Fixing crooked tails.

[ASB Dressage]

So here goes it: the attempt to fix a messed up tail.

I have heard of people having had their horses' tail x-rayed and there was a cyst-like thing that showed up in the x-ray and their vet removed it.... anyone gone this route?

How many people have actually tried re-cutting the tail? I really do not like this idea, but I may consider it if all else fails.

When I feel of my horse's tail, her tail bone is really s-shaped from holding it crooked for so long.

However, the further we get into dressage training she does really try to hold it straighter and straighter, or at least not-so crooked. Anyone had a horse's tail fix naturally over time?

She tends to hold it less crooked traveling counter-clockwise. But she is also weak on the left hind so she may be using it for balancing purposes.

Thoughts? Any other resolutions?

Thanks in advance.

[Silly Filly]

Without a picture, it's hard to tell how messed up it is. You could try braiding her tail (so you have something to tie to), and pull it around to whatever side makes it straight. I've had good luck by tying a bandage around their neck, and another one from the tail to the neck bandage. If she flips her tail, you can go between the front legs with the neck bandage. Don't tie it super tight, and make sure you supervise her while it's tied. Maybe while she's cooling out.

[ASB Dressage]

Without a picture, it's hard to tell how messed up it is. You could try braiding her tail (so you have something to tie to), and pull it around to whatever side makes it straight. I've had good luck by tying a bandage around their neck, and another one from the tail to the neck bandage. If she flips her tail, you can go between the front legs with the neck bandage. Don't tie it super tight, and make sure you supervise her while it's tied. Maybe while she's cooling out.

Have you had success with this for long term or is it something you have to do ALL the time or if you get lazy with it, it goes back to the way it was?

Hers is a cocked over sideways job, not a corkscrew at all. I will try and get a pic.

Have you ever tried to re-cut their tails?

Thanks for the tip!

[SmartAlex]

We had one born with a wry tail too. I was horrified. The darn thing was nearly on upside down. I remembered reading years ago that Bedouins used to flip a foal's tail over it's back and massage it daily (same as ASB people do to stretch a tail instead of cutting it) so that's what I did. After about three weeks the tail was straight and that horse grew up to have the.most.flexible.tail I have ever seen.

Naturally, an adult horse's tail is not as easily influenced as a growing foal's tail would be, but it can be a completely natural problem, and it can be helped by diligent stretching and manipulating.

[Silly Filly]

If the horse was going to show in Saddle Seat, I would probably consider re-cutting the tail. However, I'm assuming that's not what your plans are. The problem with re-cutting the tail is it would need to be in a tailset until it's going the way you want it to. Sometimes re-cutting can make things worse. Where do you live? One of us can probably point you towards someone who is proficient in tail cutting and they can look at it and feel it to let you know what your best option is.

[bluepony33]

I have a filly we recut the tail on this year due to a big S curve. She had broken her tail causing the curve. Our vet recut one side of the break over, were the S was located....saything that we could go back in and cut the other side if need. Atlas it wasn't need. She now as the straight's tail. Everyday when I take her set off it's like unwrapping a christmas present.
Before we recut, she hated having her tail handled and would slip her set several times a week. Since the recut, she wears her set with out any issuses. You can handle her tail in all directions with out complaint. Leads me to believe she is much more comfortable now.

[horseluvr]

I had a show gelding that carried his tail to one side - had it recut twice and didn't work. Years ago, had the tail on my daughter's eq. horse cut and it became a pig's tail i.e. curly que. We left her out of the set and thank goodness it was OK. So, she was never in a set again. In both cases, the horses' tails were cut by very knowledgeable people. I have been told that the after care is VERY important to having a straight tail.

[walkinghorseowner]

I had a twh back in the 70's that had a corkscrew tail... really bad job cutting it. It was like that when I bought him. We used Gray Barham up in Ohio and he came out looked at it and promised it would be straight when he got done. He cut that tail six ways to sunday.... took a bit for it to heal and needed good care which it got..... when it healed it was not only perfectly straight it didn't even need braced...... wore it up over his back pretty as a picture. Gray was the most amazing tail cutter there was...... it was an art form with him...

