How to Safely Remove Burrs From Your Horse’s Mane, Tail, and Body

how to remove burrs from a horse's mane, burrs in horse's tail, first aid for burrs

Updated:

June 26, 2025

How-To, Grooming, Prevention, Management & Maintenance

Win the Battle of the Burrs

By Kathy Smith

Discovering your horse with a mane and tail full of burrs can be frustrating — but it’s more than a cosmetic concern. Burrs can cause real discomfort, inflame the skin, and even damage the hair roots. If your horse resists grooming, chances are those pesky burrs clusters are already causing pain by tightening up and pulling the hair every which way. Here’s how to handle the problem with care — and how to stop it from happening in the future.

horse with burrs in fetlock, how to remove burrs from a horse's mane, burrs in horse's tail, first aid for burrs

This Clydesdale mare has burrs tangled in the hair of her fetlocks. Photo: Dreamstime/Carol Hamilton

Step 1: Set Aside Time for a Careful Grooming Session

Removing burrs gently takes time and patience. Plan for an hour or more depending on the extent of the clumps and matts you’ll be dealing with and approach the task calmly to help your horse remain relaxed. Protect your hands with a good pair of gloves, such as well-fitting rubber-coated garden gloves.

Step 2: Calm and Protect the Skin

Burrs often dig into the skin and cause irritation. Before you tackle the burrs, help soothe any soreness.

Use a clean bulb syringe, such as a soft ear syringe available at your local pharmacy, to apply a soothing wound care gel or liquid to the skin underneath the tangled hair. About three tablespoons should be enough to provide relief and reduce inflammation.

horse with burrs in mane and tail, how to remove burrs from a horse's mane, burrs in horse's tail, first aid for burrs

This neglected horse’s mane and tail are solid mats of burrs, and burrs can also be seen stuck in his fetlocks. Photo: Dreamstime/Ruud Morijn

Step 3: Soften the Burrs with a Grooming Spray or Oil

A slippery surface makes it easier to free hairs without breakage.

Saturate the affected area with a detangling spray or light oil (such as mineral or baby oil). Make sure the product soaks through the burrs and into the hair. Give it several minutes to soften the burrs before beginning to detangle.

Step 4: Gently Work Out the Tangles

Start separating the hair from the bottom of the mat, carefully teasing burrs away with your fingers or a wide plastic comb. Avoid using metal tools, which can snap the hair. A fine crochet hook can work well for picking apart stubborn mats — remember to work outward from the knot, not upward from the skin.

Work slowly and gently to wiggle the burrs free. Tugging too hard could pull out hair or hurt your horse’s sensitive skin.

Step 5: Handle Burr Disposal Properly

Place removed burrs into a secure container for disposal — a heavy-duty plastic bag or sealed trash bin works well. Burrs are packed with seeds. To avoid starting a future burr patch, do not toss them into the compost, onto the manure pile, or onto the ground. Burning them is a good option if local regulations allow.

Step 6: Clear Burr-Producing Plants from Turnout Areas

Once your horse is burr-free, it’s time to eliminate the source.

burr-producing plants, horse turnout areas with burrs, how to remove burrs from a horse's mane, burrs in horse's tail, first aid for burrs

Track down and remove burr-producing plants from your horse’s turnout areas. Photo: Dreamstime/Semperscifi

In early spring, dig out new burr plants as they sprout. If burrs have already formed leaves, wait until the plant begins to bloom, then cut it back. Doing this convinces the plant it has reproduced and discourages it from returning.

If necessary, use pasture-safe herbicides — but make sure your horse is kept well away from the treated area until the spray has dried completely.

Consult local agricultural or extension services to help identify and safely remove problem plants, especially if they’re listed as invasive.

Recovery and Future Prevention

Your horse’s skin should heal well as long as it stays clean and free from irritation. Hair that’s been lost will regrow, typically about half an inch per month. If large areas of skin are exposed or raw, consider using a lightweight protective hood to shield against sunburn and biting insects.

hrose with burrs in mane, how to remove burrs from a horse's mane, burrs in horse's tail, first aid for burrs

Common burdock can be found across Canada growing in farmlands, pastures, roadsides, and along streams. Each plant can produce up to 16,000 seeds. Photo: iStock/Kiwisoul

The best defense is a good offense. Keep burr plants out of your pastures, inspect your horse daily, and tackle burr tangles early to avoid future problems.

More by Kathy Smith

Main Photo: iStock/Natalia SO