>>> but with my Icies I was going to let mane and tail grow naturally long and mostly untrimmed, but I find it a bit thick and unmanageable at the poll. Do you all trim them or let them go naturally? do you do any trimming for competitions?
It's not customary (even scorned!) to trim for shows...but, I've met a few Icelandics whose manes are SO thick that their bridles and halters want to pop over their heads. A friend of mine (who remains unnamed, lest she be harassed by the no-trim police) cuts a tiny bridle path for just that reason. Her boy's mane is SO thick (not unusually long though) that no one ever even notices it! NEVER! She cuts no more than 1/2 inch, POSSIBLY an inch. I'm not one to add unnecessary maintenance tasks to my agenda, but if you feel you need one, go for it! (After all, it's only hair and it WILL grow back!) After our Flekka has her baby and we start back riding her, I may well trim a tiny bridle path for her. I've lost her bridle once before when the mane just boinged it over her ears! Thank goodness she's an easy horse and there was no accident. :) My others keep their halters and bridles with no bridle path. Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.15.5/1084 - Release Date: 10/21/2007 3:09 PM
