Can we speak of braiding at the BIG shows?

[BITSA]

My bill for 3-4 days braiding is usually $185-225 at A shows in CA, OR of BC. Its a mafia

[Highflyer]

@BITSA

My bill for 3-4 days braiding is usually $185-225 at A shows in CA, OR of BC. Its a mafia

It’s a tough, thankless job that requires a fair amount of skill and generally has to be done at night, sometimes on the weekends. If anything it’s probably underpriced.

[Midge]

@BITSA

My bill for 3-4 days braiding is usually $185-225 at A shows in CA, OR of BC. Its a mafia

Oh please. You hired them. if you don’t want to pay, braid your own.

[Bethe_Mounce]

@Midge

Unless you were within three feet of the braids, though, it would be hard to know what they were braided in.

I was within inches of horses as they entered and exited show ring-could have been black string but sure looked like elastics to me…and I had my glasses on.

[Bethe_Mounce]

@bt

You should look really really closely at top hunter braid jobs and be able to make yours look EXACTLY like them…and it ain’t gonna happen with elastics.

Bet I can with a lot of practice this winter. I was within inches of a lot of hunters and eq horses in Las Vegas this past weekend. However, I am a stick rider and even if braiding was required for the stick horses, with practice, my braids will look just as nice as the yarn/string braids. Key is the mane-how well is it maintained; not all manes are the right length and thickness…

[Bethe_Mounce]

@touchstone-

Being able to braid your own can save you so much money–and has helped me pay for many a horse show. But do learn how to do proper hunter braids that won’t stand out. Bad braids are often worse than none at all. You will not achieve appropriate hunter braids with elastics.

When someone tells me I can’t; I usually rise to the occasion. As a stick rider I don’t have to braid; but I shall for the bigger shows.

[retiredhorse]

@Bethe Mounce

I was within inches of horses as they entered and exited show ring-could have been black string but sure looked like elastics to me…and I had my glasses on.

Are you talking about jumpers or hunters?

Does “stick rider” = jumpers?

Are you going to practice hunter-braids-with-elastics for jumpers? I’m just confused about what you’re trying to do and describing.

[Bethe_Mounce]

@OutsideRein

$275 for a whole show, for sure. $275 per day? Never heard of braids for one horse costing that much. For reference, my braids at indoors this year for a mane and tail were $100 per horse.

I believe I stated several times it was for the entire show; owner had to take out the braids and braider returned to re-braid.

[MHM]

@Bethe Mounce

I believe I stated several times it was for the entire show; owner had to take out the braids and braider returned to re-braid.

That is standard practice to take out the braids every day. It’s much more comfortable for the horses, and the fresh braids look better each day.

There are people who will leave the mane in overnight to save time or money. I am not one of those people.

[retiredhorse]

@MHM

That is standard practice to take out the braids every day. It’s much more comfortable for the horses, and the fresh braids look better each day.

There are people who will leave the mane in overnight to save time or money. I am not one of those people.

Yup. I’m surprised someone who says they used to braid professionally doesn’t know this, by their air of surprise that people don’t leave in, or that hunters are typically braided with yarn, not elastics.

And I’m confused about what OP is trying to do – sounds like they’re going to attempt hunter braids with elastics for jumpers. Which is fine, if it’s jumpers you can do whatever you want to the mane, but unnecessary. And then leave them in all week?

[vxf111]

What is a “stick rider”? I’ve never heard that term before

[PoochPaddock]

@pds

Is roaching the horses mane an option for the hunters?

Even if this was an option, wth would I grab when I miss???

[bt1]

@vxf111

What is a “stick rider”? I’ve never heard that term before

me either

[bt1]

@pds

Is roaching the horses mane an option for the hunters?

NO NO NO NO NO

[OutsideRein]

At the horse shows I attend I rarely see people leave braids in for multiple days. It is uncomfortable for the horse, they will start to look messy, and that is the quickest way for them to start losing hair.

[findeight]

Stick rider…Jumpers. Though only heard it used as in ’ jump the big sticks’ referencing High Junior A/O or GP levels, not just Jumpers in general but pretty sure that’s the reference.

QH people use elastic bands and have some very big shows. Terminology can differ but there are different standards in different arenas.

JME but 275 for a USEF AA level multi day show is pretty average. Most braiders price by mane and tail, like 40 per mane and 50 for a tail, 10 extra for attaching fake tail. Horse showing in a Hunter division of 4 over fences and a hack Fri and Sat plus a Classic or Derby on Sunday would commonly need 3 manes and 2 tails for 220. Maybe more or less depending on what that braider charges for that show. Regular customers may get a break over what new clients pay.

I know very few who left braids or bands in over nite, it was standard practice for either owner or groom to pull them as soon as the horse was untacked and rinsed/sponged with any barn Ive been associted with QH, APHA and Arab as well as USEF Open. Unless you tie them all night, they are going to roll and even tied, they can reach something to rub on.

I admit to trying once and that’s exactly what happened, they looked like crap. My money saving idea cost me double for a last minute ringside rebraid, they looked that shabby and all the competition looked razor sharp in comparison. Never tried that one again, my horses have never been so much better then the others they could go in messy and still pin well. Then again, it was always tough competition where I typically showed and I never could afford the best and brightest…but I could make them look that way going into the ring.

[pony4me]

Once upon a time, when my horse had an especially nice braid job and was complimented by another trainer, I counted the braids. 42. Back when I was showing, I was DIY enough that I could braid if I had to. However, two things I would gladly pay for were full care at shows (big grey TB who attracted manure stains) and good braids.

[IMReserve]

@MHM

That is standard practice to take out the braids every day. It’s much more comfortable for the horses, and the fresh braids look better each day.

There are people who will leave the mane in overnight to save time or money. I am not one of those people.

No serious, quality hunter that I know of at a major show leaves braids in overnight. None. As has been mentioned, it’s supremely uncomfortable for the horse - and the cheapskate that did it would be the scorn of the show.

[Go_Fish]

If you want to teach your horse to rub its braids, leave them in overnight. A hard habit to break…

[PNWjumper]

I leave braids in overnight.

I’ve had one hunter in my group of jumpers for the last few years (well, 5 different hunters, but always one to my 4 or 5 jumpers), and my program is definitely not tailored to add time (or often times remember) to do hunter “things” (like taking the braids out at night). My horses have all tolerated the braids being left in perfectly fine. None rubbed and none seemed to care either way. Not saying it’s a great thing to do, but I know a lot of people who do the same thing. None are the “scorn of the show.” But also, it’s not something I would do if I had a groom…but I don’t, so it’s one of the things that loses in the contest between all of the other things that need to get done.