Tail (horse)

Tails of horses are often groomed in a number of ways to make them more stylish for show or practical for work.

The tail can communicate basic information about the horse's physical condition or state of mind.

A horse that is content will usually have the dock of the tail in a relaxed state, not moving other than to sway with the natural movement of the animal.

A horse that is about to buck may sometimes tense and curve or "kink" its tail in a distinctive fashion, although this action will not be visible to the rider, who is generally facing forward.

Basic tail grooming enhances the appearance of the horse and promotes the health of the hair and skin.

Horses that are placed into work or competition often have their tails cut, braided or styled in a number of ways.

Certain types of show grooming can inhibit the ability of the horse to use its tail for defense against insects.

A variation, shaving the dock close to the skin for about half its length, was also once a styling fad for "three-gaited" American Saddlebreds, though is less often seen today.

An improperly done braid may fall out if too loose, or if left in too long may cause discomfort and itching to the horse.

For driving horses, keeping the tail out of the way is a safety issue, it could be caught up in equipment.

For polo and polocrosse, commonly the entire tail is braided, folded up on the tailbone, and well secured.

When the horse is not in competition, the skirt of the tail is braided from the end of the dock to the tip, usually also folded up and covered by a wrap to keep it clean.

If most of the shorter hairs of the dock are allowed to hang loose, the horse may still be able to use its tail to swat flies.

The practice has been banned in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, parts of Australia, and in eleven states in the US, but is still seen on show and working draft horses in some places.

Though less drastic than amputation, it can still be difficult for a horse with a very short tail to effectively swat flies.

The tail obtains the desired shape sooner, and in most cases the ligament heals in a longer position.

However, upon retirement, the ligament will sometimes not return to its natural tension, and the animal later may have difficulty swatting flies and holding its tail down and in when needed.

In certain Iberian-descended gaited horse breeds, notably the Paso Fino, where a quiet, low-carried tail is desired, the low tail set was occasionally achieved by actually breaking the tailbone at a certain point so that it would remain in the desired position.

[3][4] Gingering is a particular issue with halter horses in the Arabian and American Saddlebred breeds, where high tail carriage and animation are desired traits.

[5][6] Because a swishing tail is penalized in some horse show events, particularly western pleasure and reining classes, handlers sometimes resort to methods, commonly called "blocking" or "nerving" that numb the tail or block the sensation of the nerve endings so it cannot move.

Conversely, grain alcohol acts locally and degrades the myelin sheaths of the nerves so that the horse cannot move its tail.

Another complication that may occur is a temporary inability to defecate and/or urinate due to paralysis of the muscles that control rectum and bladder emptying.

In extreme cases, especially if the alcohol injected migrates from the tail to nearby muscles and skin, damage can be so severe that necrosis can set in.

Some show-sanctioning organizations have strict penalties for participants who are found to have horses with nerve-blocked tails.