Just do a running braid for your under saddle classes and keep it tight to the neck… That is how we showed all of our Arabian and Half Arabian Hunter/Jumpers on the Arab circuit, and just do a French braid in the forelock to tuck it away or you could even just do a normal braid and tuck it under the browband to one side similar to a saddle seat horse.
I think even in the smaller local shows you need to look the part of what you want to be, If you have no aspirations to actual working hunters, leave the mane long and learn to do a neat, tight, high on the neck runn8ing braid that doesn’t droop as it goes down the neck. If you do showmanship in western attire you perhaps would be penalized for a short mane on an Arabian. Many local level judges are not well versed on different disciplines so riding in your dressage saddle may have gone over their heads!!!
Re: the dressage saddle.
This judge kept screwing up the showmanship patterns on saturday, and claimed it wasn’t her fault because she got then only 30 minutes before the show. When talking with my friend, she mentioned that the judge may not have read the rule book that clearly stated the dressage saddle wad allowed, so maybe she was penalizing because of that. It’s possible I guess.
I’ll just use my CC saddle from now on and eliminate the chance.
I was thinking of the shorter mane and hunter braids because the day to day upkeep would be easier that way too. Right now her mane is long and tangles so easy that I have to keep it in regular braids 24/7. If I cut it shorter, it would make day to day life easier too.
For an Arab, do NOT do a shortened mane for showmanship. I second what others suggest, and do a running braid in between classes when you’re switching to English. Unless your horse is shown in hunter tack 100% of the time, keep it longer. Granted, you can do showmanship in hunter attire in Arab shows, but it is easier to have a nice, controlled, smooth pattern with western attire ime. Granted, I DO show my half-Arab hunter-style in showmanship, and he shows with a pulled mane. But his only classes ever are in hunter tack/attire.
I practiced a running braid this morning and it wasn’t half bad! I’ll just keep practicing!
The rule book might say a dressage saddle is allowed in English classes but it seems strange to me that anyone would consider it appropriate for a hunter under saddle class. It also might have made you sit differently, which the judge might not have felt was appropriate for hunger under saddle.
[QUOTE=trubandloki;8678596]
The rule book might say a dressage saddle is allowed in English classes but it seems strange to me that anyone would consider it appropriate for a hunter under saddle class. It also might have made you sit differently, which the judge might not have felt was appropriate for hunger under saddle.[/QUOTE]
It wasn’t specifically a HUS class. It was a mixed-seat green horse class - there were western riders in the class as well. So, “Green Horse Pleasure”, “Green Horse Road Hack” etc.
[QUOTE=SuckerForHorses;8678675]
It wasn’t specifically a HUS class. It was a mixed-seat green horse class - there were western riders in the class as well. So, “Green Horse Pleasure”, “Green Horse Road Hack” etc.[/QUOTE]
What was the name of the classes you rode in later in the day that you did well in?
[QUOTE=trubandloki;8678676]
What was the name of the classes you rode in later in the day that you did well in?[/QUOTE]
2nd place out of 6 - Green Horse Performance (judged 50% on equitation and 50% on pleasure)
1st place out of 7 - Green Horse Road Hack
So the judge did not think your horse was necessarily a pleasure horse but thought your horse fit the bill for road hack, which is frequently a more animated class.
In other words, it probably has nothing to do with your braid and your saddle, and more to do with what each class was looking for.
I do the same thing as you. I show locally and do pretty much all the events. My horses have long and full natural manes.
I do happen to use one of my horses for HUS and a different one for showmanship and WP, but I would have no problem leaving the mane braided for all those events.
I just did a running braid. Practiced a few times ahead of time. Learned that I wait until I arrive at the show to do the braid, or else they can rub it (ruin it!!) on the trailer ride over.
Natural: http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k27/r_beau/2015%20Horse%20Pictures/Romeo%205_zpsjywybsti.jpg
Running braid: http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k27/r_beau/2015%20Horse%20Pictures/2015-07-11%20English%20Showing%20000_zpsrhu2b0gz.jpg
I’ve honestly never banded a mane for Showmanship. I just make sure my horse is groomed well otherwise, and really focus on my pattern. As long as I don’t mess up 
we usually place well.
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k27/r_beau/2015%20Horse%20Pictures/IMG_5551_zpswrt9z8tt.jpg
[QUOTE=trubandloki;8678729]
So the judge did not think your horse was necessarily a pleasure horse but thought your horse fit the bill for road hack, which is frequently a more animated class.
