How to Make Horsetail Hair Grow

Some horses are predisposed to thinner tail hair.

The thickness of a horse's tail hair mainly comes from genetics. If the breed of horse--such as Appaloosa--produces thinner tail hair, there is little that can be done about it. Should your horse have thick tail hair that is suddenly thinning, there are several potential causes that can be easily addressed. A balanced diet and a lot of water is one way to keep tail/mane hair and coat full and shiny; there are also numerous supplements you can give to a horse to promote optimal health and tail growth. Brushing tail hair is not recommended; stick to detangling hair with your hands and reserve brushing for special occasions.

Things You'll Need

• tail wrap
• horse shampoo
• betadine solution
• echinecea
• garlic
• flaxseed oil
• kelp extract
• biotin
• cider vinegar

Instructions

1. 

   Sometimes horses rub their tails against fences to relieve itching.

   Observe the horse's coat, tail, and mane. If the mane and coat are full and sleek, but the tail is thinning, there are two potential causes. First check all fences, stalls, and trees for strands of hair. The horse could be running its tail against these areas due to itching from buildup of dirt, oil or fungus around the tail base.

2. 

   Shampoo tail base to get rid of dirt and grease.

   If your horse is losing tail hair due to rubbing, shampoo the base of of the tail thoroughly to get rid of built-up grease or fungus. Shampooing the length of the tail can tug hair, which causes additional hair loss. You can also bathe the tail base in a diluted solution of betadine to relieve itching. If tail hair loss occurs during wintertime and a horse tail bath is not practical, apply a full dose of betadine (follow directions on bottle) to the roots of the tail and leave on. Itching should cease within three to seven days and tail hair should grow back.

3. 

   Horses may excessively chew on each other's mane and tails.

   Tail hair loss can also result from excess grooming by another horse. While it is common for horses to groom each other, sometimes excessive mane/tail chewing can occur, resulting in rapid tail hair thinning. Wrap the horse's tail in cloth to prevent further chewing; also try moving the horse to another area if possible. Wrapping the tail also helps shield it from the elements, debris, tangles, and sun exposure.

4. 

   Stop tail base itching with garlic.

   Help thinned tails regain their former luster by giving horse flaxseed, biotin, and kelp supplements, all of which promote healthy cell and hair growth. Echinecea and garlic can be used to help stop itching, while cider vinegar is recommended for overall horse health.

5. 

   Make sure your horse has ample grazing access.

   Maintain a healthy, balanced diet to keep tail, mane, and coat full and sleek. Make sure the horse has plenty of water and room to graze. Horses should be given hay when indoors. Provide sweet feed and salt licks as well.

Tips & Warnings

• Conditioner can be used on the tail to work out tangles and keep hair from drying out. Do not use conditioner on roots of tail, as this only adds to grease buildup. Detanglers contain silicone and will dry out hair.

• Do not brush or comb horse's tail. Even gentle combing can accidentally pull out healthy tail hair. Running a comb from the top to bottom of the tail puts pressure on tail roots, causing breakage. Keep tangles and debris out of hair by finger-combing. If hair must be combed or brushed hold a length of hair with one hand and brush hair with the other hand. This grips the hair that is being combed without yanking at the roots.

References

• Alpha Horse: How Can I Make My Horse's Mane & Tail Thicker?
• Equisearch: Horse Care-Grooming

Resources

• The Beauty Bunny: Mane & Tail Shampoo/Conditioner Review