Hello, Does anyone know how to braid a horses main and tail for dressage? I found a wonderful link on it once but I cant find it again. If anyone can help me or know a good link on it I would appreciate it SO much!! You can email me here: happyhooves@americanhorsenetwork.com thank you so much, Hallie

-- Christie (happyhooves@americanhorsenetwork.com), March 20, 2002

Answers

If you know the answer--don't just privately email--there may be hundreds of people who are interested in this topic. Just a thought....

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), March 20, 2002.

There's a really good book called "Grooming (or maybe Groom) to Win". Our library has it. It has really good instructions and illustrations on many different types of braiding. I've photocopied many pages out of that book. Check it out.

-- malinda (teneniel_80@yahoo.com), March 20, 2002.

I always thought that the braiding was the same, but instead of using yarn, or elastic bands that white tape was used instead. I've never done it.

I did a quick Google search and from what I could find the braids are done the same, but after the yarn or elastic a thin piece of medical tape is added on top.

I have a tape around here somewhere that has different types of braids in it too. We bought it when I discovered you can't show an Arab with a pulled mane, it must be braided long in either a running french or continental braid. I'm just getting over the flu (I no longer want to die but I'm still not getting around real well) but I'll look around for the tape tomorrow and get back to you.

Stacy in NY

-- Stacy (KincoraFarm@aol.com), March 20, 2002.

Here's how we did it for 4H shows- I think this is fairly standard although you might want to check out how others are doing it where you want to show. For tails, French braid most of the way down the "solid" part of the tail, when the braid covers as much of the tail as you like, stop French braiding and regular braid the rest of the way. Tuck the end of the long braid under the French braid so it forms a loop. For long manes start at the back of the bridle path and French braid down the mane, only adding hair from one side so you have a braid running down the crest, loose on one side and attatched at the other. For pulled manes divide the mane into equal sections (use lots of little ones to make the horse's neck look longer, fewer big ones if you want to make it look shorter) braid each section and tuck the end up underneath to make a loop. Don't forget to do one for the forelock! You can buy "Braidettes" at your tack shop, little rubber bands to fasten the braids, or some people use yarn. It's hard to describe without pictures, and the links probably did a better job, but I hope this helps you or some future archive-hunter! Have fun and good luck!

-- Sarah K. (ladynuala@hotmail.com), March 21, 2002.

Awesome, I didn't expect so much help!! Thanks for all the help you guys, I will look for the book and the tape, and try to complete the procedure!! thanks again, happyhooves

-- Christie (happyhooves@americanhorsenetwork.com), March 21, 2002.

Actually, you don't braid a horse's tail for dressage. If you do go in to the dressage ring with a braided tail you can be eliminated.

Braiding manes for dressage just depends on your horse's mane. Long manes can be french braided (I've developed a 4 strand french braid that holds up much better than a 3 strand) or rubber banded in to a net-like pattern (a lot of Arabs, Morgans and other long-maned breeds use this for Hunter Pleasure classes too). If your horse's mane is short (shorter than 3"-4") than you can braid it in any type of a hunter braid (buttons, flat hunter braids etc). The only difference is that you generally do wider braids so there are fewer braids than you would normally see in a hunter class. White tape can be used but is not necessary (if your horse doesn't have a nice arch to his/her neck then I wouldn't advise white tape as it draws attention to the neck shape)......but the white tape is only added as an accent....don't depend on white tape to hold your braid together or you'll have a mess and your pretty braiding job will come out at a most in-opportune moment.

OR you can do what I did and just roach the mane! ;o) I have a 3/4 Thoroughbred 1/4 Percheron mare that I showed several years in dressage (maybe someday I'll go back to doing it). Her mane was SOOOOO thick that it was impossible to pull it enough to make for a pretty braid so I just shaved the whole thing off (just braided the forelock). It was SO nice! While everyone else was braiding I was relaxing and during my tests it looked like her mane was braided but that the braid was just on the "other" side. Not every horse can pull off a roached mane either tho'.....fortunately, my mare has a very shapely neck.

Good luck!

-- Lisa - MI (ForMyACDs@aol.com), March 21, 2002.

Don't braid your horse's tail!! That will cause him/her to carry it unnaturally, and cause a tense or stiff look to the horse. Tenseness is the opposite of what you want for dressage!! Some people trim the hairs on the horse's dock (top of tail) short so as to define the hindquarters more instead of braiding the tail. That gets those 'fluffy' top hairs out of the way like braiding would, without making the horse hold the tail unnaturally.

-- Kris in MI (ckarmom@ivillage.com), March 22, 2002.

You can show an Arab with a pulled and braided mane; but ONLY in dressage or jumping. Other events the mane must be long and unbraided. I'm pretty sure the same is true for Morgans and Saddlebreds.

-- malinda (teneniel_80@yahoo.com), March 22, 2002.

Actually, you can pull/shorten/trim an Arab's mane for any dicipline but it can not be roached except for dressage, jumping (I think), cutting/roping/reining. I bred my Thoroughbred/Percheron mare to an Arab and her Half-Arab offspring has done very well on the Class A Arab Circuit in Hunter Pleasure (Several Regional Champs & Reserves and a National Top 10) and he has a pulled mane that is braided in to buttons for show. I also had a Half Arab/Saddlebred (National Show Horse) that showed in Hunter Pleasure, Dressage, Show Hack and Country Pleasure on the Arab and NSH circuit. I kept his mane short to braid in to buttons for his Dressage, Show Hack and Hunter Pleasure classes. I've also seen short braided manes in the Stock Halter classes at the Arab shows. I know the rules say something to the effect that the mane is to be left its natural length, but it seems that they are allowing people to trim them short for braiding.....as long as the mane is not roached.

-- Lisa - MI (ForMyACDs@aol.com), March 23, 2002.

Actually, you can pull/shorten/trim an Arab's mane for any dicipline but it can not be roached except for dressage, jumping (I think), cutting/roping/reining. I bred my Thoroughbred/Percheron mare to an Arab and her Half-Arab offspring has done very well on the Class A Arab Circuit in Hunter Pleasure (Several Regional Champs & Reserves and a National Top 10) and he has a pulled mane that is braided in to buttons for show. I also had a Half Arab/Saddlebred (National Show Horse) that showed in Hunter Pleasure, Dressage, Show Hack and Country Pleasure on the Arab and NSH circuit. I kept his mane short to braid in to buttons for his Dressage, Show Hack and Hunter Pleasure classes. I've also seen short braided manes in the Stock Halter classes at the Arab shows. I know the rules say something to the effect that the mane is to be left its natural length, but it seems that they are allowing people to trim them short for braiding.....as long as the mane is not roached. :o)

-- Lisa - MI (ForMyACDs@aol.com), March 23, 2002.