Would it look ridiculous if I braided for an event clinic? We are primarily dressage, but I like to cross-train and my gelding loves XC.
Anything else I should know? Have expectations for clinic attire changed in the last ten years or so?
If you’re going XC, I would leave the mane unbraided so you can grab it if needed 
I’ve audited a number of clinics with BNT, and on XC day the horses have all been unbraided that I’ve seen.
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Good point about grabbing mane… I didn’t think of that. Will it be sacrilegious that my horse has the dressage-length mane vs eventer length? I really don’t want to pull the horse’s mane as it’s perfect for button braids, but it’s about six inches long which I know is very long for eventers.
Maybe I am overthinking
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I have never seen anyone braid for any eventing clinic at any level and definitely not an xc one. Most people don’t braid specifically for xc although some leave the mane braided at a one day event.
If it makes you happy (and you’re sure you won’t need to grab mane) feel free-- but I would probably add a neckstrap just in case. Clean tack/ horse and a nice polo shirt/ sunshirt etc. under your vest and clean breeches and boots and you should be good to go.
ETA as long the mane is tidy, it’s fine. I rode a Paint mare whose owner loved long manes and no one ever commented negatively.
I’ve never seen a horse braided for an event clinic, and depending on the clinician you might get a chat about being able to grab mane. Are you worried about the length? I don’t think anyone would notice or care about that - and I’m a big believer in short pulled manes. 
As for attire, not terribly new, but do you have a body protector? An armband may also be required. Both are common enough that the organizer might not think to put it in the materials.
Have fun!
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It won’t be a problem - eventers are a great bunch! My horse’s mane is a bit longer now too than when we did hunters. He’s got a TB mane (bonus - no pulling needed, just trim with scissors) and button braids work better on him with a longer mane. I would just make sure it’s trimmed and tidy for the clinic.
Thank you everyone
In Dressurland, braiding is a given for clinics. I was mapping out what I need to do the night before and put in some time to braid, and then was like well wait a minute… do I need to? Then I remembered he has a dressage length mane, not an eventing length.
It’s been a while since I’ve done an XC clinic. I do remember braiding for my 3-day clinics back when I still evented, with a different horse. That was much longer ago than I care to admit
I do have an armband and vest.
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I did multi day clinics with two 5* clinicians this year and not a single person braided a single horse.
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Nobody braids for xc clinics. Your mane length is not a problem. Get a good night’s sleep and have fun!
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I’ve ridden in clinics with Boyd Martin and Philip Dutton and not a single horse was braided. I honestly never even thought about it! I’d probably cry and say screw it I’m not going if braiding was required, because yes - I’m that dramatic. Lol.
I wouldn’t worry about the mane length either, as long as you and your horse are turned out nicely everything will be fine! Have a great time and let us know how it went
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Overthinking. :winkgrin:
By a lot. Fairly certain no one at an event clinic notices or cares anyone else’s mane. An event clinic is a place to see a range of types of horses and horse color, manes, attire, leg wear, tack, horse trailers, etc. Laid back & free thinking.
I think you can safely assume that people at an event clinic aren’t thinking about you, they are thinking about themselves.
I only ever braid for recognized event dressage, and then get those braids out as quickly as possible after the dressage ride. :yes:
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You are overthinking. Go have fun!
Half of the time I don’t even braid for an event, so I think you don’t need to worry about it!
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There is an “eventing length” mane?!
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There definitely is.
I used to be a groom at shows and braider/mane-puller/clipper for a few local eventing barns. For eventers it’s usually 3-4 inches in length preferred.
Eventing braids are usually smaller and closer together (hence the shorter mane), which are usually about 2 inches apart if that. Pros used to have me do their entire string, to 3-4 inches (about the length of your hand, sideways). 
Dressage riders tend to do cobra button braids, which are spaced out much further apart (3-5 inches) and require at least 5 or 6 inches of mane length for the best appearance. You can’t do nice hooded/cobra braids with a shorter mane. [IMG2=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“src”:"https://nowthatsthespot.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/totilas-21.jpg)
I have never gotten a comment from a dressage professional about my mane being too long, but I have from eventer trainers!
The consensus is in, I won’t be braiding! :lol:
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Um, yeah, what? :eek::lol:
Even in your post above, @halt, I disagree. Either the pros you worked for just liked smaller braids or that was a while ago and outdated. Most eventers I know these days do big button braids very similarly or exactly like dressage braids (though I do know ONE who prefers to do hunter braids). Personally, I keep my horse’s mane at about 6 inches and do 9-11 braids total (he is a 16.3 TB/WB). When I braid for others, I much prefer a mane that is 5-7 inches long and NOT thinned.
Anyway, don’t braid! You’d actually draw more attention to yourself by braiding at an event clinic than not. Just have your horse groomed like for a normal lesson. ;)
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That actually hasn’t been my experience, and I’ve ridden in or audited clinics with some Olympic riders and big name trainers. Hoping to audit Jan Ebeling in a few weeks so I’ll keep an eye out, but I wouldn’t expect to see braids.
And certainly not for eventing. I mean you do you, but I’d save the time and effort!
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There is an “Eventing Length Mane?” Wow, I must be really out of the loop! Here is my latest youngster on XC. Should I pull his mane?
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156738033462622&set=a.10156738030842622&type=3&theater
🤦*♂️
Even at the FEI levels I never put more than 11 braids in a mane. And I sure as hell had a long mane to grab over the big fences, if needed. I still do.
As for clinics, my goal is usually just making sure the mud is out of the mane and tail.
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I suspect you wandered into a hunter barn by mistake. :lol:
It’s always been 12-15 braids where I have showed. While volunteering I’ve watched hundreds of horses (lower level) go through and more than that was rare. A few perfectionists may do a fancier mane braid, but it’s just to show off. Bless their hearts, the comments they get are usually not “oh how amazing” but rather “why did you bother?” :winkgrin:
The braids are gorgeous in your lower photo of the fewer thicker braids! Please come braid mine at the next recognized!
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Flattered that my braids made your example photo.
I learned to braid from a big-time event groom. Was never told to count, but I do between 11 to 20 braids on a neck, depending on the individual neck and the occasion. CCIs tend to get 18-20, local novice events 12 when I’m in a hurry. Personally, I like the 20-braid look, and it allows the braids to stay tight when the neck moves. (I know the big poofy dressage braids are intentionally looser). I like a short mane, as Halt mentioned, because it’s faster to braid and takes less waxed thread. I also tend to think short manes look better than long unbraided manes when hair is flopping to both sides (when short, it will sorta stand up instead, looks cute and less messy IMO, for public appearances…like clinics).
However I am also lazy about pulling manes, so I often wait until the mane is “dressage length” or more before I pull it. Then I pull it really short so I don’t have to do it again for 3 months, LOL.
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