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you finish one section, move down the mane to the next section until you are done with the entire mane.

Now you can rinse the conditioner out of your horse's mane and let it dry while you work on the tail.

It might seem like a lot of work, but if you divide the tail into small sections your work will be easier. Use the comb to divide the tail in half. Drop one section and divide the other in half again. Again, drop a section and hold the other in one hand while you pull out three, four or five hairs with your fingers as needed.

When you come across hairs that won't come out of a tangle, find other hairs that come out easier and pull them through. The hairs that come easier loosen the tight grip of the others and they too come out easier.

When you finish a section, move on to the next section and the next until you've combed the whole tail. Now you can rinse the conditioner from the tail and gently wring the tail of excess water.

When the mane and tail have dried, apply hair polish or detangler into the mane and tail. Lift the hair and spray generously to ensure you have covered the individual hairs. Gently work it into the mane and tail, brush the hair straight and let it dry.

TIPS AND TRICKS
* Use hair polish to remove burrs and large knotty masses. Just spray it generously right into the tangled mess and let it soak before working out the hairs individually. Most burrs will slide right out, leaving the hair untouched.
* Wear an apron, such as a grooming apron or carpenter's apron where you can keep all your brushes on you, but don't overload it.
* If you're combing the mane and tail while soaked in conditioner, reapply conditioner and water if needed.
* Using warm water when washing a horse's mane and tail opens the pores and removes oil and dirt easier.
* Stained manes and tails can be helped by applying the shampoo directly or using a stain removing shampoo.
* Use a stain removing shampoo or purple shampoo on horses with white manes and tails.

Learn more about this author, Mary Knetter.
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