Last Updated on March 8, 2022 by Allison Price
We have all looked at horses with thick, luxurious tails and wondered why our horse wasn’t as fortunate. A horse with a nice, long tail is more likely to have “good hair genes.” A Gypsy Vanner’s tail is almost always thicker than that of a Thoroughbred. Although we cannot control the genetics of our horses, we can take care to maintain their tails in a way that promotes growth and protects them. The most common way to do this is with a tail bag.
A tail bag is exactly what it sounds and is made from nylon or lycra. The best thing? They come in a variety of colors and patterns.
The benefits of a Tailbag
1. These bags protect the horse’s tail from dirt, debris and leaves.
2. They prevent your horse’s tail getting knotted or tangled.
3. These prevent your horse from getting on their tail.
4. You can prevent hair loss and reduce the risk of breakage with a tail bag.
5. These bags save time and make it easy to clean your horse’s tail.
The Negatives a Tail Bags
1. These fly sheets can reduce your horse’s ability to fly-swatte.
2. Some horses don’t like them.
3. A wrongly applied tail bag could be dangerous. Below we’ll discuss proper application!
How to Apply A Tail Bag
Shampoo your horse’s tail. Rinse and apply conditioner. Rinse again. A leave-in conditioner may be an option.
2. Wipe your horse’s tail dry.
3. Locate the tail bone. Divide the hair into three sections and braid it down securely.
4 Trim the tail as long as possible. You can tie it with one or two braiding bands or one “human hair elastic” (I prefer these for thicker tails).
5 Add the braid to your tail bag.
6 Bring the bag to the base where the tail bone is, and start your braid. Make a small opening in your hair at the top of your braid. Then, feed one of the bag tabs through the opening.
7. Wrap one tab around the braid. It is important to inspect the bag and ensure that it is not tied directly onto the tail bone.
8. Securely tie both tabs together.
My horse’s tail is usually removed from the tail bag at least once per week. I will repeat the previous steps if his tail looks dirty. If the tail is clean, I will brush it out and rebraid it before applying the tail bag again.
Although a tail bag may not be right for everyone horse, it could be exactly what you need to have the thick, silky tail you’ve always wanted.
