Horse Hair Business Is Hot

Horse Hair Business Is Hot LIVESTOCK Horses/Mules Whether it be chewed off tails rubbed-out manes or simply a genetic disposition for thin locks there is hope for horses who are having a bad hair day     Valerie Nilsson s business Broom Tails by Valerie is overwhelmed with international demand for her patent pending 100 percent natural horsehair products     Nilsson makes wigs for horses - better known as full tail extensions switches and mane and forelock extensions In the show world Western pleasure competitors make up a big sector of her business Owners of cutting and reining horses also love her products These horsemen seek long flowing manes and tails because of how they accentuate the movement of the animal      Judges perceptions are crucial to high stakes competitors and subtle cosmetic enhancements can often make the difference between winning and losing she says     When in 1997 the American Quarter Horse Association approved the show ring use of such enhancements for their vast membership Nilsson knew the market was opening up     Nilsson purchases her raw materials by the pound from several sources including a local packing plant and overseas importation The recycled horse hair undergoes a labor-intensive two-week process that includes washing preservation sorting for color and length conditioning and sometimes dyeing or adding highlights      Shana Witbeck in Vernal Utah is my U S partner and we re on the road a lot together We travel to world and national shows in the U S and Canada with our 17-ft cargo trailer and set up our booth Nilsson says All they have to do is see us and this business sells itself Orders are stacked up û I m as busy as my body can handle     Nilsson s hair products are attached to the animal using hair-to-hair methods such as braiding and wrap-arounds Mane and forelock extensions are either glued in or clipped in     Besides beautifying live animals Broom Tails by Valerie are also popular with craftspeople who want to add realism to the large rocking horses carousel horses and life-sized horse mannequins     Nilsson sells her products privately and also wholesales to a western apparel and tack catalog company She s had orders from France Russia Germany and the Netherlands     Depending on the volume and weight prices for natural full tails and switches range from $79 to $350 U S plus S&H     Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Broom Tails by Valerie Box 277 Magrath Alta Canada T0K 1J0 or in the U S Broom Tails by Valerie Box 402 Babb Mont 59411 ph 403 758-3062; email: val@broom tails com; website: www broomtails com

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.