humane tail braces??

[gifted pearl]

I was just wondering is anyone uses this type of brace under saddle (not TWH). I have a horse that his tail is not cut and was thinking if possible this might work. I know I would need to use a cap but is that too much weight to stay upright? I'm trying to get some game plans together before its too late and I miss the show season again.

[SmartAlex]

A friend of mine always showed her gaited horses with a humane brace. WGCH Yorktown won as a two year old at L-ville wearing a humane brace and a false tail.

They are designed to be covered with a full tail not just a cap (I believe). I've never seen how one is applied (I imagine there is some pretty heavy duty tape involved) but staying upright is not a problem.

[july]

we use this type of brace all the time at the national racking horse shows. i put mine on with vet wrap as the duct tape will pull the feathers out of your horses tail, this type of tail will look ok IF it is put on correct and you have a nice full cap , BUT they look like CRAP if put on wrong :)

[FoxyFizz]

we use this type of brace all the time at the national racking horse shows. i put mine on with vet wrap as the duct tape will pull the feathers out of your horses tail, this type of tail will look ok IF it is put on correct and you have a nice full cap , BUT they look like CRAP if put on wrong :)

Do you have pictures of your horses with a humane brace on? I've never used one and have considered it, but wasn't sure of how to put on and more importantly KEEP ON. Thanks :)

[Silly Filly]

Personally, I think they are far too tacky for the breed shows.

[FoxyFizz]

My mistake....I just looked up the humane tail brace and it isn't the one I thought it was. I was thinking of the Gaited tail brace.

Does anyone use the Gaited tail brace? And what are the advantage/disadvantages of these braces?

[horseshwbrat]

My mistake....I just looked up the humane tail brace and it isn't the one I thought it was. I was thinking of the Gaited tail brace.

Does anyone use the Gaited tail brace? And what are the advantage/disadvantages of these braces?

Are you talking about the one that doesn't have the pieces that extend down between the horse's cheeks? I've never used that kind, but I imagine they would be easy for the horse to twist around, especially if the horse doesn't have a straight tail - but I could be very wrong!

[FoxyFizz]

Are you talking about the one that doesn't have the pieces that extend down between the horse's cheeks? I've never used that kind, but I imagine they would be easy for the horse to twist around, especially if the horse doesn't have a straight tail - but I could be very wrong!

http://www.ehorseequipment.com/imagethumbservice.aspx?width=250&height=400&no=621700

I've never used it either, and only seen it used once. Was just curious if anyone had any experience with them first hand....

[SmartAlex]

Personally, I think they are far too tacky for the breed shows.

I think that might depend on your hair application. I don't know if a long hair switch would disguise the brace or not. I've only seen them with the economy version constructed with short hair and the long fabric core that hangs like a dead mink and swishes side to side instead of floating naturally. Part of that effect may be from the fact that to support the brace in the correct position, the horse's tail bone must be tied down vertically.

[5Gatd]

Correct me if I wrong, but you said your horse's tail has not been set, is it a good straight tail w/ or w/out a nice arch? If it's straight and not much of an arch, I don't see how you are going to achieve a "set tail" w/out using the humane tail brace (first one we talked about) w/ a full overall tail or at least a cap over the brace UNLESS, your horse is like mine.....I am very lucky to have a 3 yo w/ a wonderful straight tail that hangs in a nice waterfall and after about 5 months in a bustle tailset we started putting him in a rolltop crupper and his tail looks great and it has not been set, so unless you are able to do something like we did with your horse, I say you will have to use the humane tail brace and the cap. I agree w/ Silly Filly, I have not seen one that looks good to me, but I haven't seen a lot of them used at our breed shows. What class are you wanting to show in? Hope this helps you with your plans for the show season.

[Sit]

Different people call these various tail supports different things. I have used all of them in the show ring, except the version with the tail down, ala Walkiing Horses and some driving ponies. It is not really a brace, of course.

I have shown horses in a brace without having "set" tails. Some wear a brace just fine. As I have said here before, the key to a horse wearing a brace is the fit and comfort. You may have to bend it, shape it and have several different ones.

We used to call the short brace a "three-gaited" or "walk-trot" brace because the longer "five gaited" or "Walking Horse' brace would show on a three gaited horse. Some horses wear them just fine, others slip them around.

An acceptable, if not ideal, tail support is to use a fine harness "high tail" crupper and fasten it to rings on the back of the saddle with unobtrusive straps (or use that saddle hanging device that Wayne Walters sells). The tail just rests in the crupper with a couple of shoe strings holding it in place. I have seen horses show in these at Louisville and I did an exhibition in one (on a horse that doesn't like a brace). I carry it with me in case I run into trouble with the brace. It is plan B, but will look just fine. As I like to say, "If the judge sees the straps running to the saddle, you're not winning the class!" And in any event, those straps don't look any worse than they do on a fine harness horse and look better than a loose string hanging between the horse's legs.

[gifted pearl]

Thanks for the input. I'm not sure what division he will be in yet, still trying to let him develop into what he wants to be. Thinking Park Pleasure, then I won't have to worry about a brace...yet. He does have a straight tail and it is some what limber so we will start with the bustle and go from there. The owner was thinking of getting a few tails cut this winter again we will see. I saw one of these "braces" used on a fine harness horse last year and it looked great. Just wasn't sure if anyone out there uses one for an under saddle horse. Isn't the purpose of the humane brace to give the look of a set tail? Natural tail hangs down and fake cap ect covers the brace?