Posts Tagged ‘braid’

Winter & early spring can be hard on tails with all the mud and ”poop soup”. To keep your horse’s tail clean you can do two things.

• Put your horse’s tail into a commercial tail bag.
• Protect it with a braid.

For lovely locks it’s important that you bag or braid a clean tail. You can safely bathe the bottom of the tail below the tail bone even in cold weather. Make sure to use a gentle shampoo without Sodium Lauryl & Sodium Laureth Sulphate (common ingredient in majority of horse shampoos on the market that is toxic to fish and wildlife) such as Squeaky Green & Clean. Always apply a tail conditioner before bagging/ braiding to prevent breakage. Go silicone free since silicone prevents hair from breathing and without oxygen the hair cannot regenerate. Try our 100% natural De-Stress Intensive Restructuring Treatment that is readily absorbed and doesn’t suffocate your horse’s tail.

Protect your horse's tail with a braid

How to Braid:

Divide the hair into three sections, wrap each section in a commercial tail tube protector (you can also use strips of torn bedsheet or an old pair of pantyhose) then braid the sections together. Once you hit the end of the tail continue braiding  for a few inches then finish off with a knot.

Ride Green!
The EcoLicious Equestrian

Check out our full line of delicious, natural and green equine care & grooming products at www.ecoliciousequestrian.com

Here is our final part of our “EcoLicious Red Carpet Ready Guide”. If you follow these steps, your horse will look like a glamorous movie star at the Oscars when you’re done with him. Guaranteed. Most importantly -  have fun with your horse and make sure to have some baby carrots handy.

Step 6:  Finishing Touches

Yes, here I am working on the mane and tail again!  What kind of anal-retentive, over achiever would I be if I didn’t work on the mane and tail just once more? 

When the mane is dry, I like to wrap things up by braiding using In Control Braiding & Mane Setting Cream.  I’ve tried other products, but as far as I’m concerned this is a lifesaver if you do any sport where you have to band or braid.  Not only are hairsprays and gels toxic, sticky and smelly but they also don’t provide the subtle hold In Control gives you (OR add lustre OR restore elasticity to the hair!)  You caught me – I’m not a fan of using hairsprays or sticky short-cuts to braid hair, but can you blame me? Who wants a crunchy, sticky mane and tail after you’ve just put all that effort into getting it silky, shiny and soft?!?  Even if you don’t braid, gently smooth the settling cream along the crest of the mane to eliminate those pesky fly-a-way’s.

As I move back to the tail, I once again reach for my trusty De-Stress Intensive Reconstructing & Detangling Treatment.  I like to put a small dollop in my hand and work it through the tail, doing one last gentle finger comb as I go.  Once I’m satisfied that absolutely no raking is required, I will brush the tail with a flexible, natural bristle brush. As I gently separate every last squeaky clean, glistening strand I build show-stopping volume (a must for horses who weren’t blessed with beautiful tails and a bonus for those who were!)

Step 7:  Pièce de résistance

You didn’t think I’d ignore the hooves did you?  I leave this step until just before I go to the warm-up ring – in fact it’s the last thing I do before I get changed into my show clothes and put my bridle on.  If you are slightly less accident-prone than a certain blogger with an unhealthy finger-combing obsession I might mention, then you can feel free to do this step at any time. Although Hoof Therapy Restorative & Protective Serum is already a must-have in my grooming tote year-round, it has also become the finishing touch on my red carpet makeover.  Much like a good pair of stilettos, naturally glossy and moisturized hooves really finish the look.  No toxic paints, tars or sparkles required!  You cant’ go wrong with this product – not only does it naturally nourish and moisturize your horses hooves but I’ve found it resists dust and dirt accumulation better than most products on the market.  Bonus!  

Well there you have it folks!  That’s my sure-fire (and ever-so-good-smelling) method to transform your horse into a head turning, jaw dropping and eco-friendly show horse!  Step back and admire your work for a moment, and then go brush the hay out of your hair,  get out your Tide stick (ketchup doesn’t get itself out of white breeches!) and give yourself a makeover.

Make sure to check out Part I. & Part II.of our EcoLicious “Red Carpet Ready” Guide as well.

Naturally yours until next time!
Megan 

Check out our full line of delicious, natural and green equine care & grooming products at www.ecoliciousequestrian.com

This week Durango & I went to Dressage Camp – 2 days of intense schooling sessions with clinicians from different parts of the country, lessons in hands-on equine stretching and show braiding followed by a schooling show.

