[Horselover919]

ok so i have my first show of the season next week and i was just wondering if anybody had any good times on banding... anything making it faster simpler or just any little tricks u have???

[magic_rider]

Sew. It's much easier and looks heeps better, I can never get the bands to stay in.

[shyxpony]

Well if you haven't done much banding before, I suggest using rubber bands that are similar in color to your horse so they won't stand out as much if you mess up a little bit. Banding is very time consuming but the end result is definitely worth it. These are my bands from the first time I banded my horse (the pic's a bit blurry, sorry) -

(click to enlarge)

Banding is pretty simple, just make sure it's all really neat and all the sections of hair are even. Smaller sections of hair make a short neck seem longer, and vice-versa. By 'smaller' sections, I mean about 1/2 inch, so adjust the size from there depending on your horse's neck. A clip is helpful to hold back the hair you haven't banded yet, so it doesn't get in the way of the hair you're banding. Once you've put a rubber band around the section, pull the hair on the underneath of the band so the hair lays down nice and flat.

Aaaand, I think that's it! I usually also put a rubber band around the forelock but I think that's more personal preference.

Good luck at your horse show

[AllAroundRdr]

The key to a well-banded mane is a well-prepped mane. Trim and pull to the desired length/thickness (I usually leave a smidge extra length and then do a tiny trim with thinning shears once I'm done banding)

I brand in sections approx. the width of my fore-finger. I also start with a damp mane and keep a bucket of water and a sponge handy. QuicBraid is my best friend when banding - but not too much or it just makes the mane GROSS. Plastic human hair clips also come in handy for separating the section your banding and the rest of the mane so it doesn't get in your way. Also, make sure when you're banding a section you keep the section taught and pulled DOWN don't band with the section of mane pointed out towards you or up, you'll get horrid results.

After I band a section I gently split the mane I just banded to push the band closer to the crest of the mane, but I don't do it as snug as I want it to be at the end, I go back after I've completed the entire mane and even everything out.

Normally I don't spray Quic Braid on my mane when I'm done, I spray either Sebastian Shaper hair spray or Big S*xy Hair's Extra Hold spray. I'm not a fan of gel either, although pleanty of people are

[shyxpony]

Originally Posted by AllAroundRdr

Normally I don't spray Quic Braid on my mane when I'm done, I spray either Sebastian Shaper hair spray or Big S*xy Hair's Extra Hold spray. I'm not a fan of gel either, although pleanty of people are

Forgot about that in my post - I also usually use hair spray after I've banded.