Getting back in shape

I've never really brought a horse back from a long time off, so I didn't know what to expect for Miss B after her month an a half of lazies. Well, it is frustrating!

I made the mistake of diving right back into our schedule like nothing happened, which means six days a week of an hour ride. Aaaaannnd my horse got super sore. Like, lame sore. Seriously kicking myself for that..

Scruffy beast does snow prancing

Luckily with the big snow storm that has tormented the mid-Atlantic region, Beauty got two days off there. Yesterday I went out and we rode in the snow for maybe 15-20 minutes, but she was panting and sweating after just that. Riding in a foot and a half of snow turns out to be a super work out! So I figure I should give her today off to rest dem muscles. But I'm not good at time off, I'm so bored!

Beauty, get thy ass back in shape soon, I need something to do!!!!

Snow shadow!

What am I supposed to do with THIS?

So I've mentioned before how Miss B has a large chunk of mane missing, thanks to a hay feeder that is too small for Fat Morgan Necks...

This is what it looks like now:

Shleepy poneh haz bad hurr-do

Oh my god please no.

Excuse me while I mourn my loss

This horse has always had a long, flowing, Morgan-type-y mane that I love to bits and makes her unique and gorgeous. Chopping it off to try to hide this monstrosity was the hardest thing I've had to do in a long time. I want to let it grow out back to its previous glory, but the fact that she is missing half her mane kind of hinders that...

RIP gorgeous, sleek mane

So since we can't leave it like this, I have to find a solution. I've narrowed my options down to about four:

1.) Roach the mane. Not my first choice, since I HATE roached manes and with Fat Morgan Neck, I'm sure that would look awful on her. Plus if I want to grow it out, there is the awkward mohawk time. No me gusta.
2.) Get her a Sleazy. This would be an easy and affordable option, but the question is, would she just tear it apart? She lives outside and if the hay feeder is rubbing her mane off, would it just shred the Sleazy?
3.) Neck cover for her blanket. Less affordable, since they cost more than a Sleazy as it is, plus I'd have to get D-rings sewn on to her blanket(s). And change the neck piece between light and medium sheets every time she got a wardrobe change... And what about the times that she is not wearing a sheet?
4.) Ask Barn Manager to remove hay feeder. They've mentioned it before, when looking at Beauty's mane and other horses have had the same problem, but not as bad. But I feel weird asking them to do that, since I'm not a long-time boarder and it is just a cosmetic thing...

So I'd really like some opinions from those of you in Bloggerland, and any new ideas you might have!

PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF MANE, HELP ME!