Mane and tail hairs usually grows back out without help. That said, I have noticed that forelocks, when rubbed off too frequently - like on a horse with sweet itch for example - stop growing back in both length and thickness as if this was something that was established during the first three years of the horse's life and not so much thereafter.

Don't know if this pertains to breed (warmblood vs ponies), individual DNA or just coincidence, but it pays to be careful around it.

Prevention is often the best cure. Could one idea be to put a board or something in the bottom of it to make it less deep?

No because she would still rub her head on it when she eats, she also shares her pasture so the board might become a snack lol! Thank you for the info though that helps alot

Hi HorseCraz,
Habits like you describe could be caused by some lack in minerals/vitamins...
You might ask your vet to do a bloodtest, and at the same time have your hay/grass checked. The composition of different sorts of grass and hay can cause a disbalance in the diet, which is a longterm item. Skin is a sensitive organ, often the first to show there is something out of balance.
Please share the outcome with us, we can all learn from eachother!
Good luck,
Miriam 

HI

Can you describe the feeder a bit more please as they mean different things across the world. Is it free standing? Or is it a corner one attached to bars or...? 

Sometimes it is better to change the set up rather than deal with the symptom; what do you think, are there other ways you could feed her? If not, is there any way of padding the bars to minimise the rubbing?

Following up Miriam's point, is she hungry or greedy :-} Mine would eat till he exploded if I let him but I can tell when he is genuinely hungry because the grass has all but gone.

Let sus know how you get on

Hi,  Vicci is on something here.  If, what you mean by a tall bar feeder is an elevated feeder with bars on it for the hay to slide down as they consume it from the bottom.  Then I would say THAT is your problem.  I know that I am probably going to get a lot of flack for what I am about to say, but here goes anyway.  ELEVATED FEEDERS ARE NOT A NATURAL WAY FOR A HORSE TO BE FED.  Horses have a built in system that has been developed over millions of years to feed themselves.  They are grazers by virtue of their operating system of being seekers.  This is hard wired into their DNA.  Their heart rate drops almost 20 beats per minute when their head is below their chest [HENCE RELAXATION AND PEACEFUL GRAZING STANCE THAT THEY ASSUME.]  Elevated feeders also affect the saliva production that is so important for a horse`s digestion.  As I see this whole issue, it is about the mass amount of MISINFORMATION that pervades our horse industry.   The digestive system in a horse has to achieve a critical balance for the horse to be healthy on ALL fronts .  Some horses are more sensitive than others, but we as caretakers have the ability to not stack the odds in favor of the unnatural.

Feed the horse on the ground, from a tub and the forelock will probably grow back before you know it.

Let us know how that is going for you.

Bud

I agree with you Bud, but I board her in a pasture with other horses so feeder on the ground is not currently an option. I have never seen a forelock grow back if it was teimmed or rubbed since those particular hairs take forever to grow back. However I have discovered that by massaging a tea spoon of coconut oil into her roots and also on to the tips of her forelock, I can grow her forelock back in about a week and keep it slick enough to not rub out.

Hmm this is very interesting.
I totally agree with Bud. Horses do best having their feed as low as possible. Here in eastern Canada I see many horses feed from what I a former rancher would call a cattle feeder.
Grazing is the best possible feeding process. Horses like to move when they eat. Eat a little, look around and eat a little. This is their normal way. 
Now throw a human into the picture and his ideas are law.
Bucket feeding hold the dust, you see horses bringing their head up coughing and "sneezing". 
So whats a good alternative to grazing, usually only a small mouthful at a time, they have to work at.
A feeding net. The best one I have found is the Jonathan Field feeding net. The openings are only one inch. The hanging rope is very long. I put mine to almost touching the ground, imitating grazing as close as possible.
The reason I recommend this for you, it will help your horse to slow down her eating, give her something to do, calm her at feed time and she has to work at her feed. 
Her hay will last longer, for her.
We put one flat,  just one flat, four times a day. That gives her around thirty pounds.If possible, spray the net with a tiny bit of water, not necessary but that keeps the dust down for their lungs. Then stand back and watch her work for her food. After just a few moments she figures out how to get that first bite.
Check them out. JonathanField feeding nets. I highly recommend them.  e are instructions on how to get the best from them. He has some information on them on YouTube as well.
Hopes this helps, they can be hung anywhere.
Ronda