[Jennygirl011]

Hi, Does anyone know how to braid a horses mane? Do you have any pictures that you have of a braided mane and tell me a little bit of how you did it. How long does it usually take?

[eventin_papa]

i braid my horses manes, it take about an hour for me ( im **** about my braids) they need to be tight, lay flat, and be perfectly pulled through ill get some pics ina sec

[eventin_papa]

http://www.horseandstable.co.za/arti...mages/mane.jpg

i can give you step by step instructions, but i lose my digi so i cant take pics at the moment

[Jennygirl011]

Thank you.. Do you have any other pictures of braiding? Does anyone else know how to braid??

[idlewild]

It normally takes me 1/2 hour to do my horse's mane. But thats because I do dressage braids, so its like only 25 to 30 braids on his neck, not the zillions of teeny braids you see on hunters. I do know how to do hunter braids though, but no as well, I only learned because I show Welsh Ponies in the hunters, but otherwise I'm a dressage rider. I can also do tails pretty darn good, but once again I normally don't because in dressage you just don't braid tails, its a no-no. But yeah, if you want me to explain which kind of braiding your interested in I can.

[Jennygirl011]

Well I was just wanting to do the easiest type of braiding that took the shortest amount of time. Ive never braided before.Could you send pictures of the Dressage braids and tell me how to do them please ? thank you

[ladida]

Here are some good websites
http://www.texashorsemansdirectory.com/thdbra.htm
http://tisca.tripod.com/plaiting.html
http://www.raspberryridge.com/Kids-M...Roached%20mane
http://www.thetackbox.com/braid.htm
http://www.horseandstable.co.za/articles/plaiting.html

[devilishjumper]

I would consider myself ok at braid but deff. not a good one but i am not horrible either. I am getting better. I included a picture of braids i did for eventing. It usually takes me 45 min more or less depending on the horse and if they stand still or not. I use bands it is easy and i think looks the same. You just braid in about 2 inch sections then tie it off with a rubberband then fold the braid in 1/3 then again and tie it with a band. It's not hard you just have to be patient and consistant.

[idlewild]

Okie dokie then! Dressage braids it is. Now there are a few diff ways of doing dressage braids, one way is to roll them up and sew them, but that takes forever. So here is how i do them which is easy and quick, all you need to know is how to braid tight and how to manage little rubber bands.

(I couldn't find any pictures of how I do it so your gonna havta go without for now, I should in a few days be able to get some pictures of my horse whom I braided this way for a show)

You Will Need:

-Those small horse braiding rubber bands, get a color that matchs your horse's mane.
-One of those metal mane/pulling combs, or a regular human comb works just as well.
-Some sort of hair clip to hold extra hair out of the way while you braid.
-A bucket of water, dosen't matter how much
-A stool can be helpfull
-someone to hold your horse or a place to tie

To start, it would be a good idea to rinse out your horse's mane with a hose just to get all extra dirt out of it. If you want you can shampoo it a day or two before (not the same day you braid because it will be to slippery). But don't braid a dirty mane.

Also, your horse's mane should be pulled so it isn't thick and perferably 4 inches long. If the mane isn't pulled and not short enough the braids will be too fat and won't look right.

Okay, now brush or comb out the mane, no tangles! Then section off your first braid right behind the ears (make sure your horse's bridle path has been clipped, if not you need one!). Comb the mane flat then make a part about an inch and 1/2 down the mane, hold the section you just made and then using the hair clip you can clip the extra out of the way so that you can braid.

If your horse's mane isn't already wet dip the comb in the water and run it through this section to get it damp. Now braid what you've got in your hands. When you finish put one of those rubber bands around it.

Continue in this way down the whole neck. But don't do the hair on the withers, so there should be about 4 to 5 inches of mane left unbraided at the end. The reason for this is not only is it helpful when you get on (so you don't pull out braids) but if you braid on the withers this irritates the horse and he will be twitching like a fly is on him, very annoying. '

Once you have the mane in braids go back to the beginning and take the first braid and fold it under so that its folded in half. Now do this again so that it is folded under twice!! Keep a firm hold on it at this point, otherwise it will easily unfold itself. Now take two, yes two, rubber bands (otherwise they will break all to easily). And wrap it around this double folded braid three times. This should result in a very tidy dressage braid, and if done right will not stick up int the air. Do this will all the rest of the braids you did.

Then just do the same for the forlock.

I hope I explained that well enough. Maybe I can whip up some drawings on photoshop to better explain that folding thing. Let me know if get it!!

[Xiphias]

My sadly departed, gelding that I showed hunter and 3-day, did not like to have his mane pulled, he would bite, rear and kick, so after two years of that, I roached it off! I got some strange looks at the shows, but it did not hurt my place-ing, still got the ribbons and trophys. I can braid, and have been payed good money to do manes and tails. there is a book, that shows how to braid, but I am sorry I can't remember the name, it is a soft cover, and not very expensive. good luck