[PizzazzandMe]

How do you braid a horse's mane and tail? I want to braid Sugar's mane and tail for her first show next weekend but I don't know how.

[PizzazzandMe]

Also...are there any special tools I need?

[JBandRio]

Start practicing yesterday

Start by making sure the mane is of even thickness. Many horses have a thick spot somewhere about halfway, maybe a bit closer to the poll.

Have on hand: sponge and/or spray bottle, water, braiding thread (or yarn, if you can find it thin and strong enough) in a color to match or compliment the mane color, a butterfly clip or something of that nature to hold the next-door unbraided mane out of the way, and a "pull through" for pulling the ends through the base of the braid.

Divide a section of mane, about 1" thick, more or less, depending on the thickness of the mane, into 3 even sections.

Start braiding, and the trick at this point, the KEY to the entire braid, is to keep your hands on the neck and keep the tension down and not pulling out.

About 1/2 way down the braid (or higher up if the mane is thin) lay the middle of your thread/yarn over 1 of the 3 sections with the 2 halves each laying with 1 of the other sections. Continue braiding to the bottom - keep the braids TIGHT. It helps to count down how many passes you make with the sections and add the yarn/thread in at the same number of cross-overs every time.

Once you get to the bottom, where you cannot do another crossover without losing hairs, loop both ends of the yarn/thread behind and around front of the bottom and tie it off - a half-hitch works well.

It helps to braid all the sections first, THEN go back and pull them up. Some people braid a few, pull them up, braid a few more, pull them up. Whatever you prefer.

Then, when you're ready to pull the braids up, run the pull-through from the very back and middle and base of the braid. Loop the bottom of the braid through the latch/hook, and pull it through so that the knot is sitting right smack under the middle of the base of the braid.

Pull 1 strand of thread up each sode if the braid and tie it off at the back. I like to use a surgeon's knot - instead of making a single wrap (like how you start to tie a shoelace) do 2 wraps.

Then, bring each strand back around to the front, and use your thumb to make a little "bump up" at the base of the braid. Nothing big, just a little, like you're squashing it against the neck. Tie the strands around this part, in front, again using the surgeon's knot - make 2 knots for security. This secures the braid to the neck so it doesn't flop out or sideways.

Then take the strands back on the other side of the neck again and do another knot (this is my preference, some people stop at the previous knot). Tie it off and cut off the loose ends.

All the while make sure the braid stays upright and doesn't start to twist to one side or the other.

As for length of thread to start with, I make loops around my hand and elbow and cut once. This makes sure the thread is long enough. Nothing worse than getting the braid done and pulled up only to find out you don't have enough to tie it off.

Practice making 4-6 braids every day between now and then. Assume it will take you a couple of hours the first time you do the entire neck.

[PizzazzandMe]

Thank you so much!!! That was just what I needed.

Also how do you braid the tail?

[JBandRio]

The tail is harder. It's basically a French Braid, BUT you have to start dropping hairs after a short while so that every section remains the same thickness for the entire braid. You just start at the top and work your way down to the end of the tailbone. The easiest way to finish it off is just tie it off at the end. Or, you can pull it through a little higher up and have a small loop at the bottom. The most formal way is to roll the end up to make a small rolled button-looking thing and sew (yes, sew) it into the braid so it stays.

[PizzazzandMe]

Originally Posted by JBandRio

About 1/2 way down the braid (or higher up if the mane is thin) lay the middle of your thread/yarn over 1 of the 3 sections with the 2 halves each laying with 1 of the other sections. Continue braiding to the bottom - keep the braids TIGHT. It helps to count down how many passes you make with the sections and add the yarn/thread in at the same number of cross-overs every time.

Could you explain this part? It's hard to visualize...

[JBandRio]

Let's see....

The object is to braid the thread into the braid. So, you will have 2 of your 3 sections that have a strand of the thread in it. Picture a point in your braid where you have some braided up top, and now you have your 3 sections separated at the bottom. You want the thread to be evenly braided into the mane, so if you place the middle of the thread on the middle of you 3 sections, then you have even lengths that will be braided into the braid with the other 2 sections. Does that help?

[ShadyGirl82]

for the tail.. you use the hairs at the start of the bone in the back.. starting at the top.. and you just start braiding them (like a french braid) working yoru way down to a little above teh end fo the bone)

it took me a few tries before it was anywhere near acceptable lol

[PizzazzandMe]

Originally Posted by JBandRio

Let's see....

The object is to braid the thread into the braid. So, you will have 2 of your 3 sections that have a strand of the thread in it. Picture a point in your braid where you have some braided up top, and now you have your 3 sections separated at the bottom. You want the thread to be evenly braided into the mane, so if you place the middle of the thread on the middle of you 3 sections, then you have even lengths that will be braided into the braid with the other 2 sections. Does that help?

Yeah I think I get it now...

[ShadyGirl82]

ive never used thread/yarn to braid a maine/tail.. i've always used rubberbands