Braiding and how to practice when you are horseless

[BrassAlterPlate]

A friend of mine was a decent braider in college and has been debating getting back in to it. She is horseless and not taking lessons at the moment. She never learned to do tails but turned out some great manes in the past. Learning tails should be no problem for her.

I suggested that she might see if a local rescue would let her practice on some of their horses. She wasn’t too plussed on that idea as the closest rescue is a good 45 minute drive away and the majority of horses there would probably not be good to practice on as they’re left pretty natural with long manes and all.

The only other idea we could come up with was to perhaps see if one of the local show-barns would allow her to drop in and practice on their schoolies a couple of days a week. I am thinking that she would probably have to pay for part of a lesson to cover the time that the horse was being borrowed which sort of defeats the purpose of getting back in to braiding: being able to generate some cash!

Any ideas?

[Swale01]

My thought:

Would she consider offering a seriously discounted rate at a local schooling show (like $10 or $15 per horse or something) to get the practice? I, for one, would pay something small like that just to get my horse braided up cute at a schooling show for a couple pics, and would recognize that it was for ‘practice’ purposes and wouldn’t expect anything close to perfection at that price. I would think some parents would probably use someone like that at a schooling show with ponies, just to get some cute pictures!

[joiedevie99]

That’s a good idea. Also, there may be someone on here who would let her practice on their horses in exchange for thorough grooming or help with some chores.

[leelee]

Where are you located?

[Flamboyant]

Does she need a real horse to practice on? If not, she could always try this:

http://www.braidpal.com/

[SarahandSam]

That Braidpal’s pretty cool! I have been teaching myself braiding but hate practicing on my poor patient horse. I also need practice doing forelocks, which is impossible on him because he thinks I’m scratching his forehead and keeps rubbing my hand with it. I might have to get one of those. I could try to make one, but that’s probably too much effort. d;

[Flamboyant]

I’ve been working on mine for the last week, since it just arrived and I love it. No more standing out in the cold barn, trying to practice while my fingers go numb! And they aren’t too badly priced.

[dainty_do]

In the Spring, I think most people, (myself included) would be very happy to have someone braid at the schooling shows for a reduced rate. If she can find a large boarding stable that hosts schooling shows, just post a flyer.

[BrassAlterPlate]

Some good ideas already, thanks guys!

She’s in the Sacramento area. The schooling shows in that area are usually pretty busy, wouldn’t be suprised if they are even stronger this year due to the economy. She reads here too, so I won’t be suprised if she pops in and scolds me haha.

Braidpal actually looks like something that might work for getting back to basics once again. Being able to knock out a few braids whenever is always good, but getting the quality to speed ratio wehre it needs to be would probably take a few full-manes. Finding or making something to practice tails on is the next step.

[horsegurl]

Sacto Braiders

Have her stop out–8pm or 9pm–at the Winter Classics at Rancho Murietta coming up mid February. I bet one of the braiders may give her a practice horse or two, if she can hang in the late hours of the night. Second week of that show, if she can braid, she might find some paying work too.

Just step up and introduce yerself.

[lonewolf]

In order to practice braiding, the horses’ manes will need a good pull. Maybe she can offer to do a really nice mane pull on the schoolies in return for practice. Or offer to take some cute pictures of the horses once they’re braided. Finally, maybe she can offer to give the horse she braids a really good grooming. I bet a lot of owners have an old patient horse who might love the attention.

[Dixon]

Lonewolf’s good suggestions apply equally well to rescue horses. I wish your friend hadn’t poo-poo’d the idea of practicing on rescue horses – they need more human attention than overworked schoolies, and I’ll be the rescue orgs would appreciate someone cleaning up a mane or two. And the horses could use photos more than schoolies could, since these are horses that need a new home.

[dixydog]

That link didn’t work for me. Could you post it or send it again please? Thanks!

[evelynthemare]

That link went to something inappropriate for me… O_O

[PNWjumper]

Well this is a 6 year old thread