For those that show both English and Western; what to do with mane?

[beau159]

I know I’m posting this in the Hunter/Jumper forum, but I am curious what “you would do” with the mane if it were your horse.

Normally, I have two horses that I take to the local open shows but one is injured, so I’m going to use one horse for the whole day. There are 3 English classes first thing in the morning (hunter under saddle, hunt seat equitation, hunter hack) followed by Western events (showmanship, western pleasure, horsemanship, trail, reining, ranch horse pleasure) and then speed events at the end of the day.

I normally use this horse for the English events and I normally do a running braid. (here he is) I’m not going to pull his mane because we do also do reining and ranch horse (which are “more important” to me) so I do want him to have a natural mane.

I would then be able to pull out the running braid for Western showmanship. Wavy hair isn’t exactly the trend, but I guess it would work.

My other thought, is to band the mane similar to this or else maybe like this. And then ride him like that for the English events too (no time to band before the Western events start).

Would you band?
Would you braid for English, and then let it loose for Western?

I supposed I can’t really go wrong doing either for a local open show, but curious what the consensus would be!

[Training_Cupid]

Kind of depends on how formal the show is, but for most local shows I think you’re probably ok with either the running braid or long. I used to ride my QH in english events with a long mane for our local shows, and we won when appropriate. My current horse has a fairly long and thick mane, and I’ve done hunter classes at local schooling shows with it left long. I wouldn’t bother banding, unless you want that for your western events, in which case I’d go with whatever you consider your “primary” division to be.

[retiredhorse]

@beau159

I would then be able to pull out the running braid for Western showmanship. Wavy hair isn’t exactly the trend, but I guess it would work.

If you wet the mane after you unbraid it and comb through the wet hair, it will make the waves/curls fall out.

[RPM]

I don’t know enough about manes in your disciplines to make a suggestion, just want to compliment you on your pretty horse!

[Ladylexie]

If it’s a schooling show could you just go unbraided?

[AirForceWife]

I’d do the running braid for English and then pull it, wet it and comb it. The curls will fall out and you will have a reasonable turnout for all classes.

[Showbizz]

In the Arabian world, we do the running braid, then wet and comb for western.

[atl_hunter]

In AQHA, APHA and ApHC, if you are showing a hunter but also showing in SMS, HMS or WP, and the schedule doesn’t allow for braiding after showmanship or western classes, then you typically still braid but show your western classes in braids. The judge will realize you are doing this because you have an AA horse and you will not be penalized.

BTW, I love your horse! Have fun!

[beau159]

@Training Cupid

Kind of depends on how formal the show is, but for most local shows I think you’re probably ok with either the running braid or long. I used to ride my QH in english events with a long mane for our local shows, and we won when appropriate. My current horse has a fairly long and thick mane, and I’ve done hunter classes at local schooling shows with it left long. I wouldn’t bother banding, unless you want that for your western events, in which case I’d go with whatever you consider your “primary” division to be.

The show itself is laid back; I could show up with a muddy horse and wear plain jeans and no one would care… but, showing is fun for me and part of the fun is getting myself and my horses “pretty”. So I try to turn out good.

So some people are dressed to the nines and some people are casual. The show environment is friendly so either is acceptable.

@retiredhorse

If you wet the mane after you unbraid it and comb through the wet hair, it will make the waves/curls fall out.

True, but I don’t always have enough time between the English classes and the start of showmanship for it to dry all the way if I were to wet it enough to get rid of the waves.

Granted, it wouldn’t be the end of the world if his mane was a little wet, because he might be a little sweaty from where his English saddle was when we go into showmanship! Obviously, it’s the same judge all day so they are very aware that most of us use the same horse for multiple events.

It’s just a one-day show.