If you’re in any doubt over whether do horses remember you, the blog is littered with posts and comments like the ones below.
I’m glad they are too – they put a huge smile on my face:
“HORSES ARE NOT DUMB! Part 2
Finally got my Arab/QH back after three years from a friends property. I called to him, he trotted up to me and rubbed his head on my shoulder.
I put him in his own paddock. Today, as my travelling daughter said she wanted to go for a ride, I put my grey mare in the back yard, then got Solli (the A/QR) in the front yard, to re acquaint each other, as they were good friends before he left 3 yrs ago.
They rubbed heads against each other, nibbled withers – and when I let them out together, you would swear there was a 3 metre rope tying them together! Poor Solli tho, we had a 115yr large shed pulled down while he was away, and he kept pacing the new grass area and sniffing the fence!
They have not moved more than 3 metre away from each other – I took a photo of them grazing, mirror image down to the legs in same position!
Who says horses don’t have friends??
kathy”
Do horses remember you?
As usual with this blog, it’s the comments I love to read.
Here’s Tamara’s comment I’ve taken from below in respone to Kathy:
“I know horses are smart and they remember more than we know … I had a beautiful Appy that I had trained with hand commands and would run a jump course and go over jumps I pointed to, we had a strong bond.
Long story short – this lady told me it was best for me to sell her my horse, I was too big for him … I listened to her … was young and dumb ! After she got him she said I could not see him or ever see him !
Years past – then one day I said I WAS going to see my boy ! Once there I didn’t recognize him – mane and tail docked 🙁 So I just pointed to a jump – and there he was !
He ran straight to the jump, cleared it and ran right over to me ! My Little Satan knew me ! I so hated myself for ever selling him ! We hugged and I told him I was sorry – then the stable hands came for me – I kissed him and ran off – back to my car, he followed as far as he could. So NO horses are Not Dumb ! But I was.
Tamara”
Do horses remember you?
Now a question from Julie:
“Does anyone know the easiest way to get burrs out of manes and tails that is less painful than pulling them with the hair? I adopted a 6 month old filly yesterday that is underweight and full of burrs in her tail. I worked on the ones in her mane yesterday but I felt bad since some were really buried.
Thank you. Thank you also for sharing the therapy story and information for those of us that were clueless to it’s existence.
Julie”
That’s all for today. Please do keep them coming. If you have a story that answeres the question of ‘do horses remember you?’, please do post below!
And don’t forget there are hundreds of posts like this on the blog, but the only way you can see them all is to jump on the newsletter.
Best
Cowboy magic detangler!! Follow directions
The best way to get burrs or tangles out is with a
product that you mix with water. It’s pink but that’s all I can tell you about it. The name escapes me at the moment and the barn is too far and it’s too cold to run down there to check the name.
The label has a characature of a horse/pony with an extremely long tail flowing around the pony.
It works like a charm and conditions the hair also.
I spray WD-40 on my horses tail and mane leave it for a while and it works tangles and trash of a lot easier
Marvin,
WD-40 is full of GMO & not meant for horses. Do not put anything on a horse that 🙄 you cannot eat yourself! ! ! !
I use mane & tail detangler all year when I brush Dolley’s tail. The burrs slip out and rarely get enmeshed. Also, when my equestrian grand-daughter got her very long hair in a horrible tangle, coconut oil…cheap & in a jar…was applied to her hair in great amounts. Then , I started at the bottom and with small amounts of hair at a time, and great patience on both our parts, we got it out and after washing, her “mane”was magnificiebt.
The easiest way to remove burrs is to soak or spray the area with baby oil and they will slide right out.
I would never use baby oil i tried it in a fly spray mix very diluted and my horse had a horrible reaction.
I do not own a horse of my own but really love horsesn it is amazing to learn so much of horses and it is amazing te know that horses do remember their old friend.
Kind regards
Arnoline
I have always sprayed baby oil on the burrs, helps break them down and does not hurt the mane or tail. good Luck
Hi Julie, I worked for 3 and a half years cutting, shaving ,brushing dogs hair. When their hair was full of stuff we simply cut through the knots down words in the direction that the hair hang and then brush gently with a brush. It will not look to nice but that is the painless way to do it. The hair will grow out soon again. Enjoy your horse, they are precious. Jane.
I have had this issue before. I take a 1/2 cup of cooking oil. work it in to there mane & tail.not only does it condition the burrs slide right out. My horse had them really knotted up too. They came right out. After I got them out. I braided her tail really tight and very seldom do any stick with the oil.
COWBOY MAGIC IS THE BEST. BUT EXPENSIVE. CHEAP BOTTLE OF BABY OIL FROM THE DOLLAR GENERAL AND A LOT OF TLC.
