Braiding for the pasture-->

SeaSide81 · 06-26-2005, 04:09 AM

Ok, I am an Arabian fan so this post is mostly in regards to braiding an Arabian's mane and tail. I see quite a few of them with their manes braided while out in the pasture. Not show braiding, just a series of relaxed braids along the neck to prevent them tangling up and tearing out their manes.

Ok, can you do the same thing with the tail? Instead of one huge braid or bagging, can you just braid the end into a bunch of fairly thick, fairly loose braids to help with growth and tangling?

Anyone have experience with braiding this way? How well does it work? I ask because I plan to keep my horse in a pasture 24-7 (unless the weather is truly horrendous) so I wanted to protect the mane and tail, but not risk the horse getting hurt or tangled in something by using one of those mane hoods or something like that.

*Psylocke* · 06-26-2005, 04:11 AM

Okay for the tail thing.....braid it straight down and then oh gosh I am bad at descriptions so hang on....I will find you the thread.....

Psy

*Psylocke* · 06-26-2005, 04:13 AM

Horsebrat & Bella and anyone else...heres how I do Oliver's tail!

That should answer your ques about the tail!

Never done multiple braids on a tail myself.....but we add bailer twine to this so they can swat flies!

I am not a big fan of the braids in the mane myself, not when they are outside. I used to be....BUT if they rub, get one caught or a horse chews it then the whole braid comes out....I dont like loosing chunks of mane!

Psy

SeaSide81 · 06-26-2005, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Psylocke*

I am not a big fan of the braids in the mane myself, not when they are outside. I used to be....BUT if they rub, get one caught or a horse chews it then the whole braid comes out....I dont like loosing chunks of mane!

Psy

Never thought of that

! That would be bad: nice, pretty mane...with a two-inch wide gap!

Great thread too

Thanks very much!

*Psylocke* · 06-26-2005, 04:21 AM

lol anytime.....and yes I saw a mane get chewed and it was braided....not good! Then VERY hard to get into a running braid!!!!! It does grow but I still just skip that part now! If a horse is inside and the have a tendancy of getting knots in their mane and such then I might braid it but thats about it....oh also if their mane needs to be trained to go to the right side....but yeah thats it.

Psy

SeaSide81 · 06-26-2005, 02:04 PM

Hmm, anyone else have any experience with braiding a horse's mane for the pasture?

Sandra-A1 · 06-26-2005, 02:47 PM

Braiding the mane can be risky.
I consider a braided mane high maintenance and it has to be checked at a minimum of twice daily in my opinion to catch problems early. Naturally, the better the facilities the less you have to worry, or watch. Still, a good roll on the ground can do a LOT of damage to the base of those braids and hair loss can be greater than if the mane had not been braided.
If I was going to braid the mane I would rip up some old sheets into strips and braid them in as I 3-plait sections of the mane. The strips of sheet would help to protect the mane a bit and allow me to braid rather loosely.
Speaking for myself....I would not turn a horse out with braided mane unless I was positive there was no place the horse could rub the braids or mane out on. I would not turn a horse with braided mane out with another horse either.
Braiding the mane can be risky. I consider a braided mane high matienence and it has to be checked at a minium of twice daily in my opinion to catch problems early. Naturally the better the facilities the less you have to worry or watch. Still a good roll on the ground can do a LOT of damage to the base of those braids and hair loss can be greater than if the mane had not been braided. So as you can see braiding manes can do more harm than good....it depends on the horse and the situation.

As for the tail I prefer one long 3-plait braid, then loop the braid back thru itself a couple of time and then wrap the whole thing up with self adhesive elestic bandage product like Vet-Wrap. I have turned a horse out in pasture with their tail done up this way with no problems.
As for the tail I prefer one long 3-plait braid, then loop the braid back thru itself a couple of time and then wrap the whole thing up with self adhesive elastic bandage product like Vet-Wrap. I have turned a horse out in pasture with their tail done up this way with no problems.

arabianlvr87 · 06-26-2005, 02:52 PM

My Arab has a SUPER long mane so my mom does a running braid in her's 3-4 times a week. We haven't had any problems with it at all.

AS for the tail... her's isnt bad at all. I just do the top and bottom strands in individual braids.

SeaSide81 · 06-26-2005, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arabianlvr87

My Arab has a SUPER long mane so my mom does a running braid in her's 3-4 times a week. We haven't had any problems with it at all.

AS for the tail... her's isnt bad at all. I just do the top and bottom strands in individual braids.

What exactly is a running braid? Do you have pictures of your mare's mane and tail braided? I love to see visual aids

ItsAThought · 06-26-2005, 03:46 PM

Here you go!

I do this sometimes to keep my arab's mane off her neck to keep it a bit cooler when its really hot!

