I am looking for advice on braiding for inhand classes for the USDF sport horse shows. I have a warmblood mare, 3 years old, who has a long mane. I’d like to keep her mane the way it is,and do a running braid for shows. Thoughts? I have no experience with the sport horse shows so not sure what is acceptable. Thanks!
I have seen a running french braid on mostly baroque breeds in dressage sport horse inhand classes. Tails aren’t braided. Sounds good to me but I’d try to braid as tightly as possible without pulling to give a clean topline.
Our stallion has been doing a running (French) braid in open Sporthorse in Hand and ridden dressage classes for the past two seasons, without a problem. The trick is to keep it tight enough to be tidy with just a smidge of wiggle room to allow him to move. It’s a quick braid, so it can go in five minutes before the class, and you can ask him not to graze until he’s out of his class again.
