before. I think it also helps to stop combing and use your fingers instead even on your thin manes and tails.

hope this helps.