Hi,
I use Main & tail detangler or Show Sheen works too. really get the main and tail sprayed almost wet feeling the first time, and then I use the Oyster round main and tail brush and start at the bottom and work my way up. For the tail as I get higher up I do sections. As you get close to the actual tail I let the hair fall sideways like a fan that way I don’t hurt his tail. Then every other day or so I will repeat the process as needed. Not only does it get all the hair cleaned out from burs out it looks nice too. Hope this helps.
Try baby oil the burrs should slide right out of the tail and mane.
PLEASE don’t use anything with petroleum in it. That’s an oil product. It’s NOT good for us or them.
You can use something as simple as coconut oil. Will help the hair and provide a natural lubricant to detangle. I use it on my hair, skin, and I eat it. Both my cat and dog also love it! See if she likes the taste of it too. Most animals do, and it’s good for their skin.
Show shine works great
Julie – Hi, I had an even worst case – adopted an Arabian on it’s way to the slaughter – had been a show horse, the owner had braided his mane and tail to get ready for the show – but he died. His son took the horse back to farm and just left him there for three years ! So when I got him he still had braids – if that is what you want to call them. I didn’t want to cut all his mane and tail off to get those knots out – so I got some (I know you may think this strange) WD40 spray. I sprayed them real good and parted the hair as I wanted to get all the hair coated. I then took my comb and started at the ends of each strand working up. It took 2 cans and 2 days of hard work – but saved his mane and tail without pulling ANY hair out! Since then I have used it after rides thru rough country or if they just have tangles. It works great ! Plus does not attract dirt which I thought it would and adds nice shine. Good luck
Kathy – I know horses are smart and they remember more than we know … I had a beautiful Appy that I had trained with hand commands and would run a jump course and go over jumps I pointed to, we had a strong bond. Long story short – this lady told me it was best for me to sell her my horse, I was too big for him … I listened to her … was young and dumb ! After she got him she said I could not see him or ever see him ! Years past – then one day I said I WAS going to see my boy ! Once there I didn’t recognize him – mane and tail docked 🙁 So I just pointed to a jump – and there he was ! He ran straight to the jump, cleared it and ran right over to me ! My Little Satan knew me ! I so hated myself for ever selling him ! We hugged and I told him I was sorry – then the stable hands came for me – I kissed him and ran off – back to my car, he followed as far as he could. So NO horses are Not Dumb ! But I was. 🙁
I had that exact problem when I rescued Apple, our blind shetland pony. She had her thick winter coat in and was soaking wet. It took me 3 days to unburr her. I used baby oil gel, left it in overnight and the next day they combed right out.
I use Burts Bees conditioner or any human hair conditioner that is natural and fairly organic. We always have some left over from the humans. It gets bits of briar stalks, cockleburrs, “hitch-hikers” and Agimony burrs out easily. I have never cut my Arab mares mane, as I believe it is needed for the flys and besides it is so pretty. She is 21 so it is long. I also have a little shaggy Shetland and she gets them all over. I try to be gentle and sing or talk to them while de-burring.. I wouldn’t use WD40 as the skin absorbs toxins and it is intense. Also a spray could get in the eyes. Cocanut oil sounds great too. Women from India have used it on their beautiful long black hair for thousands of years.. must be good.
I deal with burrs constantly. Baby Oil sounds good, but I do not like products that attract dust. My top pick is the detangler, SURVIVOR. Not greasy and leaves the mane clean and soft. No foul odor either. WD 40 will damage the hair. Do not use something on your horse that you would not use on yourself.
For those who use WD-40 should be ashamed of yourselves. WD-40 is not meant for human or our precious horses…would you put it on yourselves ?
Further it is full of GMO>>>not fit for any consumtion..willeven breakdown skin.
Julie,
Baby oil works wonders or coconut oil in a spray bottle.Just fan the tail & mane & comb from the bottom up.They will come out like butter.
If you must go the chemical route…cowboy magic, show sheen, mane & tail …they all work..but the oils are cheaper.
I have horses all my life & live in Canada where there are alot of burrs.I am no in my 60’6, still have horses & the oils still work the best. Is easily to find & inexpensive. The best thing once you get the burrs out is to braid…to prevent deep burrs from getting in too deep….which they shouldn’t & if you braid really
tight.. you will have not have any more burr problems.
Hope some of this was of help.Good luck.. but is not hard to get them out with the above.
Time to enjoy your wonderful horse.
Kathy,
Have you had only Solli at your place. Was the gray mare there in his own paddock or just came for a visit with your daughter?
Either or this is typical horse behavior. They are herd animals & welcome a visitor.
There might be some semblance of old memories. However horses live in the moment.
It must have been an amazing feeling none the less.
So how did the ride go ?
