The struggle is real. If you have horses, you know just how hard it is to keep their manes and tails from getting tangles in them. Especially if their pastures have some woods in them, it’s not uncommon for your mare or gelding to trot back to the barn with a stick wound in their tail or some burrs caught in their mane. Regular brushing and having the best horse detangler on hand will go a long way!
Most of us aren’t braiding or roaching our horses’ manes, so all that loose hair requires a hair detangler product to keep it looking good.
Of course, there are lots of brands to choose from, and a horse mane and tail detangler should be paired with a good shampoo to keep the hair clean, shiny, and healthy (there are even lots of medicated and coloring products out there to choose from, if you need to do a little extra for your horse). Most of the best horse detanglers are going to be found in either a spray or a gel form.
My farm has had horses on it for nearly 15 years (including a mustang who likes to get into all kinds of trouble), and we have a mix of open pasture and wooded areas for the animals to graze and play in. Wouldn’t you know it, they like the woods and brushy areas better, so that means we’ve given particular attention to their upkeep and which detangler we’re using.
After all that time, here are our picks for the best horse detanglers — these are our favorites and are the ones we’d recommend to friends and fellow horse enthusiasts:
Mane ‘n Tail Detangler
This is what I’d consider the OG of detangler products — the first one off of most people’s lips when they talk about great horse hair detanglers. My preference has always been toward the type of spray bottle pictured above, but Mane ‘n Tail also has a more traditional spray bottle (which you can see here) that won’t wear out your finger as much if you need to use a lot. Mane ‘n Tail’s Detangler has an exclusive pH-balanced formula and is super easy to use — and it gets results. It’ll make your horse’s hair more manageable, eliminating tangles and knots along with the appearance of dry split ends. Plus, this product has some conditioning elements to it to help your horse’s overall appearance.
Cowboy Magic Detangler and Shine
Who doesn’t need a little magic around their farm or ranch? 🙂 Cowboy Magic’s detangler and shine is one of our go-tos. All you do is rub it in and leave it on — it’s a no-rinse formula. It’s also described as having silk proteins to moisturize and strengthen your horse’s hair, neutralizing static electricity and resulting in a high shine. Plus, Cowboy Magic is non-oily and has a UV protectant, and the concentrated formula repels dust, dirt, and sand.
Farnam Vetrolin Detangler
This is the detangler sitting in our horse trailer right now. Remember those woody pastures I mentioned in the intro? This works so wonderful after the horses spend a day traipsing through the brush. Vetrolin Detangler has specially formulated silicones that do particularly well to take out tangles. It conditions, smoothes and adds volume, and it increases manageability without damaging or drying hair. The concentrated version has a fresh, herbal fragrance, and, of course, it repels dust and dirt and helps prevent stains.
Absorbine ShowSheen Detangler Gel
This is one of the best detangler gels we’ve able to get our hands on — though, of course, if you really prefer a spray, Absorbine has that, too. The gel, though, is great for the really tough tangles. It has argon oil, is pleasantly scented, and helps to nourish and hydrate manes and tails. Application is easy with the infuser applicator that gets the gel exactly where you need it. Say goodbye to knots, tangles, and burrs!
EQyss Survivor Super Detangler
First impressions are a big deal, and an EQyss-brand detangler was the first horse detangler my wife and I ever bought. That has stuck with us, and we’ve bought EQyss products many times since then. The Survivor Detangler is perfect for manes, tails, braids, or feathered legs. EQyss says that just one drop is needed to loosen any knot and allow you to comb or brush out the matted hair with ease. It has added vitamin E to protect and soften the skin without alcohol. Plus it’s non-greasy and non-sticky and will not attract dust and dirt. EQyss can be used on a wet or dry coat.
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