I saw a post on Plaid Horse where people told someone going to one of these to braid anyway. I have been to a few and I saw one person braided. They were showing a ranch QH in the .65s and it had a long mane so it was french braided. That was IT.
Even the derby classes nobody braided, despite wearing shads. Although someone did use a fake tail. I am sure people braid at the rated shows, but it was nice to see a ocean of neatly trimmed but unbraided manes.
That one looks adorable!
I have to derail the thread to say I LOVE your pony- so so cute
I wish we’d discourage braiding, period. It’s an expense that is unnecessary, especially in the amateur classes. I love the look, don’t get me wrong, but given all the “miscellaneous fees, office charges, mandatory photographers fee, grounds fees…” it would be nice to save some money, somewhere, while showing. A neat, tidy loose mane should be enough.
We talk constantly of how ridiculously expensive and exclusive this sport has gotten. We could easily start by removing the pressure to braid. I show in the “old ladies under 2’6” divisions." I’m not braiding unless it’s for a derby or classic…maybe not then! Let my horse and I show how good we are. If it comes down to who braided or not, then it’s a fashion show, not a horse show.
Thank you 
He is my husbands combined driving pony. I entered a different pony and literally sold him 2 weeks before WEC. I asked hubby if I can crash course him over fences (he is 15 years old and has never done the hunters) and I’ve only jumped him a handful of times over his whole life, since he had a totally different career. I think he missed one of his callings! He is also a fantastic CDE pony and pleasure driving pony - his main career.
Also, personally, I think braiding makes some horses look kind of silly. The thoroughbred type horses look nice braided as it accentuates their neck. But, sometimes when warm bloods are braided it just makes their neck look really fat. I own one of these horses… he looks much better with his mane loose.
That’s so extremely technically and historically incorrect. You cannot wear your shadbelly in the hunt field or the show ring without a braided mane. Even if there’s only 7 braids in there it has got to be braided.
That makes it even more spectacular! That is a hubba hubba pony!
No, WEC Ocala. Definitely more braided for the performance than the USHJA, but I was in Ocala all winter and did a good number of weeks of USHJA classes and never saw a majority braided for those, being unbraided did not prevent me from pinning (now, plenty of times being an amateur and riding like one did 
). Not braiding was one of the perks of doing those divisions!
I did the 2’9 USHJA at Split Rock at KHP two weeks ago, and did not braid for that either, and saw plenty unbraided. I think if you are riding a horse with a chance to win out of 30 or 40+, braiding can make a difference at the very top of the placings, or if you need a video or pics, but I don’t think many people feel like they have to braid for USHJA classes at the majority of shows, including WEC Ocala winter circuit.
Slightly off topic, but as a part time photographer for local shows, I can tell you I sell way more photos when the horses are braided versus not.
I totally understand at the rated shows not braiding for the performance or the USHJA or the other “warmup” type divisions, and I’m all for that. But I had one local judge tell me that she has started braiding for everything because it makes for a better picture and video . So it very much feels like one of those “your mileage may vary” questions. Braid if you want, don’t braid if you don’t want to, whatever makes you happy.
Lots of shads, no braids! Although I think if I weren’t braiding I’d probably leave my shad in the garment bag (not that I wear a shad but I wouldn’t want to get it dirty). I even saw some shads and air vests.
I don’t see any problem with that.
Safety trumps tradition, which is why people don’t wear the top hat with the shadbelly anymore.
Shadbelly with air vest is an acceptable modern evolution. Shadbelly with no braids will still get you a talking to from the master in the hunt field, and isn’t appropriate anywhere.
Someone failed those riders, or someone before that failed their trainers by not educating them on appropriate attire.
I wish hunters would move to running braids. I see them at breed shows: they braid at the I gate in a few minutes, and if done well, look beautiful. The 40 pigtail hunter look seems silly.
Again, why make this more expensive than it already is, especially at the low divisions? I get that professional braiders exist, and folks make a living braiding (good for them!), but if I can save a couple of hundred dollars a week (per horse), I’d appreciate it.
There is an in-between: moving away from the expectation of 50 perfect professional braids and returning to a world in which riders who reasonable and neatly turn out their own horses are not out of place. This saves money and preserves tradition for those who value it. Why is it easier for many people to accept unbraided horses in the show ring then to accept horses who are neatly braided, but not quite to the current professional standard?
Unbraided horses with riders in shadbellies is a huge pet peeve of mine. No no no. We get it: you have a shadbelly and were desperate to wear it. If you’re that desperate, learn to braid your horse too.
Running braids are for long manes, I think that would be a hard sell. I have Arabs and any of them that compete have pulled manes. If I’m going to sell one, or it’s a baby, I might keep it’s mane long and do a running braid, but it’s much easier to take care of a shortened mane. Plus, with a neat short mane I don’t braid at all most of the time, with a long mane I braid every time.
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