If you're planning on plaiting (braiding) your horse's mane you will need to have it pulled to a length of at most 10 cm. How thick you have the mane depends on the style of plait/braid. To pull the mane you first thin the mane with a thinning comb. This is quite a long narrow comb with the teeth much closer together then in a 'normal' mane and tail comb. By combing through the mane with this for a few days you will thin the mane slightly, but to have it even, it must be pulled. Using a normal mane comb, comb down a section of mane (I start near the withers and move up) and then hold onto the longest strands with your non-comb-holding hand. Brush upwards in this section, and all the shorter hairs will bunch up near the crest, and you will be left with a small amount of longer hairs in your hand. Grasping firmly, pull the hairs out with a swift upward motion. If you only pull small amounts and for short periods of time it shouldn't hurt the horse. Wearing a glove on the hand that pulls out the hairs I also recommend. If you're horse is truly against having his or her mane pulled, don't cut it!! Instead use a razor comb and use the same technique as previously mentioned, but cut the ends of the long strands off (from beneath) using the razor comb. This creates a much less artificial appearance then a cut mane.

As I plait my horse's tail, I don't know the correct technique for pulling a tail. I always 'bang' his tail - cut straight across the bottom - so that when he moves it is carried about four inches below the point of his hock.