Blessings to you 😛
Give them more credit than that! Horses remember for years who their friends are and were….I have over 40 horses and have studied them for years..Most horses dont really welcome stange horses that readily..Soli remembered his mate!
Get a cheap bottle of hair conditioner from the Dollar Store, it’s non-toxic and economical. Saturate the area and massage into the burrs. Patiently work them out starting at the outward end of the hair shaft. Sometimes a dog ‘slicker’ is helpful. Your horse will love the extra attention!
Hi, I use either baby oil, Cowboy Magic, or MTG (available at Co-ops, tack shops etc). It doesn’t smell great, but it really works, and I have found that not only are their manes, tails (and coats) silky, shiny and knot-free, but that it seems to promote hair growth too! It is fairly expensive (about $25.00 CAN for a one liter bottle) but a little goes a long way. Cowboy Magic smells great and is nice to use for ‘regular’ grooming…but it is expensive as well, and I find the MTG works better on the burrs. Shake it up really well every time! Patti
EquiFuze Gleam is amazing!!! I like EquiFuze better then cowboy magic, it makes the tail softer and a little goes a long way!
I have used Avon Skin so Soft mixed with water, spray it on, let it set for a few minutes, then start to comb from the ends of the hair shaft, not to top. Work up to the roots as you remove the burrs by hand and comb..it will take time. Make sure you hold the mane/tail firmly between the root end and the matted area to prevent pulling constantly and making the roots sore. Your horse will appreciate it.
Val,
I have been in the horse business most all of my life. I am a farrier and owned a breeding farm for 35+ years. Horses have an amazing memory. There were some here that maybe I, a human, didn’t see for years that knew me and recognized my voice immediately. Mares, babies, stallions, and gelding alike. I birthed them, halter broke them, bred them, feed them, brushed them! showered them on a warm day to cool them off, kindness was key, lots of 50 lb. bags of carrots for all. They are much smarter than most give them credit for. They are amazing animals, with an unconditional love for their horse and human friends for life whether together or apart……
I discovered quite by accident that the bug spray I make with Skin So Soft & vinegar works great on burrs. Put it in a spray bottle & you’re good to go. I would say it’s the Skin So Soft that’s doing the trick though–not the vinegar…
we use survivor detangler. It works great.
Many have suggested what to put on the mane or tails that are a mess. No one has suggested what type of comb is best to work with. I use a “Goody” wide tooth
comb, with a letter opener that has a razor blade in it. I use the letter opener to get the knots started, it slices through them easily, at the ends,and you can’t see any cuts to the mane or tail when finished.
I assume its not well known, but horses actually have better memories than elephants. Its been proven countless times. Just goes to show you should treat your horses nicely cause anything you do, good or bad, will stay with them for a lifetime 🙂
Thank you everyone for all the wonderful ideas on getting burrs out. I am sharing the baby oil, coconut oil, hair conditioner and survivor ideas. Not too keen on the WD-40. I use that on my truck and other mechanical devices.
God Bless
My Australian Stckhorse mare was 30 years of age when she was reunited to finally live with her longterm riding pal, also a 30 year old, a cremello mare, after a 10 year absence: The gentle whinnying and rubbing as they met again and then the simultaneous turn and walk up into their paddock together told my friend & I they remembered one another as if they had never been parted! When the Cremello finally succumbed to arthritis and it was kindest to euthenise her, the vet put them both down together; a gentle breeze coming up through the pines to carry their spirits away. They were buried together on a hill overlooking a beautiful southern Australian bay, a fitting end to 20 years of friendship.
If you can’t get hold of horse hair detangler, use hair conditioner. My friend used it on a cob she recently got and it works wonders!
Use Cowboy Magic Detangler(Not shampoo) Work it in and let it sit and then brush out your weeds or knots. It is worth the money. It also makes main and tail hair slipperier so more weed seeds can’t get a grip.
I would not recommend WD-40 at all. It can be absorbed through the skin and with some pets (and Humans) can cause kidney damage.
Spray Show Sheen on the mane and then flip the mane over to the other side. Spray the underside with Show Sheen especially the base. Then working on that side, separate small sections at a time, pulling the hair gently apart. The base of the mane is where a lot of tangling starts. As
each section untangles,comb or brush out and flip section back over to the natural side. I use a human boar bristle brush. It takes time but it is worth it. The smooth texture and shiny results will last weeks and just needs a quick brush in between. It is also less prone to attract new tangling issues. Have fun !
Please help ! my pal has “blanket burn”, a large patch of hair off on his front withers,caused by rubbing of his winter blanket, sewn in an extra silk lining, tried ointments & creams. Looks horrid, with large almost saucer size patch with no hair…anyone a solution?
Coconut oil is great and is good for the brain.