| Horses have manes and tails, and we humans | | | | The length and thickness of a horse's mane and |
| don't. Perhaps that accounts for their endless | | | | tail are determined by to an extent by genetics. |
| fascination to those of us who love and care for | | | | Many horses, though, posses an undeveloped |
| a horse. | | | | genetic potential for fuller and longer hair in these |
| Sure, we have hair on our heads -- most of us, | | | | areas. Knowledgeable owners who can help their |
| anyway! But the hair in a horse's mane, as well as | | | | horse express this potential have a huge |
| in its tail, differs in many ways from people hair. | | | | advantage in the show ring. |
| As a horse owner and show ring competitor, I | | | | If you own or simply love a horse, pay extra |
| spend a lot of time on my horses' manes and | | | | attention to its mane and tail. It will can pay off in |
| tails. Attention paid to these flashier parts of the | | | | the long run. |
| horse pays off in admiring looks from spectators, | | | | Although many have a hard time believing it, it is |
| not to mention in the number of awards carried | | | | actually possible to take an average looking horse |
| home. | | | | and grow a long, thick, flowing mane or a luxuriant |
| A horse's mane is defined as the hair that grows | | | | tail on it in a matter of mere months. Such |
| from its neck. This includes the forelock, of | | | | enhancements do win contests, even against |
| course. The hair of a mane is generally much | | | | horses that may technically be superior in terms |
| thicker than the horse's overall coat. Some horse | | | | of strict conformation. After all, judges are |
| breeds, and some individuals within breeds, have | | | | human, too! |
| much thicker manes than others. I have seen | | | | Beautifying a horse in this way has also proved |
| amazing show horses whose manes practically | | | | remunerative for some savvy folks. There are |
| touch the ground! | | | | people who will buy a mediocre animal, then apply |
| A horse's tail is an extension of the animal's spinal | | | | the secret methods that spur the mane and tail |
| column. If you could look inside who would see a | | | | to "burst forth," as it were. They then easily |
| number of vertebrae -- on average around 18 or | | | | re-sell the horse for much more than they paid, |
| 20, but this can vary. Horse tails also contain | | | | resulting in a very nice profit for themselves. |
| muscles and ligaments, arteries, skin and hair. | | | | Of course, most horse owners learn the secrets |
| Horse tail hair is made of keratin, and in that | | | | of growing amazing manes and tails simply for the |
| respect is more like our fingernails than it is the | | | | pleasure it gives them. |
| hair on our heads. | | | | |