A little birdy told me that you’re thinking of roaching your horse’s mane, what are you waiting for?!

Whether you’re just interested in how to roach a mane or wanting to roach your horse’s mane this season, I’ll be walking you through how I roach Lexington’s mane. Trust me, it’s a lot easier than you think!

Tools

First things first, here’s what you’ll need in order to start the process of roaching your horse’s mane.

• Mane comb

• Scissors

• Brush (optional)

• Detangler (optional)

• Stepping stool

1. The initial cut

   Okay, so now that we have tools, go on and grab your four-legged child! This step may vary depending on what state your horse’s hair is like, especially if their mane is long. Before we cut any hair, go ahead and thoroughly brush your horses mane.

   Once your horse’s mane is brushed, it’s time to whip out the scissors and mane comb. Whether you’re starting at the top (ears) or bottom (withers), run the comb about 2-3 inches from the base of the mane (pro tip: make sure when you’re measuring to pull the hair up towards the ceiling, the teeth on the comb should be pointing away from you).

   Now it’s time to take a deep breath, and let the scissors do the cutting. I use the top mane comb as a guide to get an even cut (opposed to cutting under the mane comb). Yay! You’re one cut closer to roaching your horse’s mane! Continue to make cuts along the mane until even.

2. Sleep on it

   You’ve made it to step 2, woohoo! Your horse’s hair is used to laying to one side, so now you’ll have to wait for it to slowly pop up. This stage could take a two days or a week for the hairs to stand up, it really depends on the horse.

   Throughout the that time frame, take your mane comb and gradually trim mane so that there is less weight (roughly 1-3cm). I do this with Lexington over the duration of two days to one week. This allows me see what length I like his mane at, while still having the peace of mind in knowing I can always make it shorter.

3. Finishing touches

   Okay, so you’ve made it this far, no going back now! While some may be loving the new look others might not, it’s time to clean up and even out that mane. It is important to be more or less at eye level with the mane when completing this step.

   If the hair is not 100% standing up, gently run the mane comb through, pushing the hair upward to a 90 degree angle. You’re going to clean up the mane by trimming to the shortest hair and continue with that length throughout the whole mane. Once you’ve completed your finishing touches and are satisfied with your job, give your horse a carrot and yourself a pat on the back! Congratulations, you’ve just roached your horse’s mane!