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Custom Tails
1531 Western Avenue
Blue
Grass, IA 52726
tel (563) 381-1394
fax (305) 946-0873
Email Us Here!
Monday - Friday: 8am to 5pm
Saturday: 9am to 4pm
Closed on Sunday
ALL Photographs and information
contained in this site are protected by U.S. copyright laws and reproduction in
any form is strictly prohibited by law. All photographs (except show/win
photos) are ORIGINAL Custom Tails photographs.
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FAQ's and Troubleshooting
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How do I match my horse's tail
color?
When purchasing a tail extension, look at your horse's inner
tail hair color, and outer tail hair color. The inner tail color is important,
because that is where the extension will be worn, and the tail extension should
blend with the inner tail hair. The outer tail hair color is also important,
because that's the tail hair that will be blending with the tail extension, and
those colors need to match as well. If your horse's inner and outer tail hair
colors contrast sharply (and some do), you will want the tail extension to
match your horse's outer tail hair, which will veil down around the tail
extension. To make visualization easier, and to take some of the guesswork out
of color matching - step back from your horse about ten feet or so - the tail
color you see is the tail color to match. Some horses carry two or more
distinct colors in their tail - especially paint horses. In these cases, a
bi-color or tri-color tail extension would be the best match.
How
do I measure for the correct length tail extension?
Determine the length
you need by measuring from where you plan on braiding in the tail extension
down to however long you want the tail to be, usually to the fetlock or pastern
area for a mature horse. Depending on the type of attachment used, a tail
extension can be braided in anywhere from the bottom of the tail bone up to one
to three inches up the tail bone.
What weight tail extension is best
for my horse, and do I want a blunt or tapered end?
Weight is a matter
of personal preference However, a little less is better than too much. You want
the tail to be a complement to the horse, not overpower it. Choosing a blunt or
tapered end is also a matter of choice. Most yearlings will use a ½
pound tapered tail extension. This looks natural with the tail they have, and
is appropriate to their age. Halter horses will usually wear a ½ or
¾ pound tapered end tail extension. The ½ pound and ¾
pound tail extensions can also be appropriate for the two year old futurity
horses, and are usually finished with a blunt end. Bigger framed horses can
carry a bigger tail extension than a smaller, more fine boned horse. Again, you
need to keep in mind the big picture. Most mature show horses will wear a
¾ pound to one pound tail extension, and they are usually blunt on the
end.
What are the differences between the three types of
attachments?
Tail extensions with braided horse hair ties and braided
horse hair loops are meant to be braided up snug against the tail bone anywhere
from the end of the tail bone on up one to three inches. The tube end
attachment braids in at the very bottom of the tail bone. The braided ties and
braided loops are more versatile, since they can be braided in up or down the
tail bone, lengthening or shortening the tail extension as needed. This makes
is possible to use the tail extension on different horses, or shorten the tail
extension when showing in a deep or muddy arena, maneuvering through elevated
trail obstacles, etc. The tube attachment is probably the easiest to attach,
but the only place it can be braided in is at the bottom of the tail bone, so
you don't have the option of lengthening or shortening the tail extension.
However, if you are a one person horse, or braiding is a challenge, the tube
end attachment may be right for you. See the Braiding
Instructions and Tail Care page for instructions on how to attach tail
extensions.
I'm just not sure what tail hair color to order for my
horse's tail extension. Can you help me make a decision?
If you're not
sure what tail hair color to order, or your horse's tail hair color doesn't
seem to match any of the in-stock colors, we can help. A sample of your horse's
tail hair, 12 to 15 tail hairs, will allow us to match a hair color to your
horse's tail. Up-close photos of your horse's tail, taken from each side and
from the back, will also help us match your horse's tail hair color, and are
helpful in discerning any definite color patterns within the tail hair.
What are rendered tails?
Rendered tails are horse tails still
on the hide. They come in varying colors, lengths and weights. Rendered tails
can work well for horses that have lost most of their tail hair due to tail
damage or whose tails have been severely chewed. Rendered tails are shaped to
form around the horse's tail bone, covering up and taking the place of the
existing tail. Rendered tails can also work well as a tail extension - another
way to add fullness and length to your horse's own tail. Rendered tails are
braided in high on the tail bone. They are more time consuming to put in, and
it is a two person job to braid in a rendered tail - patience and practice
help! However, when there is not enough tail hair to attach a regular tail
extension, a rendered tail may be the answer. See the Braiding Instructions and Tail Care page for further
information on attaching a rendered tail.
What can I do for a horse
with no tail?
