How to Neatly Trim Your Horse's Tail Safely

cutting and make sure it is clean and dry. Hair contracts as it dries so cutting a horse tail wet will give a false sense of length!
2. Consider your horses tail carriage. An Arabian or Saddlebred horse carries their tail very high when moving cutting their tail with the tailhead down will result in a shorterlooking tail when theyre in the ring.
3. Use sharp scissors. Horsehair is coarse and dull scissors will push the hair away rather than cutting it.
There are two areas where the tail may be trimmed to neaten appearanceat the tailhead and the bottom. The tail head has fine wispy hairs that are much shorter than the rest of the tail. These may be trimmed with very sharp salon scissors or with electrical clippers to the level of the longer sleeker hairs below. Alternatively this area may be braided or hair gel may be applied to reduce the flyaway appearance of the tailhead for showing. Braids should always be taken out immediately after showing to reduce hair breakage and promote blood supply to the tailhead.

The most common area to trim is the bottom of the tail. There are some tips to achieve the effect desired and to remain safe.
Steps of Trimming a Horse Tail
1. With your cutting hand reach under the tail at the top and elevate the tailbone with your forearm. Gauge the length of tail you want removed considering your horses natural tail carriage. Reach down to grasp the bottom of the tail at the level you want to trim it with your other hand. You can then remove your cutting hand from underneath the tail head to trim.
2.  Trim the tail standing up with the length of tail you want trimmed in your nondominant hand. This will keep your head away from the horses hind legs if they get spooked and prevent you from removing too much tail. Remove only a bit at a timeyou can always take more!

3. Once the tail is trimmed to the length desired neaten or bang the tail by trimming any errant long pieces. Let the tail fall then pick the ends back up with your nondominant and direct it towards yourself so you can see the end well. Trim any long pieces without taking more length from the bulk of the tail. Repeat this three times to achieve a neat square appearance.
While the purpose of a horses tail is to swat away pests a lush long shiny tail is an emblem of good health and care in many stables and show rings. Grooming in general is a great nonfood treat for horses and a way to promote the humananimal bond.