Would anyone like to tell me how to braid a horses mane and tail for shows? I would like some tips on groming them for shows as well.

Any tips?

-- Bri, (Bodaciousshowhorse@myexcel.com), December 30, 2001

Answers

Well, it really depends on what you're braiding for, I'm most familar with hunters. Arabians, and Morgans shown huntseat must be shown with either a continental, or a french braid because their mane should *not* be pulled. Thoroughbreds, and Quarter Horses, are pulled and either hunter or dressage type braids (taped) are put in.

Hunter braids: Braiding the mane is fairly easy, first it needs to be pulled to about 4", spray liberally with Quick Braid (it works!!) then section of a rather small hunk (it depends on how good your horses neck is as to how many individual braids you use, ie. neck is slightly too short, add more braids it makes the neck look longer, neck a bit too long, less braids) braid down to the bottom and secure with a tiny rubber band that matches the mane color (important) continue down the neck. After completing all the braids snip the hair at the bottom of the braid to make a nice uniform line, take the bottom of the braid and tuck it under its self and secure with another rubber band. This is the easy way...the hard, but nicer looking way involves upholstry thread and a large sewing needle. I don't do tails my daughter does I just don't have the finger dexterity anymore but it's basically a french braid using thin amounts of hair from the outsides of the tail.

Grooming for show: bath horse with a good equine shampoo, we're currently using one that is specific for dark (we have a black bay and a liver chestnut showing right now) horses--it works quite nicely. While they're still wet spray them liberally with Absorbine's Show Sheen (there are cheaper brands, but IMHO, they just don't work as well. Work in the Show Sheen with your hands and let dry. Take the tail and fan it out, spray with Show Sheen and while still wet, brush to separate and fluff out the tail.

This is assuming you've already clipped the horse, clip first, then bathe, and finally braid. Do the hoofs at the show about 10 minutes prior to the first class wear rubber/plastic gloves unless you wear leather show gloves because you have hoof black all over your hands.

Stacy in NY---> show season starts in 4 short months!

-- Stacy (KincoraFarm@aol.com), December 30, 2001.

Instead of uphostry thread, I use yarn and braid down, knot, then pull the braid back up under by using a carpet yarn puller (for making those decorative rugs)push through the main, close to the neck. Then the tricky part is bumping it up before tieing it. How to discribe this....Okay, you have a round braid after you pull it through. Push this flat and bring the yarn forward and tie over this flattened part, not in the middle but more 1/3 section. I don't think I'm telling this right, sorry. I wonder if I can find the book on it. I'll look.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), December 30, 2001.

Dee, I was trying to figure out how to describe the bump and just gave up! I can't do the yarn and rug hook anymore--but it does make a nice looking braid, I have arthritis in my hands. There's a knack to it but once you get in the "zone" it goes fairly quickly.

What I hate is pulling manes, I finally bought a ManeMaster, it's a cool little gizmo that thins and cuts with a push of a thumb switch..Poop's (My Pooh Bear) mane is *thick* and awful to pull.

Stacy in NY

-- Stacy (KincoraFarm@aol.com), December 30, 2001.

Did you ever say whether this was English or Western braid you wanted to know about. Because if it is western, you would band the mane with the rubber bands but there would not be any braiding. And there is a trick to making the banded mane lay down... The mane is pulled to about three or four inches. Then after all is banded and standing up looking quite like a pork-ee-pine, you pull one or two hairs in what will be the underside of the banding to cause the banded mane to lay down. Please let me know if you are asking for english or western because there is other information that is a little different depending on which you are doing. For one thing, you must be showing English becaue unless things have drastically changed you dont braid the tail in Western classes. Are you showing in halter or riding classes or both?

-- Carol Anderson (wande333@earthlink.net), December 31, 2001.

I'm planing on riding Hunt Seat. So if you could help me out in that way I would be glad.

Thanks.

-- Bri, (Bodaciousshowhorse@myexcel.com), January 15, 2002.