mmm… maybe I need to make the sections thicker – I didn’t get quite as nice a result as I wanted.
I think I must be sewing them in wrong - here’s what my result looks like.… they look like door-knockers and not pretty button braids… lol!
Holden must be going “mom, what did you do to me!?”
Looks like you need to roll them up tighter and more. I physically roll them from the bottom up and make sure they are really tight all the way up and then push them up a bit in to the “hood” part while rolling. They are also pretty impossible to do with rubberbands as that takes away the hooded look . Thread will make your life a whole lot easier. Is that visible white part tubberbands? If not, watch the videos and see how it shows the sewing. You should be going back and forth just through the center of the “braid ball.”
[QUOTE=beowulf;8345850]
mmm… maybe I need to make the sections thicker – I didn’t get quite as nice a result as I wanted.
I think I must be sewing them in wrong - here’s what my result looks like.… they look like door-knockers and not pretty button braids… lol!
Holden must be going “mom, what did you do to me!?”[/QUOTE]
It looks like you’re either using rubber bands or wrapping thread around them. Don’t do that. 
See the video - you roll them up, then go through the middle to avoid that wrapped at the base ponytail braid look. You also have it far too tight to have a hooded look at the top, which is fine if you don’t want that look… but if you do, start the braid upwards and looser.
[QUOTE=netg;8345870]
It looks like you’re either using rubber bands or wrapping thread around them. Don’t do that. See the video - you roll them up, then go through the middle to avoid that wrapped at the base ponytail braid look. You also have it far too tight to have a hooded look at the top, which is fine if you don’t want that look… but if you do, start the braid upwards and looser.[/QUOTE]
Thanks! I see what I did wrong now… I didn’t have wifi down at the horses so had to do this from memory after watching RHRT’s video… think my braind combined the way you braid for hunters with dutch braids… oops… So, I folded and then folded again, but I didn’t fold the whole section the first time.
I used rubber bands for the braiding and then thread for the sewing… didn’t have black on hand so used white yarn… good thing this is for practice
I think I’m going to try again tonight… much to my guy’s horror… think he’ll get picked on when I turn him back out? :lol:
I had an Iberian horse who had a thick, long mane. Between doing a tight running braid or the cobra braids, the cobras were easier as he could stretch his neck, etc. without pulling the running braid loose. He had the hair for fat, chunky braids. Now I have a WBx with a lovely thick tail, but a whispy 3" mane. Hoping it grows out a bit over the winter, but will be interesting to see what the thin mane produces braid-wise!
I watched the OPs video of the PD grooms doing the braids where they wrap around and then go through the hole and back around. This was the type of braid in question. Not simple button braids.
That to me would be called a “Cobra” braid, as it snakes around itself and looks like a coiled snake afterwards.
Everyone else does buttons. Whether they are the euro style that are poofy or american that are close to the neck…
RHART: It is not I who did not watch the video.
[QUOTE=purplnurpl;8347193]
I watched the OPs video of the PD grooms doing the braids where they wrap around and then go through the hole and back around. This was the type of braid in question. Not simple button braids.
That to me would be called a “Cobra” braid, as it snakes around itself and looks like a coiled snake afterwards.
Everyone else does buttons. Whether they are the euro style that are poofy or american that are close to the neck…
RHART: It is not I who did not watch the video.[/QUOTE]
Now you’re just making things up.
The OP posted the video saying she was looking for the popular in dressage cobra braids - which is COMMONLY used to describe the braids with the “hood” around the braid like a cobra has. And stated that the video given did not look correct. So RHRT gave a video for an excellent technique which DOES work. You can make up terms all you want, but when on a message board communicating with others in written communication, typically using the actual terms commonly used in the forum rather than getting nasty because someone doesn’t know your made up interpretation is more the way to go.
[QUOTE=CatchMeIfUCan;8345560]
I had the same feeling when I saw this as right horse at the right time. I find them easier to do on all types of manes, and I can do them on super thin, too long, crazy manes. [/QUOTE]
Geez you guys. I had to go back to the OP just to make sure I wasn’t being a total dumb a#$.
Did anyone else watch the video the OP was asking about???
That would be a cobra braid.
Everyone else who has posted does buttons. THEY ARE VERY DIFFERENT.
Everyone can take a time out now and go watch the video enjoytheride was actually asking about.
To enjoytheride:
I have never seen anyone do those cobra braids until the video you posted. It was very interesting!
However, those braids are impossible when braiding the thick pony mane that only allows for 3 cross overs and dishes out a braid that is 1" wide and 2" long. lol.
and for those who think I’m being a PITA. I’m not clueless.
You can go to my website and see the floating intro photo. There is a dressage braid pic of my Mom’s stock horse who I evented for a bit. He has a neck that is short, stocky and ties in low. Therefore, he received 20 american type buttons.
kaboomeventing.com
[QUOTE=CatchMeIfUCan;8345560]
I had the same feeling when I saw this as right horse at the right time. I find them easier to do on all types of manes, and I can do them on super thin, too long, crazy manes. [/QUOTE]
Geez you guys. I had to go back to the OP just to make sure I wasn’t being a total dumb a#$.
Did anyone else watch the video the OP was asking about???
That would be a cobra braid.
Everyone else who has posted does buttons. THEY ARE VERY DIFFERENT.
Everyone can take a time out now and go watch the video enjoytheride was actually asking about.
To enjoytheride:
I have never seen anyone do those cobra braids until the video you posted. It was very interesting!
