About Friesian Mane Care
If your goal is to preserve your horse's mane and tail, the last thing you want to do is grab a comb and get down to business because the comb or brush will inevitably rip out a good deal of hair. DO NOT BRUSH THE MANE EVERY DAY WITH A COMB OR BRUSH. Some hair loss is expected during grooming sessions, but if we rip out good hair along with the dead soon the horse's mane and tail will be thinned out drastically. Considering the hair growth for both locations is limited to a couple inches a year, it can take a long time to re-grow a devastated mane or tail.
To preserve hair loss caused by combing and tangles, start by running a dose of conditioner and/or tangle-remover through the mane with your fingers. This should loosen tangles and make the hair slicker, thereby allowing you to undo the tangles easily by hand. Some owners will just pull out the scissors and snip away tight tangles and knots, but I haven't seen a knot yet that couldn't be removed with some conditioner and patience.
Do not pull out your comb until you can run your fingers throughout the mane without detecting any tangles; let your fingers perform most of the "grunt" work since they will be more gentle than a comb. Sometimes after the finger combing, I'll use a hoof pick to separate hair. When it is time for the comb to be implemented, support the base of the horse's mane with one hand while you comb with the other. What you're trying to do is prevent downward tugging that may tear some hair from its roots. If you detect any missed tangles with your comb discontinue for a moment, untangle with your fingers, then proceed with the comb once more.
With Friesians, it is better to not brush the mane at all unless you first wash the mane with shampoo/conditioner and then spraying the wet mane with Vetrolin Shine. Braiding the mane at this point with straight braids every 4-5 inches down the neck, that are not too tight, is a good idea. Do not use Cowboy Magic as this can make the horse's hair brittle in dry climates. We recommend using a product called Vetrolin Shine to condition the mane and tail after washing it. It also has sunscreen and some fly repellency. You can buy it at Valleyvet.com or your local farm store.
Anhidrosis
Friesians are big and black. It's no secret they can be very heat intolerant. Some individuals can stand in the middle of a desert all day long and not care, but as a whole, heat intolerance is a problem. Anhidrosis (non-sweaters) do not have the ability to sweat so they can't release heat from their bodies and are at serious risk for heat stroke. For these horses, keep out of the sun during the day. If stalling is unavailable, make sure the horse can get to a protected shaded area during the heat of the day. Monitor temps during hot weather and cold hose if resting temp is over 102. (already knowing the baseline temp for your horse is helpful here). Flysheets that are white and reflective of sunlight, but not heavy or clingy fabric, help during turnout as well. Anhidrosis is common in young Friesians in their "teenage" years, and many of them develop it at 2-3 years old and "grow out of it" around 5-6 years old.
