Horse Mane 101: Care, Pulling, and Braiding at Running Springs

I show AQHA all-around and pull, braid, and grow out manes on our own horses at Running Springs every season, so everything here comes from years of actually doing it in the barn, not from a grooming manual.

A horse mane is the strip of long, coarse hair that grows along the crest of the neck, from behind the ears down toward the withers.

It is there to shield the horse from weather, insects, and sun, and a thick, shiny one is also a quick read on how healthy a horse is. Keeping it that way comes down to a few simple habits done consistently.

Whether you want to grow a longer mane, tidy one up for the show ring, or just understand what all that hair is actually for, this guide walks you through it. If you're looking for the wider routine that covers hooves, body, face, and everything else, start with my full step-by-step grooming routine and come back here when you're ready to go deep on the mane.

Below I'll cover what a mane is, why does a horse have a mane in the first place, how we care for the hair on horse after horse in our barn, and how we pull and braid when it is time to show.

What a Horse Mane Actually Is

A horse mane is the thick strip of coarse hair growing along the top of the neck, and the tuft that falls between the ears over the forehead has its own name too. We call it the forelock, and it does more work than folks give it credit for.

The hair on horse manes is different from the soft body coat. It grows longer, it grows coarser, and it keeps growing rather than shedding out with the seasons the way body hair does.

Every horse in my barn has a slightly different mane. Some are thick and heavy, some are fine and wispy, and a lot of that comes down to genetics and breeding, which is a rabbit hole I could go down all day when it comes to VS Code Red and the babies he throws.

Why Does a Horse Have a Mane?

A mane is working hardware, not just decoration. It protects the neck and face, helps with weather, and even signals health. Here is the short version of what that hair is doing out in the pasture:

• Insect defense. The mane and forelock swish and shield the neck and face from flies, gnats, and mosquitoes, which matters more than people think since biting bugs can carry real equine diseases.
• Weather protection. That coarse hair helps rain run off the neck and traps a little warmth in winter. On a cold, wet Tennessee morning, I promise the horses are glad to have it.
• Sun and eye cover. The forelock shades the eyes from harsh sun and helps keep bugs out of them.
• A health signal. A thick, shiny mane usually means a horse is well fed and feeling good. A dull or brittle mane is often the first hint I need to look closer.
• A handle. Way back, riders gripped the mane to stay on. I still grab a fistful of Denver's mane more often than I'll admit.

So when someone asks why does a horse have a mane, the honest answer is that it is natural armor, a weather jacket, and a bug swatter all in one.

How We Care for the Mane for Horse After Horse

Good mane care is not complicated, but it is consistent. Most of the mistakes I see come down to timing and tools, not fancy products. Here is the everyday routine I use on every mane for horse in our barn.

Never brush a wet mane

This is the rule I would tattoo on every new horse owner if I could. Wet hair stretches, and stretched hair snaps.

When a mane is soaking wet, the strands pull apart under a comb far too easily, and that is how you end up with a thin, broken mess. I wait until the mane is nearly dry, or I work a leave-in conditioner through it first so the comb glides instead of yanks.

Fingers first, comb second

Whenever I can, I pick tangles apart with my fingers before any comb touches the hair. It is gentler, it saves strands, and honestly it is kind of relaxing at the end of a long barn day.

When I do reach for a tool, it is a wide-tooth comb, never a fine brush that rips through knots. A good detangler spray makes the whole job easier and cuts way down on breakage.

Keep it clean, but not too clean

I bathe manes when they need it, not on a strict schedule, because over-washing strips the natural oils that keep the hair flexible.

When we do bathe, we condition every single time. If you want to see how gentle a good bath routine looks, I walked through the whole thing when Jack had his first bath as a mini colt.

Feed the mane from the inside

Here is the part people skip. A shiny, strong mane starts with what goes in the bucket, not what you spray on top.

Good hair grows on good nutrition, so we feed a balanced program and lean on quality feed for coat and hair health. I've shared before why we trust Tribute for our horses' nutrition, and a healthy coat is one of the first places you see it pay off. You can find the rest of my go-to grooming gear on my favorites page.

Mane Pulling vs. Clipping for the Show Ring

Once you get into showing, a tidy, uniform mane becomes part of the picture, especially in my AQHA all-around classes. In hunter under saddle, that mane needs to be short, thin, and lie flat so it braids clean. There are two main ways to get there, and I use both depending on the horse.

Pulling the mane

Pulling is the traditional way to shorten and thin a mane, and it leaves a natural, tapered edge that scissors just cannot match. You back-comb a small section to push the short hairs up, wrap the long strands around a pulling comb, and pull firmly from the roots a few hairs at a time.

The trick is doing a little at a time so it never becomes a big deal for the horse. A mane is easiest to pull right after exercise, when the pores are open and the hair slides out cleaner.

Clipping or trimming

Not every horse tolerates pulling, and that is okay. For the sensitive ones, I'll use a clipper blade in a teasing, back-and-forth motion to thin and shorten without any yanking.

Done right, you get a tidy look and a happy horse. Scissors straight across the bottom are my last resort, because a blunt-cut mane reads unnatural in the ring.

Braiding Styles That Finish the Look

Braiding does double duty. In the pasture, it protects the mane from tangling and breaking. In the ring, it provides a polished, professional finish.

Whether you are preparing for a local weekend show or aiming for the Quarter Horse Congress, a perfect braid job is essential. Here are the styles you will see most, along with where each one fits.

If you are just starting out, the continental or diamond braid is the most forgiving and the most fun, because it uses the mane's own length to build that pretty lattice and does not demand a perfectly pulled mane first. Button and hunter braids take more practice, but they are the gold standard when the class calls for it.

Braiding loosely at the roots is the one rule I never break, since a braid that is too tight at the base irritates the crest and actually breaks off the very hair you are trying to protect.

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Growing a Longer, Healthier Mane

If your goal is length, patience is the whole game. Mane hair grows slowly, so protecting what you have matters more than any miracle product. Loose braids that shield the hair from wind, rubbing, and pasture snags are your best friend, as long as you keep them loose at the roots.

Pair that with a conditioned, tangle-free mane and steady nutrition, and you'll see real gains over the seasons. The same everyday care that keeps a working mane healthy is exactly what grows a long one, so there is no separate secret, just consistency.

For more of the little habits that add up, I rounded up my extra horse care tips your horse will love.

The Bottom Line on Horse Mane Care

A great horse mane is not about expensive sprays or fancy tricks. It is dry combing over wet, fingers before tools, a wide-tooth comb, real nutrition, and a little consistency day after day.

Whether you are pulling for a class, braiding for the ring, or just trying to grow out a mane that got rubbed thin, the fundamentals are the same.

Every one of these habits came from years of trial and error with our own horses at Running Springs. I'm still learning new things every single day, and that is half the fun of it.

Go give your horse's mane a good finger comb, and I'll see you in the next one.

About the Author

Hi, I am Katie Van Slyke, and I share my daily life at Running Springs farm with millions of wonderful people online. I am best known for raising a huge variety of animals, from AQHA Quarter horses to famous mini Highland cows.

I am incredibly lucky to share this journey with millions of friends across YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. You can read the full story on my about page.