- Breeding
- What do do when the Panic is On to keep our Horses Safe!
- Feeding and Management of Horses During the Transition from Warm to Cool Weather
- A Brief History of Horse Breeding
- Buying a Horse
- Equine Experts Send Us Your Best Tip - Win $750 Worth of KAM’s Healthy Horse Products and More
- The Top 4 Places to Find Horses for Sale
- What to Look For When Buying a Horse
- General Horse Articles
- Are Equine Business Studies Worth the Price?
- Horseback Riding as Therapy
- Physical Fitness and Horse Riding
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- Ingredients in Feed that Affect Behavior
- What do do when the Panic is On to keep our Horses Safe!
- An Equine Electrolyte for All Seasons - Electro-Ryte™
- Horse Grooming
- An Overview of Horse Grooming
- When Dealing With Horses Get It in Writing - Sign Up for May 16 FREE Webinar
- OmegaTri & the Equine - Reducing Inflammation, Restoring Balance
- Horse Health Issues
- Bulging Out and Falling In
- Understanding Horse Teeth
- Common Horse Illnesses: Laminitis
- Horse Training
- Training Mythunderstandings: Green Horse Lessons: Adding the Lead Rope
- When Dealing With Horses Get It in Writing - Sign Up for May 16 FREE Webinar
- Training Mythunderstandings: Groundwork: From Basics to Games
- Horses & History
- The Feral Horse and Its Impact
- The History of Horse Breeding
- Battle-Ready: A History of the War Horse
- Horses & Sports
- Cookies With a Clue For Your Horse
- Equine Experts Send Us Your Best Tip - Win $750 Worth of KAM’s Healthy Horse Products and More
- Halter Horse Show
Mane Saving Ideas
03/30/2009 - By Debbie Disbrow
Mane Saving Ideas
Mane saving ideas for springtime and why good fencing can make all the difference in the well-being of your horse.
Is the grass always greener on the other side? If you are a horse it is! As a horse owner myself, I see the results of horses reaching for those "greener" pastures! As I drive down the country roads I see leaning posts, broken rails, and uneven tails and manes. The “tell-tale" signs (no pun intended) of horses eating 'through' fence rails.
Most commonly wood fences (broken fence systems), post and rail, and high traffic areas (areas where horses "ride" the fence), show the most wear. Additionally in situations like this, manes can and do get caught in wood slivers, not only pulling out "sections" or shortening the mane and tail, but this also increases the risk of an accident. During shedding season it can be almost impossible to stop your horse from "itching" on your fence. If you have a wood fence system you know the maintenance and up-keep with broken boards, protruding nails, and/or leaning posts. With show season soon coming, and heavy fly season approaching (I do not like to think about it...), manes and tails need to be in good shape. Additionally, they serve the purpose of keeping the flies away, and help to keep horses cooler.
One alternative to help save manes and tails is to look at adding Protek 1.5" tape to your existing fence system. This fence is a woven mesh strand that can be purchased in either white, black or brown. Stronger than your farm store brand, this tape system has a 750 lbs. of break strength per rail. It is highly visible, and easier to install with only hand tensioning! Electric fence works so well with horses because they respect the "bite" that occurs from electric fence! Just like in a heard, horses bite and kick to establish the pecking order. In most instances the bite from a head horse can be harder than the shock from electric fence! This is one way to stop your horses from leaning on or eating through your rails! You not only save your fence but your horses manes and tails too!
Another popular electric fence is Electro-Braid™. This braided rope fence system is strong and durable. The system combines resilience with barrier strength. Like a boxing ring, Electro Braid absorbs force and springs back. It has over 1600 pounds of break strength per strand and uses highly conductive copper wire. Electro Braid requires minimal time for installation and is an excellent fencing system designed to provide a safe and secure horse fence. It can stand alone as a permanent perimeter fence, or moved around for rotational grazing. It features a 25 year warranty and has been effectively containing and protecting horses for many years.
If you are in the market to purchase a new fence system, you may want to look at the Ramm Flex Fence. We offer true-size 5.25", 4.25", 1", 5/16" coated wire and 5/16" electric wire. Flex Fence offers a smooth rail that flexes up to 6" on impact! It also comes in a whiter than white, black and deep brown (black and brown will not crease and turn white like others). As an owner and user of these fences I can truly say that quality has never been sacrificed for a truly great price with these products. Flex fence is made from the highest grade of polyethylene; the same polymer used for commercial grade products. This allows the 12.5 gauge wire (in 5.25", 4.25', and 5/16" coated and/or electrified) to actually use less pull during installation because the wires are pre-straightened and molecularly bonded. There is no sag or wave in the rail when installed according to manufacturers instructions. The old adage "you get what you pay for" applies here.
Lastly, check all wood posts for splitting or cracking. Smaller wood splits can be cut off and/or sanded. While larger cracks can be filled if needed.
Keeping manes and tails in good shape helps your horse to be cooler and swat pesky and annoying flies. In the show ring, nothing makes a horse look so beautiful as a well-groomed, coated healthy mane and tail. Good grooming will also help with some of the itching that horses do. A good fence system will insure a safer living area as well as eliminating manes and tails getting caught in cracked wood, protruding nails or old ill-maintained fences.
Enjoy the spring weather with your horse! See you next month.
Debbie Disbrow is the President of RAMM Horse Fencing and Stalls, located in Swanton, Ohio, right outside of Toledo, Ohio. RAMM has been in business for over twenty years and Debbie has been a longtime horse owner and lover.