However, those braids are impossible when braiding the thick pony mane that only allows for 3 cross overs and dishes out a braid that is 1" wide and 2" long. lol.
and for those who think I’m being a PITA. I’m not clueless.
You can go to my website and see the floating intro photo. There is a dressage braid pic of my Mom’s stock horse who I evented for a bit. He has a neck that is short, stocky and ties in low. Therefore, he received 20 american type buttons.
kaboomeventing.com
if you are on a phone then you need to go to the braiding page and scroll down.
then what the heck did OP post?
She was asking about the braids in the video. Which now according to you, are not cobra braids.
I had never heard the term. And after reading the OP and watching the video I could only assume that those were the types of braids she was talking about.
Interesting that no one addressed what was happening in that video. Because I thought it was a very strange technique!
And what you guys have called Cobra braids. I’ve always heard described, and therefore called Dutch braids. aka: Euro style buttons.
[QUOTE=purplnurpl;8347226]
then what the heck did OP post?
She was asking about the braids in the video. Which now according to you, are not cobra braids.
I had never heard the term. And after reading the OP and watching the video I could only assume that those were the types of braids she was talking about.
Interesting that no one addressed what was happening in that video. Because I thought it was a very strange technique!
And what you guys have called Cobra braids. I’ve always heard described, and therefore called Dutch braids. aka: Euro style buttons.[/QUOTE]
I can’t see it well on the video, but it looked like you took wrapping the yarn around to tie off button braids as some kind of fancy thing the OP wasn’t asking about. I don’t see where there were intricate braids being done, just one method of tying yarn which doesn’t work for the effect the OP wants, thus her posting on the thread. She was asking about the braids popular in dressage, which aren’t anything you mentioned.
Welcome to the dressage forum, where Dutch braids/cobra braids are a frequent topic of conversation, and whatever you are making up in your head isn’t.
Examples (including the original post of RHRT’s video):
http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?428695-By-request-the-quot-how-to-quot-quot-European-quot-quot-Dutch-quot-quot-cobra-quot-braids-videos
http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?309846-Button-Braids-Cobra-Braids-for-longer-mane
http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?286303-Cobra-stallion-braids
Goodness folks. It’s just braids.
I am going to do both styles and see which one is faster, more secure, looks better, and is more idiot proof.
[QUOTE=enjoytheride;8347369]
Goodness folks. It’s just braids.
I am going to do both styles and see which one is faster, more secure, looks better, and is more idiot proof.[/QUOTE]
It was really buggy tonight and my guy had already seen the grain being passed around, so I wasn’t able to do a full length but I tried take two of the cobra. I’ll torment him more tomorrow BUT in two minutes (replete with tantrums on horse’s end because bugs and grain) I did three Cobras and they came out… Nice! So they get my vote for idiotproof and easy!
What I took away from it was ;
Grain time is not good for braid time
Keep the first laps of the braids ungodly loose for that delicious hood look
Quit early at the stop of the braid – makes for neater tuck in
And also maybe grow out my guys mane. His is thick but kept at “show length” I ended up wishing I had more to braid with!
I do “hooded” (cobra, Dutch, whatever) braids on my Arab, who has a natural mane. They are ridiculously easy to do and look great. You don’t have to pull or trim the mane to do these, although if you want them all to be exactly the same size you’ll need to. I find that the size gradation looks natural (fattest braids in the middle, smaller braids at the ends) and enhances the shape of his neck.
The difference is that I (following a Tipperary video that I think is no longer on YouTube) tie each braid into a knot and then wrap the tail around before sewing them in. I think I am going to try the tuck-under technique for easier braid removal next time, although my guy’s mane may be a tad too long. The way I’ve done it is kind of a pain to take out. It generally takes me about 15 minutes to do the whole mane (not counting the forelock, which he is kind of a jerk about).
Ahhh yes, if you heard swearing down the barn aisle it was usually me doing my chestnut mare’s forelock. She had a long mane so I always french braided it.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/20892581@N04/15066572355/in/dateposted-public/
Has anyone tried this technique using bobby pins? I am thinking I am going to try it this weekend at the show. Will report back! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTNdWhgdIIY
[QUOTE=Arzny;8348427]
Has anyone tried this technique using bobby pins? I am thinking I am going to try it this weekend at the show. Will report back! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTNdWhgdIIY[/QUOTE]
Definitely report back! I don’t particularly like the look on the off side as you can see the bobby pins. Sewing takes less than 5 minutes more so that would be my preference.
These are the big ‘cobra’ braids on the pony men.
Showing the option of just doing about 4-5 of them or doing 7-9 of them. Depends on the mane…
The above video is GOOD - in that it shows the same way I do them. Sections about 4 inches across. Braid down but stop before it tapers. Use rubber bands to turn the bottom under and make a loop or knob at the bottom. Then I roll mine under but make them sit up on the crest of the neck (she lets hers be more like big knobs) and sew top to bottom (in about the same place she puts her hair pins)
http://s184.photobucket.com/user/melissamulchahey/library/Cobra%20Braids
[QUOTE=honeylips;8349116]
These are the big ‘cobra’ braids on the pony men.
Showing the option of just doing about 4-5 of them or doing 7-9 of them. Depends on the mane…
http://s184.photobucket.com/user/melissamulchahey/library/Cobra%20Braids[/QUOTE]
Honeylips were you able to get video?
I’ll try this weekend. No time during the week with work and all that.
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