tail trimming of welsh D

[eventerbabe]

anyone want to guide me through how to trim a welsh D's tail correctly? i'm a dab hand with clippers, scissors etc but i've never trimmed up a welshies tail!

[xloopylozzax]

they are usually pulled into a switch shape, not straight across.

for welshies they need to be just below hock length (IMO, i like them like this) or if they are cow-hocked etc leave it longer to hide it.
will try and find picture...

[Nik-n-Kia]

I do Kia's by sticking my arm under neath his tail and lifting it then cutting slightly long then choping in so its not straight across.

Sorry if that makes no sense to you lol!!!

Just the way I was shown lol!!!

Nikki xxxx

[Joyscarer]

I don't show but I do the same.

I lift the tail out and away from the body, hold the tail all bunched between thumb and first finger and (not easy as Joy has a vey thick tail) and then cut it so that it is longer than I want (as pratice).

I go straight across to get the length but because welshies can't have banged tails and have to be natutral looking I then cut it into a sot of cone shape.

Let go of the tail and BINGO, a natural looking tail.

In winter I take it to just about halfway between the hocks and the fetlocks so it doesn't get muddy. In summer I leave it a bit longer so she has more to zapp the flies with. :)

Natural looking is the key here as that is right for showing guidelines.

[Daffy Dilly]

I just brush thoroughly, run my hands down and then grab the lot. I cut it at an angle (so there is a point in the middle) from as many directions as I can manage, several times, then let it down. Do it again to tidy up, and if I feel the need I kneel on the floor behind him and tidy it up at eye level.

Length is never an issue for us really, it's usually about his fetlocks as hock length didn't go down too well with the ridden judges, so I tend to tidy the end and that sorts the length for us.

[sou94a06]

After years of trying various methods found a good one.

Twist the whole of the tail from the bottom of the dock to the end and using a sharp knife cut away all the bits that stick out using the knife over the last 6" to 12" depending how much you want off. Let go and as the twist releases hey presto you have a natural tail, knife rather than sissors, like your hairdresser does to feather your hair.

If it is not short enough do it again and each time it shortens a little.

Look at the pictures on our profile to see the stallion with his done like this.

Good luck.

[eventerbabe]

cheers for all the tips! we'll give it a whirl! i'll maybe go for longer to start with, we can always trim it shorter for his show in july.