Solo comb ?

[Trewsers]

HI there, the time has come for OH and I to attend to our horses manes. Joe's prev owner told us he did not like having his mane pulled - so she used a Solo comb. I've bought one but haven't had it out of the wrapper yet, any tips / advice??? Are they difficult to use? Also, I don't really want to pull their tails - can you just trim the ends with scissors??? Any tips?

[The Flying Irishman]

Have thought about getting one of those myself as my lad is terrified if you try to pull his mane, let me know how you get on cos at the mo am a bit terrified to do it in case I hash it up and he ends up looking a right clip

[laz]

I bought one for my horse i think they are really good cause you dont pull the mane. Just do small sections at a time and back comb but keep a hold of it tight them press the button to cut the mane. You are best doing a thick mane from underneath. ;)

[No_Angel]

Ive got one, but its blunt now, and not the one you can change the blade in.
I made the mistake when I first used it of cutting the hair by the roots, when the hair grew back it stuck up, so dont do that! lol :p It looked awful.
I back comb the hair to where I want it and then cut it, then back comb the rest of the hair and cut it slightly longer than the back bit of hair, looks more natural this way.
I also use a comb and scissors and do the same thing.
Last time I tried to pull Ambers mane she kicked me really badly in the hip, so now I only ever do it this way, looks alot thicker than pulling it tho.

[Trewsers]

Thanks for the replies guys, am going to try it tonight! HOpe I don't mess up :eek: JOe will never forgive me...... :p

[Funky MeerKAT]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DON"T USE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They are good the first time you do it, but as they cut the hair really short instead of pulling it out, when the cut hair grows out it will stick STRAIGHT up!! And you can't get it to lie flat!!

Trust me I have had a lot of experience with these things, I tryed one when they first came out and a month later I was kicking myself (really really hard) my horses mane was uterly impossible to do ANYTHING with. And the horse I bought 6 months ago had had one used on him at his last home and I got the results of it!! It takes ages to get it to grow out properly again. Its like when you cut the bridle path and it grows out a bit and sticks straight in the air, except that its all thought his mane and you can just cut the hairs again cause all the other mane is in the way.

PLEASE PLEASE DON"T USE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edit: Oh, and you should leave his tail full - it looks much better.
Is his mane thick?

[Trewsers]

No, his mane is quite thin - and its looking straggly! Oh dear, am scared to use the solo comb now - might just ask a lady I know at the Yard who is good at these things - she might offer to trim it with scissors for me!!!

[Bozzy]

I use one and think it's excellent!

The bottom half of Ed's mane is really thin (due to full neck rug over winter) so I don't want to pull it. I use a solocomb, back comb and cut at the length I want it but only cut minimal hairs at a time. Takes a bit of practice, first time I used it I cut too many hairs at once and it looked really bad!

I pull the top half of his mane and use the solo comb to tidy it up every few weeks.

I suppose it's just personal preference and practice! If you're not needing to thin the mane then I'd say it'd be ideal.

[Funky MeerKAT]

That last post is right, and if you don't want to pull his mane and its not thick you are in luck.

The problem arises with solo combs when you are trying to thin the mane and you cut it short right close to the neck. But if you do as that last post suggests its OK. I use sissors and find that this gives a better result.

Take a chunk of mane and holding the longest bits at the bottom back comb the rest and (like you would for pulling) and them instead of pulling it out you cut it at the length that you want it, don't cut it to short tho as when you let it go it will look shorter than you thought. Cut the mane with the sissors pointing upwards and do lots of little snips so that the mane doesn't get that awful, straight "badly cut fringe" look.

Sorry to scare you about the solo comb! But those things are awful, a pair of sissors is much better

[Trewsers]

Well, my poor lad couldn't go out yesterday cos he's got a loose shoe and farrier couldn't come :( Anyways, I used the opportunity to use the solo comb - mission successful!!!!!!! Well, its not too bad a job - I just got stuck in and well, its a lot better than it was (it was getting straggly and thin). I need to just neaten it up a bit tonight. Joe quite enjoyed having it done - weirdly, cos usually he's very nosey and won't keep still :D

[Trixie]

I find the Solo comb really good. I make sure that I cut the really long ones about 3-4 inches from the base of the mane. That way they're long enough to stay lying flat, yet they have enough time to fray at the ends and look natural before they get long again, so they don't look blunt. Make sure you work on the underside of the mane and backcomb well. Also every snip you do should only be a few hairs (I stick to a maximum of five at a time). That way any mistakes don't show. It takes me a long time, but my horse appreciates it and just keeps munching while I do it. DON'T do what I've seen done and comb with the Solo down the way then cut the ends straight. You end up with the horse equivalent of a pudding-bowl haircut :D