In other words, it probably has nothing to do with your braid and your saddle, and more to do with what each class was looking for.[/QUOTE]
That’s entirely possible. I’m just going to step up my game and braid her in a running braid and use my CC saddle, just in case haha
[QUOTE=beau159;8678786]
I do the same thing as you. I show locally and do pretty much all the events. My horses have long and full natural manes.
I do happen to use one of my horses for HUS and a different one for showmanship and WP, but I would have no problem leaving the mane braided for all those events.
I just did a running braid. Practiced a few times ahead of time. Learned that I wait until I arrive at the show to do the braid, or else they can rub it (ruin it!!) on the trailer ride over.
Natural: http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k27/r_beau/2015%20Horse%20Pictures/Romeo%205_zpsjywybsti.jpg
Running braid: http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k27/r_beau/2015%20Horse%20Pictures/2015-07-11%20English%20Showing%20000_zpsrhu2b0gz.jpg
I’ve honestly never banded a mane for Showmanship. I just make sure my horse is groomed well otherwise, and really focus on my pattern. As long as I don’t mess up we usually place well.
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k27/r_beau/2015%20Horse%20Pictures/IMG_5551_zpswrt9z8tt.jpg[/QUOTE]
Even when I had a QH, I never banded his mane, just made sure it was brushed neat and clean.
With the Arab, no banding anyways, so that’s nice!
I did a running braid this morning while she ate her breakfast and it actually came out pretty decent. I missed a few strands because it was dark and her mane is black, so I couldn’t see half of what I was doing, but I think that bodes well for me since it still didn’t come out too bad, imagine how much nicer it could be if I can see what I’m doing! :lol:
UPDATE:
We had a show on June 12 and 
[IMG]http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff2/agonyaw/Public%20Album/LexiRunningBraid_zpshk83deh3.jpg)
I don’t know why it won’t let me rotate it, so I apologize in advance for it being sideways! :mad:
Not to steal your show… but any tips for how to keep the running braid from falling out? Mine looks great in the aisle and then one head shake or three trot steps later, the front part falls apart and unbraids itself slowly down the neck with more activity. Yours looks so wonderful and it is frustrating to hear yours stayed all day (but seriously congrats)!!! I cannot for the life of me figure it out…
I do this on the standardbreds we show, as when they’re racing, this particular owner keeps them long -
I stand so I am basically on top of the horse, looking down, not below the mane. This assists in keeping it centered, and on top.
I spray the mane liberally with human hair spray (don’t make it slippery, just tacky).
I pull smallish pieces, no wider than my finger
Braid all the way down until you can’t get anymore in, continue the braid and tie it off. I then fold it under itself until it’s tucked up under the running section and tie it off again with a mane colored band (or 2 or 3 or 4 for luck). I sometimes will bobby pint it in there more if I think it needs it.
Spray again with hair spray and that seems to do the trick.
[QUOTE=wronglead;8719507]
Not to steal your show… but any tips for how to keep the running braid from falling out? Mine looks great in the aisle and then one head shake or three trot steps later, the front part falls apart and unbraids itself slowly down the neck with more activity. Yours looks so wonderful and it is frustrating to hear yours stayed all day (but seriously congrats)!!! I cannot for the life of me figure it out…[/QUOTE]
Thanks! Steal the show, I don’t mind! I will anxiously await posts for tips on keeping them looking good! It may have been luck that mine stayed in! :lol:
I think the key is keeping it tight to the crest of the neck, and it also helped that her mane is REALLY long, so I didn’t have any short pieces that could come out of the braid. I also hairsprayed the hell out of it when I got it done and made sure to keep her head at chest level, no eating grass! :lol:
ETA: Having a non-slippery mane helps too, so maybe try spraying it with hairspray BEFORE braiding to help give you some grip when braiding?
haha RxCate and I were posting at the same time!
My tips for keeping a mane braid in:
- No conditioner on the mane ever.
- Human hairspray is your friend.
- I agree with standing more over the horse than to the side.
- If a horse has a super thick mane, I will run yarn through the braid to stabilize it, and you can tie yarn around the braid every few twists to really stabilize it. If you’re really struggling, it is possible to “sew” yarn down the braid, but I almost never resort to that. It’s a pain in the rump to take out.
- When you braid, do the twists straight across instead of down the neck. This will keep the braid much tighter. Think perpendicular to the braid instead of at a 45 degree angle.
This has worked on everything from ridiculously thick-maned Morgans to Arabs to Friesians.
![[IMG]http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff2/agonyaw/Public%20Album/LexiRunningBraid_zpshk83deh3.jpg)](http://s238.photobucket.com/user/agonyaw/media/Public%20Album/LexiRunningBraid_zpshk83deh3.jpg.html){kind=link}