Vineyridge, it should be on the off side. Again, it’s back to wearing a sword, which likely hung in a scabbard on the rider’s left side. So he would mount on the horse’s left (near) side, rather than have to swing a sword over the top of the horse 
[QUOTE=RAyers;6429431]
You realize your logic just gives a GOOD reason to braid on the LEFT. If I want to be noticed then I damn sure will braid that way (actually I already do for dressage). If I pay attention to the DETAILS of TRAINING, RIDING, HORSEMANSHIP, then your issue with braiding on the left will get me noticed and a better chance to win (by your own admission).
Then again, it is this type of conversation that makes me never want to go back to h/j.
Reed[/QUOTE]
:lol: :lol: :lol:
I always learned that you trained and braided mane on the right because you properly mount left. Having the main going away from you means when you grab it to ground mount, you get slightly more purchase and it doesn’t run through your hands.
And I guess, mounting with a sword on, you need what purchase you can get
RAyers,
But that’s not the way it works in the hunter ring. Everything about hunter turnout is supposed to be conservative and workmanlike, so it’s the horse’s performance that’s stands out. There should be nothing that detracts aor takes attention away from the horse. That’s way bling and bright colors are frowned upon in the hunter ring. So a braid job on the wrong side is going to cause unwanted, negative attention. Yes, you will get the judge’s attention, but in the wrong way. By your logic, a pink plaid saddle seat habit with red velvet trim and rhinestones would be the ideal hunter outfit, because it would surely catch the judge’s attention and make your trip memorable!
Your performance should stand out, not details in your turn out.
As lots of other people on this thread have point out, it’s not that much harder to braid the mane over on the correct side. So why not do it that way since that’s the convention?
I don’t know what it says about this. There is a 4H rule book and I had judge actually come over to me and pull up my pant leg to check what kind of boots I was wearing. My point is that though you might think esthetics don’t or shouldn’t matter in 4H, but sometimes they do.
Yes it does.
This thread is from 2012…
[QUOTE=ivym;8822471]
I don’t know what it says about this. There is a 4H rule book and I had judge actually come over to me and pull up my pant leg to check what kind of boots I was wearing. My point is that though you might think esthetics don’t or shouldn’t matter in 4H, but sometimes they do.[/QUOTE]
I recall the jack*** judge who asked me what breed my mutt was in the dog show. Said I shouldn’t be in the showmanship class because there was no breed standard for a generic schnauzer. 4-H at times forgets that it’s only 4-H.
Ahhhh, this entire conversation makes me enjoy the tightly roached mane on my horse so much. Classically traditional, neat, effortless and sets off her neck to topline beautifully
She has the clean look of a braided mane from both sides. It always takes people time at a competition to realize she isn’t actually braided. It even took the infamous (and fabulous) Jen Hamilton halfway through a clinic to notice