You have a couple of options. The tube end attachment tail
extension can work well for horses with thin, fine tail hair, such as
Appaloosas and P.O.A's. If your horse has enough hair at the bottom of the tail
bone to make a braid, with tail hair left to veil over the tail extension, this
type of tail extension may be the answer. Yarn can be added to the braid to
increase the thickness of the braid without using as much tail hair. Since the
tube end tail extension braids in at the very bottom of the tail bone, you are
adding the length and fullness from the inside out - your horse's existing tail
hair veils over the tail extension. Usually, horses with thin, fine hair will
take a ½ pound or less tube end tail extension, rather than the fuller,
heavier tail extensions. If your horse has had tail damage, lost part of the
tail bone, or has a severely chewed tail, you made need to go with a rendered
tail. Rendered tails do a nice job of taking the place of the tail hair that
used to be there. In some cases, both with the tube end attachment tail
extension and the rendered tail, small tail plugs are braided in to fill in
where the extension/rendered tail and the horse's own tail hair meet, to help
blend all the tail hair.
Can my horse wear a tail extension all the
time?
Tail extensions and rendered tails are meant to be used for show.
They should be braided in prior to showing, and taken out after you are done
for the day. Leaving a tail extension in overnight is discouraged, since the
tail extension can get caught on a water bucket or latch, etc., or stepped on
when the horse pushes up with his hind legs to get up after lying down. Either
circumstance could damage not only the tail extension, but your horse's own
tail. Leaving a tail extension in overnight may cause the braids to loosen,
allowing the tail extension to sag - not a pretty picture in the show pen! If
you have a horse that is lacking enough tail to comfortably swish flies, we
suggest using a light weight tail sock with a fly switch sewn on to the end,
and/or a scrim sheet. Both will make the fly season much more tolerable.
How do I take care of my tail extension?
Take care of your
tail extension the same as you take care of your horse's tail. Custom Tail
extensions are 100% horsehair to comply with Breed Association rules, and
taking care of your tail extension properly will increase it's life span. After
each use, wash your tail extension with a mild shampoo, rinse well and towel or
air dry. Sparingly apply a detangler to make brush outs easier, and to prevent
tangles. Condition your tail extension with a quality hair conditioner after
every 6-8 shampoos. Rinse well, dry and follow up with an application of
detangler. When not in use, your tail extension should be stored in a tail bag
slightly longer than the tail to prevent the ends from curling. See the
Braiding Instructions and Tail Care page for
additional information.
At the shows, you sometimes see tail
extensions that look very obvious. Either the tail extension separates from the
horse's own tail, or it hangs down too far. What is the problem?
The
secret to a great looking tail is a good color match, correct application of
the tail extension, and clean hair! When you braid in your tail extension, make
sure the top of the extension is snug up against the tail bone - this prevents
the tail extension from hanging loose, and swinging free on it's own,
separating from your horse's own tail hair. Prior to braiding in your tail
extension, make sure your horse's tail and the tail extension are clean and
free of tangles. Clean hair blends and flows much better than dirty hair! Be
sure the tail extension is hung at the correct length - allowing a tail
extension to hang lower than the fetlocks can cause the tail extension to get
stepped on, possibly damaging both the tail extension, and your horse's
tail!
My horse's tail gets caught in between his legs. What can I do
to prevent this?
There are a number of reasons this can happen. If your
horse is narrow between the hocks, you may have too much tail hair for the
space between his legs. The tail hair gets pulled between the hocks due to the
momentum of the horse's stride, but once it's caught between the legs, there's
not enough room for the tail hair to flow back out. Going to a lighter weight
tail extension may remedy this problem. Dirty tail hair and a dirty tail
extension will get caught between the hind legs easier than clean, flowing tail
hair. Be sure both your horse's tail and the tail extension are clean and free
of tangles. Sometimes static electricity is the culprit. If the tail hairs are
full of static, spray Static Guard on the tail and tail extension, and on the
insides of your horse's hocks prior to entering the show pen. A silicone based
product, such as ShowSheen, sprayed on the inside of your horse's legs may also
help prevent your horse's tail from getting caught between his legs. Also, be
sure that your horse's chestnuts are smooth - rough skin can catch the hair as
it passes by.
Will a tail extension help lower my horse's tail
carriage?
Horses that carry their tails out behind them, or are busy
with their tail, may benefit from the weight of a tail extension. Sometimes the
fact that there is something braided up next to their tail bone is enough to
help flatten their tail, regardless of the weight. We can add weight to a tail
extension, but check with your breed association, since not all registries
allow weighted tails. |
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