Carolyn from Backstretch Equine Massage showed our horse enthusiast group how to stretch our horses’ muscles.  We were able to practice on our own horses and Durango really enjoyed his stretching session as well as the carrots that come with a couple of stretches.You can check out several how to stretching videos here from Horse Channel.

We learned how to braid Anky Style Sewn In Dressage Buttons.  Mellisa Bosma,
our mentor tried our In Control Braiding & Mane Setting Cream and loved the smell, the texture and the job it did. It’s a slightly sticky conditioning cream that eliminates fly-aways and moisturizes at the same time.  Unlike Quick Braid, In Control doesn’t dry out manes.

And the best part : if you have “helmet hair” you can use In Control to smooth your own do! Just remember to use only a little bit, it’s concentrated. Video with instructions on how to make your own Anky Braids  is coming soon.

Here’s Durango and I on the final day of the camp – the schooling show. In spite of couple of “on-course-errors” (yeah – I lost it TWICE! I blame it on the total lack of sleep) the judges feedback was very encouraging and we finally saw eights on the score sheet. Thanks judges for not letting us roast in our jackets!

Are you going to a horse camp this summer? Let me know…

Ride Green,

The EcoLicious Equestrian
Your Horse. Your Earth. Your Choice.

Check out our full line of earth friendly & all natural yet effective EcoLicious equine care & grooming products at www.ecoliciousequestrian.com

We confess. We go nuts over our horses’ tails and when we find them all tangled up with burrs, caked with mud, dry and damaged; we freak out. I still remember when Durango’s new pasture mate used his tail as a chewing gum.  I cried.  We all know that a flowing silky & vibrant tail is the crown of every horse. A thin stringy tail  doesn’t only mar the overall picture, it also doesn’t serve its purpose from the practical point of view – protecting  your horse from bugs and in colder climates, protecting his nether regions from wind, rain and frostbite.

So what can we do to keep our horse’s tail flawless?

Beauty from within

Make sure your horse is on a well balanced nutritious diet. Consider a Biotin supplement known to enhance and promote a healthy coat, mane & tail quality from within.

Beauty from without

Keep It Clean

Keep your horse’s tail clean with regular shampooing. Irritated, dry and itchy
base of a tail clogged with sweat and dirt will make your horse rub his tail and break his tail hairs. Use a mild non-irritating shampoo without SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate) that dries the skin & hair and are toxic to fish and wildlife.  Look for shampoos containing Tea Tree known for its anti-fungal, anti-itch  & anti-dandruff properties with emollient ingredients like Silk.  Try our Squeaky Green & Clean Shampoo – heavy duty yet mild, it’ll make your horse’s tail squeaky clean and ooh-soo-soft. BONUS: It smells heavenly – like Sweet Orange – known in equine aromatherapy as an uplifting scent.

Condition & Condition

To keep the tail moisturized and prevent it from breakage, always use a rinse-our conditioner after shampooing. Leave in for several minutes, pick carefully through your horse’s tail & work through tangles and knots. Look for conditioners with emollient ingredients like Silk or Hemp Oil.  Avoid products with artificial dyes or fragrances that cause irritation. Try our Silky Rinse Out Coat, Mane & Tail Conditioner. It’s full of natural goodness and  nourishes the hair making them shiny and smooth.

& Condition….

If your horse’s tail in in real distress go with De-Stress Intensive Restructuring Treatment. It infuses the hair with moisture, essential fatty acids and other natural emollient ingredients; and makes it go from drab to fab. Use it in place of your regular conditioner or go with an EcoLicious Spa Treatment – see how to do it here. This product also removes burrs and witches knots at the speed of light and soothes the itchy “dandruffy” tail dock.

Handle with Care

Do not over- handle your horse’s tail. Always use a conditioner (try our EcoLicious Moisture Maniac Mane & Tail Infusion) and work from the bottom. Pick through the tail with your fingers or work the tangles very carefully with a comb. Always work in section and if you’re pulling any hairs out back off on the comb.

Braid & Protect

For the ultimate protection use a tail bag or braid the tail . However don’t do that in the middle of fly season where your horse  needs his tail to protect himself from the pesky bugs. Always apply a conditioner before the braiding or bagging. The hair needs to stay moist to prevent breakage. Try In Control – our Conditioning Mane Setting & Braiding Cream that’s infused with natural conditioning & moisturizing ingredients that make braiding easy.

Do you have tips on how to keep tails beautiful? Please share them with us!

Ride Green,

Team EcoLicious Equestrian
Your Horse. Your Earth. Your Choice.

Check out our full line of EcoLicious equine care & grooming products at www.ecoliciousequestrian.com