While deciding on the next pictures for my Beauty of Horses blog, I wanted to come up with a few unique pictures. Ideally, I was hunting for old-time horse photographs and particularly outstanding animals that were champions in their own right.
I set about surfing the net. Truly, we live in the most astounding times. Everything is at our fingertips and we merely have to search. After a few key clicks and mouse maneuvers, we get instant satisfaction right in front of our eyes without ever having to go to the library or leave the house. Totally satisfying, relaxing and instant gratification.
My searches keep resulting in ideas – and I really don’t need them. Goodness, I have more than I can handle right now. However, I did come up with the most incredible pictures and stories about horses with what can only be called phenomenally outrageous manes and tails. Yee-gads. Just to look at these old-time photographs - Seeing is believing.
Anyone that knows me well, understands exactly how enamored I am with flowing manes and tails. Call it my drift back into childhood and fantasy horses. Whatever it is, this love of lush manes and tails has remained with me through adulthood. I work hard on cultivating my own horses’ manes and tails. You need only read my article on How to Grow a Lush Horse Tail to realize that I’m always fussing and worrying and cultivating my horses’ tails.
Of course, things happen. Every time you undo a gorgeous flowing tail and head into the show ring, and you are asked to back your horse, when he steps forward chances are a clump of that hard-won tail hair remains behind. Such is show business. Ugh!
The horse decides he’s got an itchy tail. He’s the perfect horse, but this day he scratches and itches and has a terrific time rubbing the annoyance he thinks he has. When you next see him, sakes alive – he rubbed all his top hair down and in some spots nearly off. At best, he’s broken off most of the fullness from the top of the tail. Ugh!
You have been pretty faithful about removing the braids, fluffing out the tail hair by hair. This month, though, has been a trial. You are running around like a chicken with your head cut off and have no time to spend grooming any tail. Yep, you guessed it. You leave it in and think, “I’ll get to it next week.” And eventually you do get around to letting out the braids. You think, “Looking good!” N-o-t! As you start to pull out each strand of hair, many of them are loose in your hand. Darn. By the time you are done with this laborious task, you have a heap of long hair lying around your feet. Ugh!
Heartbreak for the show person who values long manes and tails. To be sure, it will grow back after a year or two.
Note that I haven’t even talked about the mane yet. This story is for real and it’s all about Patrick. He loves itching his mane. Twice now since I’ve had him, he has completely (and I mean completely) wrecked his mane from halfway down his neck. We made the unfortunate decision to leave trees in the paddock and this fellow likes nothing better than to stand and leisurely rub his neck – and rub and rub. The end result is no mane on half of his neck. If I were showing Patrick, whatever would I do? Sure, mane tamers and hoods – but by the time I get into gear, he’s already had his way with the mane. Too late. Argh!
So it goes. Magnificent manes and tails come with heaps of time and work and effort. A cooperative horse and Mother Nature helps, too. I’m about ready to undo Patrick’s tail again and unveil his latest tail growth. Here’s keeping my fingers crossed.
If you want to see the rest of the long mane/tail pictures I was able to locate, check Beauty of Horses in a few days.
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