When it comes to horses - especially show horses - it's not surprising the lengths owners will go to get their animals to perfection in the show ring. We thought nothing would surprise us, but a phone call to ask whether we would like to see hair extensions being done - on a horse certainly whetted our curiosity.

A horse, which shall remain nameless, suffered the all-too-common fate of having a too-tight tail bandage wrapped on by a well-meaning helper at the end of a long show day. To the owner's horror, the poor horse’s tail hair dropped out in clumps, leaving him nearly bald.

Everyone knows just how long it takes for tail hair to grow back. It began to, but now the top resembled a bottlebrush, and there was no way the horse could be shown. Trying every conceivable method to no avail they met a delightful young lady who could save the day!

Her name is Kylie Calogero. Kylie told me the birth of horsetail extensions came about after one of her young horses chewed off the tail of her older horse.

Consequently the brush left was too disgusting and ugly for the horse to be shown and too short for the rescue of a false tail. With knowledge and background gained working in human hairdressing, wig making and hair extensions, it seemed a matter of formulating a method to apply the extensions successfully into the horse's own tail.

Practice makes perfect, and with patience and perseverance, her method has been perfected.

Today, not only can Kylie give your horse a flowing tail but forelocks and manes can also be created to perfection.

1)

 

 

 

 

2)

3)
  • 1) Kylie begins 

  • 2) Only tiny amounts of false hair is added 

  • 3) Fixing the extensions

4)

6)

7)

5)
  • 4) You can see the lengths that’s been added

  • 5) Getting there! Patience and more is needed for this type of career

  • 6) A close up of just one of the extensions

  • 7) What a result, after a wash and condition this little fellows tail is as good as new

Back to Contents

© copyright 2002 S.Morphett - Images & text - Australian Eques no part image or text maybe copied or reproduced with out written permission from us.