Sometimes equestrians decide to roach or hog their horse’s mane for a variety of reasons. A roached mane is when the mane (and sometimes the forelock) is completely shaved off, leaving the horse with a smooth line across the top of the horse’s neck–much like a buzzcut for humans! Roaching is acceptable in many competitive arenas, such as dressage and eventing, and eliminates the need to braid your horse’s mane; some Saddlebreds show with a partially roached forelock and mane. Many times, equestrians choose to roach extremely thick manes or unruly manes (such as what is commonly seen on mustangs or Shetland ponies) or thin and wispy manes (in the case of Appaloosas) to make their turnout appear more polished.
Roaching the mane has a number of practical applications. For disciplines like polo, polocrosse, and roping, it can ensure that the mane stays out of the way of the rider’s hand and does not tangle with the equipment. Additionally, it can prevent burrs from attaching to the horse’s mane during turnout, making the grooming process easier. If your horse suffers from sweet itch or an infection, a shaved mane makes it easy to observe and apply medications and salves, as needed.
However, it is important to think about what you will do with your horse as well as your horse’s conformation prior to roaching your horse’s mane. Some breeds, such as Arabians, may not allow roached manes in competitions. Other breeds, such as stock horse breeds like Quarter Horses, may allow roaching but require a patch of hair to be left at the withers and for the forelook to remain intact. It is essential to understand the rules of the competition prior to deciding to roach the mane.
In this quick tutorial, we explain the quick and easy steps to roaching your horse’s mane.
What You Will Need
Roaching a mane is a relatively easy process, but it is important to have the proper tools on hand. Ensure that your clippers are charged (if cordless) or that you have an appropriately sized extension cord (if your clippers are corded). Additionally, having a sharp pair of clipper blades will make the job much easier. We recommended having the following supplies and equipment:
- Shampoo
- Mane brush
- Step stool (the Little Giant DuraTote Stool Combo works well)
- A pair of sharp scissors (the Equi-Essentials Leather Scissors are a good choice)
- Clippers (The Oster Turbo A5 2-Speed Clipper is a popular option; body clippers are recommended for thicker manes)
- Clipper blades (a #10 blade works well for this application)
- Clipper oil and coolant
Steps to Roaching a Mane
While many people think that roaching a mane is simply clipping the mane off, there is slightly more to it than that. Be sure to take your horse’s conformation into consideration as you perform your roach, taking the time to perform a clip that you will accentuate their neck. Some equestrians, particularly polo players, choose to roach the forelock, while others leave the forelock long and flowing for protection from flies. If you choose to leave the forelock, begin roaching the mane directly behind the bridle path. Most equestrians prefer to go from the poll to the withers, but others choose to make their way from the withers to the poll; both options are acceptable, but, for this blog, we will discuss starting at the poll. If you are planning to roach the forelock, you may want to shave the mane and then work your way to the forelock. Here’s how to properly roach your horse or pony’s mane:
- Begin by thoroughly washing your horse’s mane, focusing on the crest of the neck. You will want to scrub it as well as possible, removing dirt and dander. Brush out the mane (if possible), with your mane brush. A detangling product could be helpful for dreadlocked areas.
- After the mane has dried, it is time to begin the roaching process. Then step onto your stool and use your non-dominant hand to hold the mane straight up and down, and use your dominant hand to cut the mane with the scissors to a length of about 2-3 inches long. This will make it easier to clip the mane and it will also help you see what you are doing.
- Begin slowly clipping your horse’s mane along the line of the crest, from the poll to the withers. You do not want to cut all the way to the skin, but instead, you want to leave about ¾” of mane for sun protection.
- Use short, shallow motions to continue clipping the horse’s mane. You will want to create an even, rounded shape over the top of the crest to accentuate your horse’s neck. If your horse has a thick mane and/or a thick crest, it may be helpful to clip the mane from both the near and off-side (left and right side) of the mane.
- Step back away from your horse to take in the whole picture. You will most likely see areas that need fine-tuning with your clippers, tackling small sections of mane each time, and being careful not to clip too short.
- Then, brush through the mane once more time to see if there are pieces of hair that you have missed, using your clippers and scissors to touch up the mane as needed.
- If this is the first time roaching your horses’s mane, you may notice that it does not stand straight up and down immediately. This is because the weight of your horse’s mane has been holding the hair down for years. Give it a few days and you will notice that the hair will begin to stand up.
- You will want to re-roach your horse’s mane as needed. Many equestrians shave it again after an inch or so growth (monthly for most horses). If you are roaching prior to a horse show, you will want to roach it about a week in advance in order to allow the mane to grow back slightly.
For a visual tutorial on how to roach your horse’s mane, we recommend watching the video below:
At The Cheshire Horse, we have everything you need to properly care for your horse’s mane. For more information on various mane styles and braiding techniques, refer to our blog series, Prepare Perfect Braids Every Time.