Horse Mane and Tail Care Center | Grooming, Braiding & Protection

Mane and tail care

Horse Mane and Tail Care Center

Quick answer: protect mane and tail hair by keeping skin healthy, removing dirt before brushing, detangling patiently, limiting unnecessary tension, and using braid or tail-protection tools only on clean, dry hair.

A cleaner mane and tail routine

  1. Check the roots and skin. Look for itch, rubs, scabs, tenderness, heat, hair loss, and broken hair.
  2. Remove dirt first. Do not drag a brush through dry mud, sweat, bedding, or tangled debris.
  3. Work from the ends upward. Hold the hair above the section you are detangling to reduce pulling at the roots.
  4. Keep braid tension controlled. Even sections and steady hands matter more than pulling harder.
  5. Protect only clean, dry hair. Check braids and tail bags regularly for rubbing, moisture, and slipping.

Current mane and tail routes

Leave-in support

Check current availability for Skin & Coat Therapy. It is not a shampoo or braiding spray.

Check current availability

Braid finishing

Use Black Braiding Tape where tape fits the discipline and desired finish.

View Black Braiding Tape

Tail protection

Use the Deluxe Tail Bag only after the tail is clean, dry, and properly prepared.

View Deluxe Tail Bag

Tail thinning or breakage

Review rubbing, over-brushing, skin problems, parasites, dirty bags, and management causes.

Horse Tail Thinning Guide

Braiding Spray status

ShowBarn Secret® Braiding Spray is retired and there is no direct spray replacement in the current lineup. Black Braiding Tape is an adjacent finishing tool, not a spray substitute.

Open the Braiding Spray status and mane-prep guide

Comfort and safety checks

  • Redo work that pulls unevenly or irritates the crest or tail dock.
  • Do not braid over sore, hot, swollen, scabbed, or broken skin.
  • Do not trap damp hair inside a tail bag.
  • Involve a veterinarian for persistent rubbing, spreading irritation, discharge, pain, swelling, or sudden hair loss.
Shop current grooming productsHorse Coat & Grooming Help

Follow current product labels and the rules of the discipline or event.