[thrghbrdrder]

I am going to free lease a horse next year. i don't have one picked out yet, but i have probably 12 horses I like. Some of the horses have long manes. I plan on doing English events like hunter/jumper, hunter on the flat and maybe dressage. What if I am unable to get the owners permission to trim the horses mane to around 4in like its suppose to be? Any ideas on how to braid a long mane to fit in in English shows?


if you didn't get what i was saying, heres a pic of the lengh i'm talking about:




you kind of can't see his cause of the shadows...

this is one of the shorter longer manes

[Jo!]

I don't think there's much of a way round this one!! If you intend on doing working hunter, dressage etc then the mane really needs to be plaited. Sure, you can do this with a long mane-but when you roll the they'll look like tennis balls!!!

To be honest I can't see why the owner wouldn't let you pull the horses mane-unless the horse is going to be shown in any native classes.

Jo. x

[Threedaychick]

You might be able to get the owner's permission to even up the mane to keep it from looking so rough. If they will not let you pull it short your best bet would be to do a french braid like many owners in the arabian breed hunter shows. It won't look quite as in place as 40 knob braids but it will look better than just letting the mane fly around. Start at the top and french braid on the right side of the mane moving back towards the withers, secure it with a band at the end and you might want to tuck it back on itself so there isn't a dangling braid at the end. Check out this link and scroll to the french braid section for examples.
http://www.haflingerhorses.com/braids.htm

[sunsetacres]

If you are getting a breed such as an arabian or half arabian, then YOU NEVER cut the mane. A hunter such as this, it's mane is worn in a french braid. Start at the pole and take three pieces of hair and begin the braid. Then pick up small peices and weave them in until you get to the whither. Braid the remaining hair and tie with a rubberband. Fold it over a couple of times and tie another rubberband around the knot that it created. It is acceptable to not braid the mane for this breed, or you can braid the mane and not the tail, however, if you braid the tail, then the mane must be braided. At least those were the arabian rules for hunter. Other breeds such as morgan or saddlebred are also done this way.

[etolar]

We have a couple of morgans that show at the barn that have their manes french braided that way. It looks very nice. I've also seen a Friesan shown this way at upper levels of dressage. Don't worry about it. Everyone will just be jealous that you have a horse with a mane long and healthy enough to do that.

[Sandra-A1]

Here is an interesting braid that is done along the TOP of the crest and would work well on a horse with a long thick mane & forelock. If you would like something a bit different than what you usually see in the ring you might want to consider this style.

Oh, and for those who are interested the "model" of the braid is the PRE Stallion Rociero XV who is owned and standing at Symphony Farms.

[morgan21]

I use to have a tb with a very long mane and I would french braid it like the horse that sandra posted. I rode dressage and the judges always seemed to like it and never said anything. I also rode in the occasionla hunt seat flat class with it like that and placed so it couldn't have been that big of a deal. I had a 17hh tb and the braid just made his neck look so nice.

[Sandra-A1]

What I like about the braid, in the photo I posted, is that it is different than the usual french braids you see on horses. It is done like the way girls and women french braid their hair.
The mane and forlock are parted down the middle and split to two sides and then the hair is braided down the top of the crest, taking hair as you go from BOTH sides instead of just one as done in the usual french braid you see on horses.
It's just a different twist on what is the norm, for breeds with long manes, in the show ring and I am all for following the rules, but if at all possible doing something just a bit different to help you stand out and catch the judge's eye!
I think this style braid does just that!

[QHGirl]

Sandra, how long is that gray's mane? Just wondering if it was long or decient length. No biggie if you don't know, just thought that was cool!!

[~ClipClop~]

Why don't you try a running plait, i don't exactly know who to do them, but i have a book on loan to me at the moment that explains how to. We had a horse at our riding school who had a 20-25cm long mane and the owners didn't want it cut, so my instructor did it in a running plait i will see if i can find a pic on the net. Either way whatever you choose good luck!