[Samigator]

Bluepony- that is really interesting. . . my gelding has an S-curve in his tail and has never had it cut. I am led to believe that he must have fallen and broke it years ago. . . he is quite touchy about his tail and it's always a chore putting the harness crupper on him. Luckily, it's not really noticeable under saddle, he holds it pretty straight.

[earsup]

Since it isn't corkscrew--just carried to one side, I would try tying it over to the opposite side.

I have a gelding who carries his tail to his left--sometimes less so when working clockwise and not in a consistant spot. If I tie his tail around his right side for a day or two prior to showing he carries it very straight. Putting him in a tail set for a day or two also does the trick, but since you're doing dressage, this wouldn't work for you.

Experiment with the stretching and see if it works. You can also hand-stretch on a daily basis after you work. I tend to think this helps too.

[KappaKappaMagic]

What stretches specifically help fix a crooked tail?

[Silly Filly]

Stretch it the way it doesn't want to go.

[ASB Dressage]

Since it isn't corkscrew--just carried to one side, I would try tying it over to the opposite side.

I have a gelding who carries his tail to his left--sometimes less so when working clockwise and not in a consistant spot. If I tie his tail around his right side for a day or two prior to showing he carries it very straight. Putting him in a tail set for a day or two also does the trick, but since you're doing dressage, this wouldn't work for you.

Experiment with the stretching and see if it works. You can also hand-stretch on a daily basis after you work. I tend to think this helps too.

How do you tie it? Similar to what SillyFilly described?

[earsup]

How do you tie it? Similar to what SillyFilly described?

Easy to do--let's see if I can describe it clearly.

If you keep your tail braided, thread a leg wrap through the top part of the braid. If it is down, braid the tail wrap into the tail, leaving the feathers out, for about a six inch section close-ish to the end of the tail bone. (Use the middle of the leg wrap so that you have two equally long ends hanging.)

Then pull the tail down around the hip and along the side, stretching the opposite way it naturally goes, and tie the ends of the leg wrap to something to secure it.

When I say "something," you can tie it to the buckle on a sheet or a surcincle--a tail set minus the part that goes around the tail works nicely too. You might have to experiment a little to see what works for you. I typically tie to a sheet. Whatever you do, make sure it anchors along the mare's side--not so high that she is tempted to flip her tail up over her back if she's that limber.

Make sure you pull it tight enough that you are actually getting a stretch, but not too tight to be uncomfortable.

The first time you do it, keep an eye on her to see how she reacts and how your method holds up. Then you can leave it overnight.

Does that help?

[bluepony33]

Bluepony- that is really interesting. . . my gelding has an S-curve in his tail and has never had it cut. I am led to believe that he must have fallen and broke it years ago. . . he is quite touchy about his tail and it's always a chore putting the harness crupper on him. Luckily, it's not really noticeable under saddle, he holds it pretty straight.

My mare's previous owner told me she broke it. Happened well after the orginal cut job was done.

We tried tying her tail over for hours on end. Along with lots of stretching. By the time she went second way of the ring, It was always flopped back over. In my mares case recutting turned out to be the best option.

We chose to recut, beacuse she is quality enough that we didn't want one cosmetic flaw to be the judges deciding point between her and the next horse. I know that sounds vain. She is more comfortable off the hind end now, along with having her tail handled.

[Samigator]

My mare's previous owner told me she broke it. Happened well after the orginal cut job was done.

We tried tying her tail over for hours on end. Along with lots of stretching. By the time she went second way of the ring, It was always flopped back over. In my mares case recutting turned out to be the best option.

We chose to recut, beacuse she is quality enough that we didn't want one cosmetic flaw to be the judges deciding point between her and the next horse. I know that sounds vain. She is more comfortable off the hind end now, along with having her tail handled.

very interesting. . . so do you think that she had lameness or hind end discomfort because of her tail? Pretty cool that recutting helped!