Re: trimming mane

[Heyvaert]

This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

Bill,

Any Office Depot, Office Max, or even Target carries Fiskar scissors.  The 
work great!

Susan

Re: trimming mane

[GailDorine]

This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

In a message dated 12/14/99 8:02:17 AM Mountain Standard Time, 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

<< fiscar" shears that folks  >>
They're just the cheap ones in every office supply or supermarket, usually 
with orange handles.
Gail in NM

Re: trimming mane

[wcoli]

This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

Hi,
Can someone tell me a source for the "fiscar" shears that folks 
have been recommending for mane trimming?
Thanks
Bill Coli

Re: trimming mane

[Denise Delgado]

This message is from: "Denise Delgado" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

i wash the mane and then resoap it after rinsing, making a thick lather.
then i stand in front of the horse and with my two hands, palms in, press
and pull the mane up and through to make a point.  much like they do to
babies with a little top knot.  the foam holds it and then i clip,  rinse
and cleanup missed hairs, and i'm done!...works great.  denise  p.s.  you've
got to have sharp shears.  i like fiscars.

Re: trimming mane

[Meredith Sessoms]

This message is from: "Meredith Sessoms" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

I read the article  and was
surprised because I trim differently.  I trim with a smooth transition from
bridle path to mane whereas DeeAnne's article called for a bridlepath notch.
To those who know ... is one way Dutch and the other Norwegian ... or one
way Western and the other Eastern?

I also like to ride bareback and I like at least 8 inches of mane over the
wither to grow out ... if I need it I don't want to have to grope for a
small swatch, I want a whole handfull!  I got the idea from looking at
photos of Dutch stallions like Briggen
.  But that means, when I cut the
mane, I have to eyeball the line of the crest to the line of the withers and
guess where to cut, otherwise my downward curve will head for the neck at
too sharp an angle.  Without the swatch, the mane should blend into the
tallest spot on the withers.

I will brush the mane before I start with a wet brush if they have rubbed
against a tree and bent some hairs, or if the mane is so-o-o long it droops.

There are lots of different ways to trim the mane.  I trim the whole mane at
first ... I do most of it from one side, then neaten up from the other side.
I step back often to see what I'm doing, much like an artist with a
painting.  I even look at it from in front of the horse.  I pay attention to
my reference points - the bridle path, the high point (which is a little
higher on the neck than the middle) and the wither.  At first I do the whole
mane the Norwegian way, without even looking at the colors.  That way, if I
lack the gumption or the patience to do the Dutch trim - with the black
higher than the white - I can stop at that point and do the Dutch cut on
another day.  I usually have to come back at a later date and do some major
corrections and trim those hairs that I missed the first time anyways.

When I do the Dutch cut I use the black as a guide, and cut the white hairs
on both sides at about 1/4 to 1/2 inch shorter than the black.

Oh ... and be sure to wear gloves!  And be careful to not get those tiny
snips in your eyes on a windy day ... believe me, they are like a hard piece
of straw, not a bit like an eyelash!

Somebody mentioned that the Norwegians brush buttermilk into their mane to
make it stand up perfectly for show.  I have yet to try this ... has anyone
else tried it?  Does it work?

Meredith Sessoms
Soddy-Daisy. Tennessee. USA
Dorina & NFR Aagot

Re: trimming mane

[Jon & Mary Ofjord]

This message is from: Jon & Mary Ofjord <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

 One other method for shaping the mane was given to me by someone in the
Netherlands who says it works for him. He made a plywood template (
cardboard would work, also )of the desired shape of the mane and holds it
against the mane.
Then he simply cuts along the pattern. This also works for him as he is
very tall- about 6'5". 
 Basically, it just takes practice and always remember that it will grow back.

Jon- in Northeastern Minnesota where winter is about 6 weeks late.

Re: trimming mane

[GailDorine]

This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

In a message dated 12/11/99 8:08:51 PM Mountain Standard Time, 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

<< We live out in the country in a small
 town, so no one will see my first attempts. >>
The first time I did mine, the trainer and my friend who has two fjords came 
over and made some serious fun of us.  And Ida has a big curl on her neck 
that makes it a little hard until you get used to her.  We survived it nicely 
and I'm still not as good as my friend, but we do fine now.  This is a good 
place to let go of perfectionism because it grows really fast.  I have the 
tape and it helped, but the instructions someone gave you on here are really 
enough.
gail

Re: trimming mane

[Jean Ernest]

This message is from: Jean Ernest <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

The video was really helpful to me...one tip was to use water...wet a stiff
brush with water and brush the mane to get it to stand up. (unless it is
really fallen over, then maybe easiest to take it alsmost all off and let
it grow back)

I use those Fiskars shears with the orange handles.  Brush the mane with a
wet brush and start up at the "high" point, or where you think you want the
high point, (after I cut the bridle path.)  the video suggested measuring
one third down the neck for the high point of the arch, and then cutting
small amounts off of the white, working until you get the white on one side
like you want it (It never is REALLY like you want it tho).  Then cut the
black about 1/2 higher than the white on that side and continue over to the
white on the other side, cutting that level with the black to begin with.
THEN you can go to the other side and cut the white down 1/2" and hopefully
both sides of white will be equal! :)

In the winter months I just cut it straight across, don't bother with
leaving the black higher, Just get it cut sort of in the right shape to
keep it from getting out of hand.

The nice thing is that is you finally get a cut you like you can easily
trim it when it has grown out an inch or two as there will be a line of
hair still showing the original line of cut.  However if you let it go too
long you have to start all over to shape the arch.  If the mane has grown
so long it is laying over, then sometimes it is easiest to cut it all off
and let it grow up so it is standing up, then trim an arch, etc.!

