Is there a 'neatness' rule for USEF dressage shows?

[pintopiaffe]

God, QuietAnn, I LOFF your mare.

And yeah, I am sort of with you on the breed thing.

Between the Arabs & the Iberians… I really have come to appreciate the full mane. And the quck running braid, now that I know how to do it RIGHT so it stays high and tight.

Well, that and the ROACHED. My SillyFilly is doing her best impression of an Iberian mare this summer (i.e. roached) and LOOKS fabulous and MAN is it easy.

The Colonial Spanish was roached last fall in an attempt to contain her. It did no good, so she is on her way back to bohemian.

The stallion is 15/16ths Ayerab, and is in his full heathen glory this year. He looks like a pony. :lol; (he is, afterall, 14.3) but he looks sooooo good and sporty and sleek with a trimmed mane and braids…

only to receive a phone call from show management just as we were putting the ramp up that the show had been cancelled due to excessive ice in their driveway. My literal response was, “WHAT?!! I JUST BRAIDED TWO HORSES.”

OUCH. :dead:

[dressagenoir]

Maybe its my inner pony-clubber, but I never show without braids. I also have always braided the night before and then just fixed one or two braids (if any) that get messed up.

[UDC]

I’d like to hear how USDF judges feel about warmblood horses that are presented neatly without braids. Some horses look better with flowing manes than with braids!

[ParadoxFarm]

This is a VERY old thread, but braiding questions are timeless.

[SillyHorse]

@UDC

I’d like to hear how USDF judges feel about warmblood horses that are presented neatly without braids. Some horses look better with flowing manes than with braids!

Judges are licensed by USEF, not USDF.

That said, I would report any judge who commented about a horse being unbraided. The rule book clearly states that braiding is PERMITTED. It is not required. Personally, I think a “flowing” mane in dressage is distracting and can interfere with the judge’s ability to assess the horse’s outline. But in of itself, an unbraided mane cannot be penalized.

In my neck of the woods, we see more unbraided than braided at schooling shows. I think the relaxation of the dress rules since this thread was originally posted has led to a general relaxation overall. Even so, everyone looks neat and well presented at our shows, braided or not.

[SillyHorse]

@fooler

I did not check the FEI rules, which override USEF rules.

USEF rules reign supreme at USEF (national) shows.

[lorilu]

@ram10

The judge noted the lack of braids in the comments box on the test.

Judge was out of line. There is an anonymous judge report available on line. I’d recommend filling one out.

[fivestrideline]

OP was from 2010 - but it would be funny to be the one reading a report about something that happened that long ago

[SillyHorse]

@alibi_18

In Canada Dressage rules:

ARTICLE E 4.1.10 BRAIDING MANES
Manes should be braided.
• White or black braiding tape is permitted.
• White, black or brown thread/wool/elastic bands are permitted.
• Any decoration of the horse with extravagant items, such as
ribbons or flowers, etc. in the mane and tail, etc., is strictly
forbidden.

Ever reasonable, the Canadians have relaxed that rule. From the 2025 rule book:

ARTICLE E 4.1.10 BRAIDING MANES
Manes may be braided.

1. White or black braiding tape is permitted.
2. White, black or coloured thread/wool/elastic bands are permitted.
3. Braiding wire is permitted.
4. Braiding bands are permitted, including decorated bands that have a smooth
   base and do not have any sharp edges.
5. Any decoration of the horse with extravagant items, such as ribbons or flowers,
   etc. in the mane and tail, etc., is strictly forbidden.
   Exception: Simple red ribbon may be used in the tail for safety reasons.

[enjoytheride]

This thread is from 2010. However, braiding is permitted not required. However however, if I am NOT going to braid at a rated show where most of the other competitors ARE braided then I make sure my horse is clean and my horse’s mane is neatly trimmed and in place.

I occasionally have a horse with a natural, breed appropriate mane. Those horses will always be french braided because I think a long loose mane is untidy in certain disciplines.

I do not think it is appropriate for a judge to comment on things that aren’t part of scoring the test because it leads people to the conclusion that it factored into the scores even if it didn’t.

[SillyHorse]

@enjoytheride

This thread is from 2010.

Yes, we know, thanks.

@enjoytheride

However, braiding is permitted not required.

This has been stated numerous times in the thread.

[enjoytheride]

Goodness. I was answering the person who bumped the thread and didn’t know that there was a limit on answers. I didn’t mean to attract your anger.

[SillyHorse]

Anger? Stop being ridiculous.