Ventral Manes in Paso Finos

[LynnG]

This had been touched on what it was once before and identified as a Ventral Mane.

My June 2005 grulla filly Espirita is now shed her winter hair, well most of it. She still has her ventral mane along the bottom of her belly here at 10 months old!

http://www.geocities.com/lynngallup/gracewoodfarm/images/espirita/4_25_06_ESP_VentralMane1.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/lynngallup/gracewoodfarm/images/espirita/4_25_06_ESP_VentralMane2.jpg

Now I can see this being a primitive trait in horses as it would keep the flies and knats from biting along the center of the stomach, which is where they often do like to congregate and bite.

If you see the younger pics of Espirita, she does not have a ventral mane. This grew as she did and with her winter hair. I assumed when she shed her baby and winter hair...it would shed too. NOT YET!

http://www.geocities.com/lynngallup/gracewoodfarm/images/espirita/espiritaRearLook7_30_05web.jpg
At 5 weeks old.........no belly hair!

http://www.geocities.com/lynngallup/gracewoodfarm/images/espirita/ESP_Smut_9_20_05.jpg
At 3 months old...no noticeable belly hair...

http://www.geocities.com/lynngallup/gracewoodfarm/images/espirita/espPrance12_23_05web.jpg
At 6 months old...you can start seeing some belly hair aka ventral mane.

http://www.geocities.com/lynngallup/gracewoodfarm/images/espirita/2_2_06espConf_LGweb.jpg
And a bit more belly hair at 7 months old while growing some winter fuzzies too.

Very interesting primitive fly control concept, though not universally used.
If she were to be shown it would need to be trimmed, but I would imagine it would grow back. Anyone else have experience with horses with ventral manes, and did they change and get longer as they aged or just fall out like shedding?

[appyday]

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y84/appyday/apr1820069.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y84/appyday/apr1820067.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y84/appyday/apr1820066.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y84/appyday/apr1820064.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y84/appyday/apr1820062.jpg

[Cindy]

Lynn, they usually go away when the horse is more mature. The ones I have had lost them when they shedded at 2. And if you shave it, it will not come back.

[LynnG]

appy, your filly has longer hair on her chest then mine, but mine has thicker hair! LOL :-?

[Barbwire]

I've only seen pics of dun/grulla horses with them. Do they grow on other colored horses as well?

[Carol Nelson]

I have some that have it and some that don't. Very strange, don't really know where it comes from. And yes, it usually disappears about age 2. My yearlings still have theirs.
As for colors, I've gotten them on a black bay, a red bay, and a red dun...color doesn't seem to matter.

[appyday]

appy, You have longer hair on your chest then I do, but I have thicker hair on mine! LOL :-?

I am glad you are talking about the fillys....lol...I :fixed: the quote for you..

[Tracey]

OK, got my laugh in for the morning, thanks guys~ :D

[LynnG]

nah......appy ...hey I thought of writing something different too. :twisted:
.... or....


appy, You have longer hair on your head then I do, but I have thicker hair on mine! LOL :evil:

My hair dresser has to thin my thick hair every time and that too is why I have short hair. I get too warm being outside when the weather gets hot..like wearing a winter hat. and you just pull yours up -------..~~

:shock:
Intersting about the fillies hair growth. I do think it is a primitive thing. I have seen a Paso and Rocky baby or too with a hair tuft underneath. They clean and trim the horse up for a show and miss the belly hairs!!!! :-?

[appyday]

It is wierd and weird the grullas have it more...it is interesting I plan to let Teki keep hers..even if she has in IF I decide to show her I would just gel it to her belly :lol:

[LynnG]

yep definitely should help keep the flies off the belly. Appy maybe you need to make something like that to apply to horses stomachs to help with biting insects in the upper belly area where the tail doesn't reach when swishing.

[appyday]

yep definitely should help keep the flies off the belly. Appy maybe you need to make something like that to apply to horses stomachs to help with biting insects in the upper belly area where the tail doesn't reach when swishing.

Like a hula skirt.... :lol:

Ps I use lots of fly spray and fly sheets..

[Terry Wallace]

Here is Mila's ventral mane....it appeared for two years and is now gone...hasn't been back....http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v101/twobarwpaso/MilasventralmaneoneyearoldEMAIL.jpg

[Pasomom]

Very interesting! I have never seen a ventral mane before. Thanks for posting pix everyone!

[JennLM]

A first for me too. Does it happen in other breeds as well?

[hast]

Interesting that it disappears after age 2. The first time I heard of a ventral mane was when Mila's pictures was first posted on the other forum. LOL. I even saved one of the pictures on my computer to look at. I'm amazed at how much we learn here. :D