That conversation was about a local, not rated show series.
No pro braiders in the prize list for that will not put a whole industry out of business.
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I had one of those. 17.3 hand TB who would curl up in the tiny stall at shows to be able to scratch his neck with a hind hoof. Too bad he wasn’t quite as talented over fences…
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The thing that bothers me about show management discouraging braiding in order to make horse showing cheaper is that it takes money out of a separate entity’s pocket, not that of the show management group. It’s always framed in a way that makes it seem like they’re trying to look after their competitors by reducing fees, but it doesn’t really affect them. If the show management group decided to waive office fees for example, then yes, I could absolutely get behind the idea that they were willing to take a hit to make it more affordable. When braiding is discouraged, the person horse showing pays less over all, but it is the braider that takes the hit. It just sits uncomfortably with me…
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WEC has hunter shows almost every weekend year round. 5 shows are a drip in a bucket. Also, being a schooling show the office, class, camping/cabins and stabling fees are less expensive, and they waive coats.
Don’t the posters wanting to change it to “no pro braiders” or the people who want others to learn to braid on their own do the same thing?
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I guess that if it is the rider or owner choosing not to pay for braiding (either by going without or doing it themselves), it is still coming from a different place than show management saying that they are saving the competitor money by discouraging braiding? It just sits funny with me, that’s all.
I have no dog in this fight! I haven’t shown for a while and have always, always braided my own, so take this bystander opinion for what it is 
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I get your point, in that it’s no skin off show management’s back since they will still get the same amount of money presumably. It’s like saying (not that this would happen) shoes are optional. The farrier would take a hit, not the show. Again, I know that’s not a great example, but…I see what you’re saying.
On the other hand, the only reason there ARE pro braiders is because braiding was encouraged, so the organizers giveth, and can taketh away if they want. 
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Seriously? You equate shoes to braids?
You literally quoted where ParadoxFarm said it wasn’t a great example, they clearly do not equate shoes to braids.
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Sorry it’s been a long day and my reading for comprehension skills are lacking.
I see what you’re saying, but on the other hand to really have a shift away from the perceived pressure to braid requires a change in the equilibrium. Many people don’t want to be the odd one out so absent some centralized organized effort, they will continue to (pay to) braid, even if they prefer not to. The show organizers are probably best positioned to coordinate on the acceptability of not braiding at a given show or series. I see a statement in the prize list, discouraging braiding as providing this coordinating function.
Over time, some jobs become obsolete. Braiding (unlike, for example, shoeing) does not improve the performance or comfort of the horse. If the demand for braiding really goes down, I imagine it will happen somewhat gradually. It may be that rather than existing braiders losing their income newcomers enter some other industry instead. Or not; existing braiders may have to find new jobs, not unlike other workers in sectors that experience changes in market or technological conditions.
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But it isn’t. Due to the mileage rule they couldn’t host a rated show, that’s one of the reasons they are hosting schooling series. The braiders aren’t out of business, it’s at a different venue.
People being so up in arms about braiding at a schooling show is just cringe worthy.
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I know what you meant.
And comparing trimming feet with braiding is, well, apples and oranges.
It’s super easy, though. Just say “optional” in the prize list.
Just use the word ‘optional’ if you want people to be good and sure it’s okay not to braid.
I feel like people who want to do something different aren’t comfortable just doing it and therefore want a rule or something approximating a rule to ensure they’re not alone.
When I was a kid, you learned to braid for shows. Yes, it’s hard. No, not everyone was good at it. Yes, we went to schooling and local shows with some lumpy, funky-looking jobs (shout out to the trainer who never pointed out I braided my pony on the wrong side for one show facepalm)… but it was a learning experience and something we did because a show is a special occasion and braiding is part of our discipline’s special occasion thing.
Like, if a derby is a one-off, super special occasion that the rider begs or borrows or thrifts a shad for, doesn’t the horse deserve special turnout, too?
