A clamped or stiff tail is penalized in the hunter ring, yet every tail in the big time hunters is braided. Go figure. If your horse clamps a braided tail or carries it stiffly, don’t braid. Preparation is the key.
I saw the most stunning braid job on I think a fresian cross with an incredibly long mane. They somehow made it a criss-cross pattern of braids. It was gorgeous. I have no idea how they do it…
I leave the mane long, and blunt cut at the bottom. 5 on my PRE is just under 2 mane combs width per braid. I don’t think either of my WBs could wear 5, although both look fine in 7. The trick is to comb the mane straight up, spray with quick braid, and start braiding straight up in the air. I don’t bring it down into a normal position until I’m 4-6 crosses in.
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Like you and some other posters on this thread, I came from a H/J background. At my very first dressage competition, I had my horse in the cross ties and was meticulously sewing in tiny hunter braids. When I had not gotten too far, one of the trainers at the barn where the show was being held came over to me and watched for a minute, and then laughed and said, “you know, you don’t have to do that. We use rubber bands!” Really? That was the best news ever! She ended up braiding him for me and the big dressage button braids looked so great on his neck! She and I have been friends for 30 years now. 
So yeah, leave it on the left, braid or don’t braid. Roach it, grow it out and do a lattice braid (that’s what it’s called, millerra), or whatever you feel like. When I started out in dressage, we used to clip either side of the tail dock at the top, I’ve noticed nobody does that anymore. Also, we used to finish the button braids with white tape and I see that has largely fallen out of fashion too. (Once I used black electrical tape on a white (grey) horse and my trainer had a cow!)
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Whatever happened to clipping / shaping the tail dock anyway? I took a 15 year break from riding and that trend totally disappeared during that time.
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Grooming fashions do change dont they? The white tape was nice for holding the braids but really pointed out any issues with neck carriage or the braiding job!
Still that is nothing compared to the changes in QH grooming! Many (like, really a lot) years ago I went to a number of QH shows and participated in a judging contest at the QH Congress. The halter horses (who were tanks!) were shown with pulled manes, no bands and tails that were trimmed a LOT. The idea was to get the tail to lie between the buttocks and show off the big QH butt. Narrow at the top and bottom, they ended just below the hocks. Imagine my surprise when I went to a QH show after many years. The tails were huge and flowing almost to the ground. And, I soon found out, often fake. The horses favored looked different and the style of showing changed some but it was those tails that really surprised me! :lol:
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Like a diamond braid? Simpler than it looks!
The only “rule” I’ve heard is to leave the forelock unbraided on stallions. I don’t think that would work on the hairier breeds, though. I do the fluffy Dutch braids. I sew them in before the show and leave them in all weekend. No need to pull the mane, either. Because they are fluffier and not as tight, I’ve never had a horse itch them out.
A groom who had migrated over from hunter-land asked me if I used a fake tail on my mare, to fill it out for shows. My immediate no-filter response “why? No one cares.”
This is totally and completely not a rule.
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The only “rule” I’ve heard is to leave the forelock unbraided on stallions.
Definitely NOT a rule. I showed my stallion with his forelock braided when it became far too long to leave him with the Fabio look. I simply French braided it to keep it neat and tidy and so I didn’t have to cut any stray strands. I was never marked down for it in any recognized show nor had any negative comments. In fact he won all-breeds despite a braided forelock (at times - sometimes I was too tired to braid his forelock after braiding his endless mane as well as his herd mates I was competing). With the only exception being my stallions I have often opted to roach the mane - so much easier.
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Honestly, I have to wonder where people come up with these “rules.” Someone once told me it was illegal to show in a synthetic saddle. 
I own a synthetic because I don’t have access to a temp and humidity controlled storage space other than my much too cramped apartment. And because it’s easier to deal with in the weather when you are on a very tight timeline. No one has ever said a word while showing. :uhoh:
Probably someone made a comment, which was repeated, became habit at some barn or another, and was adopted by others, people started saying “we always do it this way” and then that became “you should always do it this way” and somehow became a “rule.”
as long as the horse is well turnt out its absoluteley fine, the judges dont give points for braiding but the horses movements and the ride
I would hope they haven’t, because it’s perfectly legal. And if anyone does say something, all you have to do is remember that person is ignorant about the rules. Oh, and give them a synthetic smile.
That “clipping or shaping the dock thing”- I don’t think I have ever seen it looking nice and neat. It always looked like an upside down bottle brush. Thank goodness that fashion seems to have died!
That being said, my mare always rubs her butt when in season and by the end of the summer LOOKS as if I had clipped it! I deal with it by applying hair gel and bandaging on the way to shows.
Thanks, I did it about 1.5 comb’s width this weekend braiding more up and was pleased with how it worked out! I ended up with 7, bands not sewn. Usually I’m too lazy to use a stool even though I know it makes a difference!
The stallion with the unbraided forelock is tradition. I always braided the forelock and my trainers always rode stallions with unbraided forelocks. Just tradition. I earned my bronze and was third regional champ and fourth reserve regional champ in a synthetic saddle. No one cares or notices.
The rules don’t specify for saddles, but they do say the bridle must be a “leather or leather-like material.” See DR121.2 for details / exceptions.
Awesome! Those look great! I don’t have any great pictures, but here’s my new guy with 7 in.
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