Tying up your horse’s tail and keeping it wrapped or bagged is one way to prevent breakage and allow it to grow long. It does take away your horse’s natural defense against flies, so only do this if your horse is indoors during the worst fly activity, or if you can outfit him with a fly sheet when he’s turned out.
Before wrapping your horse’s tail, always wash it and be sure it is completely dry before you begin.First, braid the tail and fold it into thirds.
Finally, put the tail in a bag that is tied at the top of the braid below the tailbone.
Once the braid is tied up, you can cover the tail using a tail bag, making sure not to attach anything around the tailbone. Plan to take the braid out to detangle knots and rewash, if needed, every week or so.
Tap here to read more about grooming and maintaining your horse’s mane and tail.
This article originally appeared in the March/April 2019 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!
Leslie Potter is a graduate of William Woods University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Equestrian Science with a concentration in saddle seat riding and a minor in Journalism/Mass Communications. She is currently a writer and photographer in Lexington, Ky.Potter worked as a barn manager and riding instructor and was a freelance reporter and photographer for the Horsemen's Yankee Pedlar and Saddle Horse Report before moving to Lexington to join Horse Illustrated as Web Editor from 2008 to 2019. Her current equestrian pursuits include being a grown-up lesson kid at an eventing barn and trail riding with her senior Morgan gelding, Snoopy.
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