Apply a Tail Extension

By Jennie Vigliano with Liz Iliff Prax

Learn how to securely add a toupee to pump up the volume of your horse's tail.

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1. Thread two 14- to 16-inch pieces of yarn through the loop of the tail extension, so the loop hangs halfway along the length of yarn. Tie the yarn in a gentle knot—not too tight—around the loop, so it can’t slide back and forth. Strong yarn is important; I use 100-percent polyester. Photos © Amy K. Dragoo

Active show horses’ tails take a lot of abuse: rubbing while shipping, snagging on buckets and repeated braiding. To compensate for hair loss, many exhibitors use artificial tailpieces. Here are the steps I use to apply a tailpiece to an unbraided tail. After that, I braid the tail for competition.

Jennie Vigliano braids for top trainers on the A circuit, including hunter trainer Scott Stewart.

This article first appeared in the June 2012 issue of Practical Horseman magazine.