ASKHQ: WIRY-HAIRED FRIESIAN

Q: My Friesian has the most wiry mane and tail. Is there anything that I can do to improve the texture of his hair?

A: Mane and tail conditioner and leave-in spray can help manes and tails to feel less coarse and wiry but, just like with our own hair, it is very difficult to change the texture. Maintaining his hair at the tidiest-looking length, conditioning after washing and then plaiting his mane and tail while they dry can help the general appearance of wiry hair. It is also worth making sure that he is not wearing anything that is rubbing his hair, as this can give it an unsightly appearance and coarse texture. Some people swear by apple cider vinegar diluted 50:50 with water to help coarse hair. They say that if the mixture is sprayed onto the mane and tail, it will help to soften the hair, make it more manageable and add shine – as long as your horse isn’t allergic to the ingredients, it may be worth giving it a try!

As a final word of caution, however, a poor or nutritionally unbalanced diet can cause changes in hair texture. If you have concerns about your horse’s diet, please contact your vet or an equine nutritionist to discuss the diet and whether any changes they can recommend might improve his hair texture.