[DressageGirl]

Why is that people go to all the trouble of spending hours plaiting manes, fussing with tails, yet leave the forelock flapping in the breeze.

So many times at comps I see it, and even some of the big guns adopt this practice.

Can someone give me a good reason not to plait a forelock for competitions?

Not only does it complete the whole picture much better, not to leave it out to me looks extremely untidy.

Do you plait forelocks? If not, why not?

[mandiemoo]

i normally do!! but when im in a rush which i usually am, i leave it out lol mh bad. but im only competing green horse so its not that important to me. but i feel bad when i dont plait the forlock but i actually was practising braiding pilgrims forelock today hehe. it looks so much better to braid the forelock i must agree

[kvmt10]

I never plait Viktors forelock
BUT, this is because, when we got him, he had been abused around the ears and head, and the times I have tried to plait it, he either freaks right out, or once its done, freaks right out.
Put it this way, Its a hazard for me to do it as he usually rears and carries on.
I do have to do it for Pony club state championships, and you can see how tense and freaky he is.

I always plait my other two though.
I hope you don't think I'm sloppy for not doing it!
I w2ill do it only if i HAVE to, otherwise, I would rather a relaxed, happy horse, than an uptight, stroppy one

p.s Yes I know Viktor is overly sensitive!

[DressageGirl]

I agree, I think it gives the whole head a completely different, and very classy, tidy, and formal look.

Even for small comps I do Bones, and I think it does make a difference to the overall picture

[kvmt10]

I remember at the olympics, there was a dressage horse with NOTHING plaited!!!! Now that I think is sloppy.

[DressageGirl]

Originally Posted by kvmt10

I never plait Viktors forelock
BUT, this is because, when we got him, he had been abused around the ears and head, and the times I have tried to plait it, he either freaks right out, or once its done, freaks right out.
Put it this way, Its a hazard for me to do it as he usually rears and carries on.
I do have to do it for Pony club state championships, and you can see how tense and freaky he is.

I always plait my other two though.
I hope you don't think I'm sloppy for not doing it!
I w2ill do it only if i HAVE to, otherwise, I would rather a relaxed, happy horse, than an uptight, stroppy one

p.s Yes I know Viktor is overly sensitive!

I guess you can be excused, seeing how it may cause you actual physical harm to do so... ....the poor guy!!

Also, I guess it is one of those tricky areas where you have to keep the head very still from start to finish...hmmm

[kvmt10]

Spoilt more like!!
My sister(she does the groom work) it takes her a good half hour to do his forelock properly. Its an effort to keep him still anytime of the day.

I do agree it looks better done, which is why I will do it for big big comps.
Viktor has a muscle head, so he looks all manly when his is done!

[ThisIsMe]

In Europe I dont think they plait stallions forelocks, as its a way to tell its a stallion.

Smudge has a hogged mane, so no plaiting for me He annoyed me enough and rubbed it until there was about 1 inch of plaitable hair on his neck. So braiding the forelock in my case would look slightly ridculious.

[DressageGirl]

Originally Posted by ThisIsMe

In Europe I dont think they plait stallions forelocks, as its a way to tell its a stallion.

Smudge has a hogged mane, so no plaiting for me He annoyed me enough and rubbed it until there was about 1 inch of plaitable hair on his neck. So braiding the forelock in my case would look slightly ridculious.

Hogged manes...........yay!!!!


QUick, easy, and no fuss with fidgetting horses

I didnt know about the stallion thing in Europe, only remember Matador never had his done ...interesting

[jeda_horse]

I agree it doesnt look the best. Just a funny story my first show I did on Rusty I had never plated before and decided I didnt like my rough balls so I undid them all but his forelock and went into the ring hehe So I was opposite!