French braid problem solving

[lorilu]

Hi all. I use a french running braid when I show my Lusitano. I add hair to both the top “clump” and when I bring the bottom one over. I pull everything tight at each turn. It looks lovely and is right on top of his neck.
BUT it always comes loose at the same place during the ride - right in the middle of his neck, where he has a bit of a cowlick and the thickest part of his mane.

What do I need to do to fix this? Take smaller additions of hair in that area?

Yes I use braiding spray. The rest stays fairly tight but the loosening is like a cancer and creeps… LOL.

thanks for any advice!!

[emipou]

You can braid with yarn through the entire braid. Include a really long piece at the beginning of the braid. Take the center of the yarn and add each side to a strand.
once done, you can take pieces of the yarn to tie the braid where it tends to fall out.
Make sure you remove all the braids and yarn when the show is over.

[Unfforgettable]

@emipou

You can braid with yarn through the entire braid. Include a really long piece at the beginning of the braid. Take the center of the yarn and add each side to a strand.
once done, you can take pieces of the yarn to tie the braid where it tends to fall out.
Make sure you remove all the braids and yarn when the show is over.

This. And also, don’t braid too far in advance…if you let your horse stretch his nose down to the ground, the braid will loosen up.

[crthunder]

When I braid I always leave a little “give”'in he braid so when the horse comes round in their neck the braid is at its most snug. What helps is to have the horse have their neck flex while you are braiding (hold braid and a helper can offer a carrot/treat the first time) and then continue braiding. Grew up braiding Arabians and now the Arabian mare I ride occasionally waits for her her treat from me when I get to the “halfway”'spot
becky

[Magicboy]

I use yarn to secure the running braid where the mane thins. I have even used yarn and sewn in the braid at points along the neck. Sort of over and under the braid with the yarn using a big yarn needle

[rememberthenight]

As some one has already said, you need to give a little give room at that spot. A bit looser is one option, I tend to braid a few extra braid twists without grabbing mane to give a loose spot there so that they can get a hoot loose walk in without pulling it out. . And remember- a French braid is a temporary braid… I figure it lasts about one class. Do not let them graze or stretch with it.

[Puddin_Pie]

You can also stop you braid at that sticky spot and finish it. Then do a second braid from that spot downwards. I had to do that on my Friesian or he would rip out hair at that spot. But I really liked the big braids. His hair was thin enough that I could do them, even with the length.

[enjoytheride]

Are you taking hair with both hands on each turn? Your hand on top and then reaching up from the bottom to grab a chunk with the bottom hand? If you only take hair with one hand it’s a running braid and not a french braid.

I keep my top hand on the crest or right next to it the entire time, don’t let your hand get further down the neck. After I’m done I use braiding yarn and a needle and I tie the braid in all the way up the neck. Stays in all day even with their head down in their stalls.

Here’s a video that shows both styles of braid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-qaLoDEb4E

[Puddin_Pie]

As to the two braids and the tail on the first: I simply bundled it the tail up under itself, like I would normally finish a French braid and then started the next braid. My trainer came onto this idea thru trial and error (ripped out hair at the stretchy circle). The braid is kept very tight and close to the crest. It worked through 4th level. I would switch back and forth between the two French braids and the big chunky braids.

[lorilu]

Actually that is the video from which I learned to French Braid. I did the Running braid before I learned French. I keep my hand on the crest and the braid is right on the crest when I am done, and tight… but then when we get to work it loosens…
Please tell me about tying the braid in with yarn… how do you do that?
Thanks!

[QUOTE=enjoytheride;n9923298]
Are you taking hair with both hands on each turn? Your hand on top and then reaching up from the bottom to grab a chunk with the bottom hand? If you only take hair with one hand it’s a running braid and not a french braid.

I keep my top hand on the crest or right next to it the entire time, don’t let your hand get further down the neck. After I’m done I use braiding yarn and a needle and I tie the braid in all the way up the neck. Stays in all day even with their head down in their stalls.

Here’s a video that shows both styles of braid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-qaLoDEb4E[/QUOTE