Note – This is not an article for or against putting a horse’s
tail up, rather it is intended as a resource for those who do to explore other
methods. I have found that some horses do quite well with a tail bag while
others grow better when left alone. The decision to bag (or not to) should be
made on a case by case basis based on the individual horse and its living
situation. Thank you for respecting that.
Here I’ll be discussing some common ways you’ll see a horses
tail put up. Most commonly the tail is bagged with the style of bag and
material being the variable factor. However there are some other methods which
have also be used with success. A couple I’ve made up and decided not to use
for one reason or another but for someone else they might prove to be a viable
alternative depending on the horse and living situation. For most of the bags
listed, the horse’s fly swatting abilities are greatly reduced. In addition,
many horses don’t like being slapped with a bag when they try to swish flies.
Some will even try to rid themselves of the nuisance by rubbing their tails and
breaking off the hairs you are trying to protect. Different horses may prefer
certain styles so if your horse seems irritated with their current situation,
try another. You may also be able to modify the bag for fly swatting by sewing
fringe onto the bag to act as a pseudo-tail.
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| Lycra Tail Bag |
Lycra Bag -
This is by far the type I see most commonly and would recommend to someone new
to tail upkeep because of its price and ease of use. The tail is first braided
then inserted into the bag and secured. The lightweight material is gentle on
the hair and allows excess moisture to escape.
Cotton Bag -
A similar idea is a cheaper bag made of cotton type fabrics which still allow
air circulation but are not as gentle on the hair as lycra. Still a good option
though.
Nylon Bag -
The idea behind this material choice is that it is usually waterproof which
prevents the tail from getting urine, manure, or mud on it. In addition, the
bag is very sturdy and durable. The downfall though is that dirt, manure, and
urine can become trapped which makes it possible for bacteria to thrive if they
are not changed and cleaned often.
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| 3-Tube Braid Bag |
This is quite simply a long braid which starts below the
tail bone and is secured at the end with a braiding band. I like this option
because of simplicity and the horses tend not to mind as much when they swat
themselves with it. Another option is to leave the last six inches unbraided so
that the horse has even better swishing power. The downfall of this type is
that the tail hair is exposed to the elements and the braid can become caught
on a nail/fence which may rip the hair out.
3-tube braid bag
Lycra Bag –
The tail is separated into three sections which are put into lycra tubes. The
tubes containing the hair are then braided and secured. It looks like a
colorful standard braid with the added benefit of protecting the tail from sun
and dirt. The only con is that they can be tricky to put on the first time,
especially if your horse’s tail is thick.
Fleece Bag –A
variation which is made of polar fleece. Pretty much the same as the lycra
version but in my opinion they are harder to put on and are unnecessarily
heavy. Some people love them though, so it is up to personal preference.
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| Tail Sock/Pouch |
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| Vet Wrapped Tail (photo from horsechannel.com) |
Sock
Very
similar to a tail bag except smaller. Great for skimpy
tails since less fabric is lighter and causes less damage to an already small
tail. But it can be used on any horse. You can purchase one from a tack
store/website but really it is just an old sock with the top few inches cut so
that it can be tied on.
During the winter, this is my favorite method to use on
Desi. The hair is braided then folded back onto itself and wrapped in a
flexible bandage (only the braided section is wrapped below the dock – wrapping
any higher can be dangerous as even a loosely wrapped bandage can cut off
circulation). I use a product like 3M Vet wrap but you could try a cotton tail
bandage if you wanted to be able to wash it and re-use it. As long as the tail
is completely clean and dry before putting it up, it can be left like this for a
week or more. I use duct tape around the end to prevent unraveling if I intend
to leave it on for more than a couple days.
Multiple Braids
This is essentially the same as the regular braid but
instead of one thick braid, you would divide the tail into sections and make
multiple braids. Drawbacks are the same as with the regular braid (with the
addition of possibly looking a little silly), however the horse will better be
able to swish flies and if the braid becomes caught on something, only part of
the tail is affected.
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