I hope this helps.I think the video is worth watching!

Jean in Fairbanks, Alaska,  where it's been too cold to cut manes, or trim
hooves and I'm starting to look at real estate on the internet again! Oh
well, we get more daylight starting on December 22!
>I think Beaver Dam Fjords has a video tape on this subject, although I 
>haven't seen it myself.
>
>Brigid in CA
>with Tommes & Rafael, who just got their shoes pulled today!
>
>

Jean Ernest
Fairbanks, Alaska
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: trimming mane

[GailDorine]

This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

I use plain-old Fiskar scissors.  You get better as you go along.  In the 
winter it's especially hard because the black is so thick and sometimes it 
helps to cut a little bit of it with the white.  I like the idea of the 3" at 
the withers and I'm going to try that.

Re: trimming mane

[Jim and TammyHooper]

This message is from: Jim and TammyHooper <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>



Dear Carl and Sarah,
Thank you for the article and advice on trimming the manes.
I have gotten a bit of feedback which I  appreciate and feel
more comfortable knowing that it is challenging the first couple
of times but  the hair will grow back.  I am new to the area but
have family in Sagle and know there are lots of horses there.
I look forward to crossing paths some day.
Sincerely,
Tammy

Re: trimming mane

[Carl & Sarah Nagel]

This message is from: "Carl & Sarah Nagel" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

oh i'm so embarassed.  i forgot to type the url for the mane trimming
article.

here it is!


http://fjord.hypermart.net/mail/manes.htm


I won't type my name, because we all know who this is.

Re: trimming mane

[Carl & Sarah Nagel]

This message is from: "Carl & Sarah Nagel" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>



>This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>


>the black is more visible. Since I like to ride bareback, I left a "handle"
>of hair at the withers to grow out (thanks Marsha Jo, for that idea!).


Better late than never I suppose ... I just read Bridgid's post.I do the
same and leave about 3-4 inches of long hair over the withers.   I copied
this from Chip Lamb's horses, I like the look as well as the practicality of
it.   When you first start letting this hair grow out, it stands up and
looks a little funny.  Before you know it, it has grown out and lays over
nicely to one side or the other.

Sarah Nagel

Re: trimming mane

[Carl & Sarah Nagel]

This message is from: "Carl & Sarah Nagel" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>



>This message is from: Jim and TammyHooper <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
>new to this breed, so I was wondering how the mane is kept
>neat?  How does one go about trimming it best?


Dear Tammy,

When I first had this question myself, I came across this article on mane
cutting and it was very helpful.   You just have to "do it!!!"   It will
grow back!Read over the following article, get a good, sturdy pair of
shears (scissors will work, but shears are so much better), and put on an
old sweatshirt cuz you are gonna get little hairs all over you!

My first couple of manes didn't look so hot.   But, they are much better
now!   And when you get a chance, look over pictures (check out some of the
awesome Fjord sites referenced on the NFHR page) and study the manes you
see.   Before you know it, you will be an old hand at mane trimming!

Let us know how you do!

Sarah Nagel in Northern Idaho, I live just below you in Sandpoint ... maybe
we can get together sometime and compare manes!!!  LOL   Actually, I would
love to come up and give you hand with the mane cutting!

Re: trimming mane

[Jim and TammyHooper]

This message is from: Jim and TammyHooper <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>



Brigid,
Thank you for your words of advice.
I will start slowly and give it a try.
We live out in the country in a small
town, so no one will see my first attempts.
Sincerely,
Tammy

Re: trimming mane

[Epona1971]

This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

Hi Jim and Tammy-

Welcome to the list! 

We all face this dilemma when our new Fjords start to look shaggy, how to cut 
that thick stand-up mane? I initially paid someone to do it who claimed to 
have experience, which I think was *manure*. So next time I braved it myself, 
with long blunt sewing scissors and an afro-pick comb.

First I cut the bridle path, then I trimmed the hair down to maybe 4 inches 
in length. Tried for the "arc", but ended up with a slightly rounded flat 
top. I trimmed one side, then the other, then I shortened the white part so 
the black is more visible. Since I like to ride bareback, I left a "handle" 
of hair at the withers to grow out (thanks Marsha Jo, for that idea!).

After 3 trims, I got it down fairly decent. It just takes practice. Even my 
hair dresser friend told me I did a pretty good job! He is going to help me 
next time, to see if we can do a nice "arc."

I think Beaver Dam Fjords has a video tape on this subject, although I 
haven't seen it myself.

Brigid in CA
with Tommes & Rafael, who just got their shoes pulled today!

Re: trimming mane

[Jean Gayle]

This message is from: "Jean Gayle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

Tammy I set aside about an hour and a half every two to three months.  Have
sharp shears and separate the white main from the black and start low at the
withers and arc up.  Highest point is about eight to ten inches behind the
ears with a quicker slope down to the bridle path behind the ears.  Then I
try to get each white side the same but rarely and I then trim the black
leaving it about an inch higher than the white checking that one white side
is not going to be to high . If it is, just trim that white side down.  I
never have tried to do it with trimmers.  Also some do not leave the black
higher and some do zebra stripes.  I also suppose some do the black first
for a better guide.



Jean Gayle
Aberdeen, WA
[Authoress of "The Colonel's Daughter"
Occupied Germany 1946 TO 1949 ]
http://www.techline.com/~jgayle
Barnes & Noble Book Stores