Shire Horse, Irish Cob und Co - Die richtige Pflege

Shire Horse, Irish Cob and Co - The right care

Long & unruly – this makes tail hair particularly high-maintenance

The tail hair of Shires and other horses is often particularly thick, wiry, and dense—making it prone to tangling, matting, and breakage. At the same time, many of these horses tend to have dry hair, which makes combing even more difficult.

It is therefore important:

• Don't dry brush. Instead, treat your hair with a high-quality detangler or detangler spray beforehand – this reduces breakage and makes detangling much easier.
• Gently loosen matting , ideally with your fingers or a wide-toothed brush.
• For special occasions or shows, the Super Gloss Spray provides intense shine – without leaving any residue or sticking.

Tip: Regular braiding may help prevent hair breakage – but only if the braids are loose and redone regularly.

Fetish hair – care miracle or germ factory?

As impressive as the pastern fur is, it presents its own unique challenges when it comes to care. The dense structure retains moisture for a long time, which promotes the development of mud fever, fungal infections, or bacterial skin infections. This quickly becomes a hygiene problem, especially in damp weather or muddy paddocks.

Advantages of the curtain:

• Natural protection against external influences such as insects, dirt and UV radiation
• A true breed characteristic and eye-catcher

Disadvantages:

• High risk of mud fever and skin irritations if poor care is provided
• Difficult to clean and dry
• Covers minor injuries that may go unnoticed

Cutting – yes or no?

Shortening or completely removing the curtains is a controversial topic. The basic rule is:

• In the case of existing skin problems or severe mud fever infestation, temporary trimming may be advisable – it makes cleaning and treatment easier.
• If you want to preserve the curtains, you should be particularly consistent in their care.

A good compromise: Trim the curtains, but don't remove them completely. This preserves some of the natural protection while improving hygiene.

Care products for long hair – our recommendations:

For regular cleaning of the curtain, the No Mess Shampoo White – especially for white or light-colored long-haired breeds. Simply massage in, wipe off, and you're done – saves water and protects the skin.

To protect against moisture and skin irritation:

• The Leg Protection Powder can be applied dry or used with XM-Oil as a protective paste. It's especially practical during the wet season.
• For already irritated or damaged skin, the Mud Fever Aid Mud fever ointment promotes regeneration and has an antibacterial effect.

Don't forget: Check regularly , dry the skin under the curtain and if in doubt, it's better to clean it too often than too little.

Stable pharmacy – the must-have for all occasions

Especially in horses with dense hair, minor injuries or skin problems are not immediately visible. Therefore, a well-stocked first aid kit should be part of the basic stable equipment. The equiXTREME first aid kit contains everything you need for quick relief and daily care.

 

Conclusion: Long hair needs the right care

With the right know-how, the right equipment, and a little practice, you can easily keep your horse's mane, tail, and feathers healthy. And: prevention is (as is so often the case) the best protection against health problems.

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