(This isn't my horse!! lol, it's off the internet

)

06-26-2005, 04:09 AM	#1
SeaSide81 Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Panhandle of Florida (Hurricane Central as of late!) Posts: 559 Images: 14	Braiding for the pasture--> Ok, I am an Arabian fan so this post is mostly in regards to braiding an Arabian's mane and tail. I see quite a few of them with their manes braided while out in the pasture. Not show braiding, just a series of relaxed braids along the neck to prevent them tangling up and tearing out their manes. Ok, can you do the same thing with the tail? Instead of one huge braid or bagging, can you just braid the end into a bunch of fairly thick, fairly loose braids to help with growth and tangling? Anyone have experience with braiding this way? How well does it work? I ask because I plan to keep my horse in a pasture 24-7 (unless the weather is truly horrendous) so I wanted to protect the mane and tail, but not risk the horse getting hurt or tangled in something by using one of those mane hoods or something like that. __________________ A horse gallops with his lungs, Perseveres with his heart, And wins with his character. ~Tesio

06-26-2005, 04:11 AM	#2
Psylocke Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: I.....AM....CANADIAN! Posts: 5,094 Images: 62 Blog Entries: 32	Okay for the tail thing.....braid it straight down and then oh gosh I am bad at descriptions so hang on....I will find you the thread..... Psy __________________ You just have to consider the possibility that everyone else may be wrong -- Sean Penn

06-26-2005, 04:13 AM	#3
Psylocke Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: I.....AM....CANADIAN! Posts: 5,094 Images: 62 Blog Entries: 32	Horsebrat & Bella and anyone else...heres how I do Oliver's tail! That should answer your ques about the tail! Never done multiple braids on a tail myself.....but we add bailer twine to this so they can swat flies! I am not a big fan of the braids in the mane myself, not when they are outside. I used to be....BUT if they rub, get one caught or a horse chews it then the whole braid comes out....I dont like loosing chunks of mane! Psy __________________ You just have to consider the possibility that everyone else may be wrong -- Sean Penn

06-26-2005, 04:21 AM	#5
Psylocke Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: I.....AM....CANADIAN! Posts: 5,094 Images: 62 Blog Entries: 32	lol anytime.....and yes I saw a mane get chewed and it was braided....not good! Then VERY hard to get into a running braid!!!!! It does grow but I still just skip that part now! If a horse is inside and the have a tendancy of getting knots in their mane and such then I might braid it but thats about it....oh also if their mane needs to be trained to go to the right side....but yeah thats it. Psy __________________ You just have to consider the possibility that everyone else may be wrong -- Sean Penn

06-26-2005, 02:04 PM	#6
SeaSide81 Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Panhandle of Florida (Hurricane Central as of late!) Posts: 559 Images: 14	Hmm, anyone else have any experience with braiding a horse's mane for the pasture? __________________ A horse gallops with his lungs, Perseveres with his heart, And wins with his character. ~Tesio

06-26-2005, 02:47 PM	#7
Sandra-A1 Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,414 Images: 225	Braiding the mane can be risky. I consider a braided mane high maintenance and it has to be checked at a minimum of twice daily in my opinion to catch problems early. Naturally, the better the facilities the less you have to worry, or watch. Still, a good roll on the ground can do a LOT of damage to the base of those braids and hair loss can be greater than if the mane had not been braided. If I was going to braid the mane I would rip up some old sheets into strips and braid them in as I 3-plait sections of the mane. The strips of sheet would help to protect the mane a bit and allow me to braid rather loosely. Speaking for myself....I would not turn a horse out with braided mane unless I was positive there was no place the horse could rub the braids or mane out on. I would not turn a horse with braided mane out with another horse either. Braiding the mane can be risky. I consider a braided mane high matienence and it has to be checked at a minium of twice daily in my opinion to catch problems early. Naturally the better the facilities the less you have to worry or watch. Still a good roll on the ground can do a LOT of damage to the base of those braids and hair loss can be greater than if the mane had not been braided. So as you can see braiding manes can do more harm than good....it depends on the horse and the situation. As for the tail I prefer one long 3-plait braid, then loop the braid back thru itself a couple of time and then wrap the whole thing up with self adhesive elestic bandage product like Vet-Wrap. I have turned a horse out in pasture with their tail done up this way with no problems. As for the tail I prefer one long 3-plait braid, then loop the braid back thru itself a couple of time and then wrap the whole thing up with self adhesive elastic bandage product like Vet-Wrap. I have turned a horse out in pasture with their tail done up this way with no problems. __________________ "It is our choices Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." ~Dumbledore

06-26-2005, 02:52 PM	#8
arabianlvr87 Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 8,567 Images: 294 Blog Entries: 158	My Arab has a SUPER long mane so my mom does a running braid in her's 3-4 times a week. We haven't had any problems with it at all. AS for the tail... her's isnt bad at all. I just do the top and bottom strands in individual braids.

06-26-2005, 03:46 PM	#10
ItsAThought Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bloomfield Hills, MI Posts: 2,191 Images: 421 Blog Entries: 76	Here you go! I do this sometimes to keep my arab's mane off her neck to keep it a bit cooler when its really hot! (This isn't my horse!! lol, it's off the internet)

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