Ok, so from the last post you already know I'm passionate about hair care... Specifically growing long, soft manes and tails. So in this post I'm going to share with you how I have gotten my horses' tails to sweep the ground and also how I care for them to keep them looking good.
Now we've all heard that braiding your horse's hair will keep it from breaking or being rubbed off. But if you're like me, you've noticed the braids get dirty and the hair will begin to dry out. Or you've noticed what my mentor Jesse Westfall did and that a braided tail acts like a whip and stings the horse, causing them to keep swishing it back and forth more often. Nobody wants a horse that swishes their tail excessively, especially in the show pen... But I just can't handle the muddy, dry tails in the Fall-Winter-Spring months... So what do I do?
I'll save you the long history of how I've tried everything from tail bags that fall out or get destroyed and vet wrap which is annoying to apply costs a ton to reapply each week. The long story short is I found a new product and I'm OBSESSED.
BTW when did vet wrap get so expensive! I feel like you could pick up a roll for $0.99 and now it's $2-3 at some places! The Howgirls Do It Tip: Schneiders will run $0.99 sales still, but you have to pay shipping, so place the order with other things you need to purchase so the shipping is worth it.
The Tail Boot
You may have seen this game-changer popping up in your Facebook feed like I have and now I'm hooked. It's the Tail Boot. They are $30 at tailboot.com and basically look like a sport medicine boot (splint boot) that you wrap around your horse's tail. At the bottom, there is a "swisher" that basically looks like some colorful baling twine. But what I like about this boot is that it is easy to apply, keeps the tail secure and clean, PLUS has the gentle swisher so your horse is not stinging himself with his tight braid and inadvertently teaching himself to swish his tail.
If you want to try the Tail Boot, here's my code for 10% off: 10OFFHOWGIRL
Math Time: If you use half a roll of vet wrap each week for 1 horse (yes, please re-braid your tails each week. Leaving them sit will cause them to rub and break, plus you want to rehydrate the tail with Santa Fe to keep it smooth), you would go through 2 rolls per month. At the average of $2/roll, that's $24 per year in vet wrap. So in one year, you've already nearly paid for your reusable Tail Boot.
My Weekly Hair Care Routine
Spray mane, tail, and body with Santa Fe (Why Santa Fe? Check out my hair care product review here.)
Braid tail below the tail bone.
Split the braid right below the tail bone and pull the end of the braid through.
Slide Tail Boot sleeve over the braid and then fasten the boot snuggly around the braid loop.
Apply swishers.
Re-do steps 1-5 each week for a soft, shiny, and long tail.
Folks, I've tried tons of other products and methods and this is by far my favorite so far. Pop on over to my other blog post to learn WHY I love Santa Fe so much. And if you have any tips you have liked to keep your tails looking great, share those below! Have you tried the Tail Boot yet? Let me know in the comments below too.
Ok, I promise all my blog posts won't be product reviews, but when I find a great one I want to share it with you all! I am not one to push products unless I actually believe in them, so if I'm telling you to try it... TRY IT! ;)
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