When you show a horse to prospective buyers do you braid them? It’s a hunter.
Thanks
Erica
I have never seen a horse braided while it is being shown to buyers, nor have i heard of it. except if its being tried at a show and the horse is already braided. Generally, clipping, bathing, pulled mane, etc are the standard procedures. I pretty much look at is as an A show grooming minus the braiding.
good luck!
Not necessary, but a nice touch. It would tell me, the buyer, that you are a person who pays attention to detail and wants to present your horses to the best possible advantage.
My trainer, who has a pretty good sales business will either band (not braid) a mane the night before, or put a slinky on the horse to get the mane to lay flat. I’ve never seen him braid one.
If the horse is lacking a bit in the neck department, a mane laying super flat will help it look better. On the reverse side, a braided mane will also draw attention to a gorgeous neck.
Fish, i dont know if i necessarily agree. if i were to show up to look at a sale horse and it was braided, i wouldnt think it was a nice touch. i would probably question why they spent the extra time making it look ‘pretty’ instead of letting the horse’s ability speak for itself. but that’s just me, i tend to over-analyze a lot of things in my life 
I’ve nevER braided a horse I’m showing for sale. But I recently saw some video that my friend took while shopping for a youngster and they were all braided. I like my horses the way they are although my absolutely perfect ( slight bias here) dressage horse has a mane that stands straight up. It’s kinda cute tho.
Erica
I have been asked twice to braid a horse before a prospective client came to see it. I thought it was a nice, though unnecessary, touch. The seller didn’t want to leave anything to chance if the client was not imaginative enough to “see” the horse in show ring shape, so she made it happen. And, if the mane is especially bad, I would consider it as well. Nothing wrong with it if you want to go to the expense or trouble.
Depends on the price LOL.
[QUOTE=blackhorse6;5966740]
Depends on the price LOL.[/QUOTE]
In short… This. 
If I had a really top youngster for top dollars, I’d sure as heck braid it.
Thank goodness I am getting away from hunters, so at least in the future, braiding becomes very easy. Jumpers, dressage horses and eventers can go in button braids… Only 19-20 to do! And I can do a “decent” job myself… Yay!
I always braid them.
As we breed/sell dressage horses, I do nice big sewn in dutch dressage braids. It only takes about 15-20mins, looks lovely and professional - and the pretty braids always get nice compliments from the clients, they like it.
I don’t braid and I would want the horse’s performance to outshine his braid job. I’d rather see an exceptional horse covered in mud and burrs than a mediocre one in braids!! Just me!
I worked at a dressage barn and we braided for potential buyers. The horses were priced mid 5 figures and up.
[QUOTE=crosscreeksh;5968314]
I don’t braid and I would want the horse’s performance to outshine his braid job. I’d rather see an exceptional horse covered in mud and burrs than a mediocre one in braids!! Just me![/QUOTE]
I don’t agree, at all. I want to see a horse that someone appears to at least have a passing interest in. I want to see a baby that at least knows what the business end of a brush looks like. Mud is one thing, especially if they are living in the field, but a SALE horse should always be PRESENTED TO THE PROSPECTIVE BUYER as if you have pride in that horse. Even if it is the biggest p.o.s. ever, it should appear to the buyer that it is a nice horse that you, the seller, have pride in. Buyers don’t normally appear unannounced; you almost always know when they are coming. Is it really THAT difficult to bring the horse up, trim its muzzle, and GROOM it? I don’t think so, and I would have to question a facility that didn’t do at least this.
If I went to look at a horse and it was braided my first thought would be to figure out whether the horse is too expensive or they are trying too hard. But I agree with Laurie that the horse should be absolutely spotless or as close as you can get it with the weather conditions.
I always bathe, clip manes pulled and make sure a horse for sale is very well groomed. I keep all of my horses groomed anyway but I believe that since I’m expecting a buyer to pay a significant amount for a horse they should see a horse looking like they are the well bred product that they are. While certainly experienced people can see the quality of the horse even with mud on them, I take great pride in my breeding program and try to show my horses at their best.
Thanks everyone for their input.
Erica
Just so you know…I didn’t say I presented MY horses covered in mud, but that braids would not overly impress me as much as a good looking, talented horse!! I have cordless clippers and periodically walk around the farm (25 horses) and clip bridlepaths and pull manes…because I like my horses to look nice. Modern braiding - teeny little braids - are not my forte!! Good horses are!
