I just don't like roached manes. Harley's mane looked just like that when I first got him. The rubbed off spots caught up in a year with out any trimming or roaching. Horses should have manes, as long, and shaggy as you can get them:).
Becky
It's funny... I know appys with unfortunate manes, like Bob's horse. It never grows enough to lay over right, so he roaches it. And I roached my Mustang because his was THICK, on both sides of his neck, but never got long enough to look pretty.
But yes, as an Arab person, I like a long natural mane more than the little pulled and banded Western Pleasure manes.