I will say I think there was less pressure to be perfect up close and inches away back in my rated show era. Eventually I got better at braiding (and doing it on the proper side) but nothing like the stuff you see on Instagram these days. My braids weren’t even awesome by 80s/90s standards. However, I don’t think anyone noticed or could see from a judge’s distance.
There certainly weren’t 30+ and they weren’t totally straight, but they weren’t so wildly inconsistent that you could tell unless you were right up on her neck. (Use yarn to match your mane, if you’re worried, yo).
If it’s a straight up schooling show or division. If braiding doesn’t work for you or your horse… because you can’t do a passable job. Or you have physical limitations. Or horse needs tranq’ed to have his mane messed with. Or the $89 is make or break on your budget… Then don’t braid. You’ve got your reasons. It’s cool.
One final thing. Never say never. I NEVER thought I’d learn to do a tail. I thought I was hopeless at it. I always did my manes as a kid. Never did a tail. But finally, now, in middle age, I figured out what I was doing wrong and I’m getting pretty passable with it. Now I don’t start struggling until the midway point (it’s hard to explain). But I never in a million years thought I’d be getting this far with it. I’m weirdly delighted by it.
What’s sillier than feeling compelled to braid for lower level occasions is feeling like you need a rule or special dispensation not to.
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Not sure where this fits in the multiple discussions going on but I’m old enough to remember when a local-to-me lesson barn whose horses and ponies lived in a converted dairy barn (and said barn is still to this day teaching a slew of kids and running local shows) qualified a pony for WIHS and got ribbons with his good riding lesson kid and the whole scene today is just so perverted from where we used to be. Because such a thing could never happen today. And it’s just, so sad.
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Not sure if this has been posted, but I was disappointed to come across this recent USHJA video that not only doubles down on promoting professional braiding, but also suggests that it is an important component of the presentation on which hunters and equitation are judged. The video also encourages the use of fake tails. None of this helps promote accessibility, that’s for sure: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QdgQeJibks8
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My last gelding had a beautiful, dished head and a neck to die for. He was braided 100% of the time he was shown because he looked absolutely gorgeous with a braided mane. In my opinion, the braided look on this horse added to quality of his performance. Which was a good thing because he was an 8 jumper on his best day.
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One of my closest friends has a horse that isn’t the best jumper and isn’t the best mover – but he has an expression to die for, is as adjustable as all get out, and is the world’s best handy hunter/derby horse. Braiding his mane and tail really accentuates this and can often make the difference for him (he has a really pretty head.) Watching him come out of the corner and hunt the jump is a thing of beauty. I don’t know that you need to braid, but if it helps you, why not?
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I don’t really do much hunters but I have one pony that shows in lower divisions with a super little girl at every big venue that I don’t braid. Her mane is really thick but also thin at the same time because she has a million allergies. I’ve known the pony for 8 years and her skin and allergies are the best they’ve ever been but she’s too much of a headache for braiders and they won’t do her. She’s really sweet but she gets a little flinchy with the halter sometimes and with her difficult mane she’s just too much of a headache for them. Which I understand, but I cannot get her mane consistently at the length and thickness level for braiders and her flinchiness scares them even though she’s completely harmless and easy to handle. I braid her when I have time to with a lot of wax and product and she’s fine but she rubs a lot and gets really uncomfortable in a slinky, so I’d have to be rebraiding her every day and while she tolerates it, it’s just not a comfortable way for her to live for a whole week and I don’t always have time. Honestly she shows against way fancier, prettier ponies all the time at the AA circuit and the little girl who owns her is a brilliant riding tiny kid and they always place like champion or reserve in their division out of 10+ kids so I don’t think the judges care that much. I just do it when I have time for the kid because she likes it when she’s braided but yeah I don’t think it’s ever knocked her down a placing IMO. Pony is not the fanciest but is 10 years old, super sound, never ever spooks, jumps every horrible jump filler no question, never goes too fast, is not that much leg, and is literally zero prep. Like unload her from the trailer and let the kid go ride her anywhere at WEC. So who cares if she’s not braided she’s a great pony and I think the judges see that.
I knew another horse that would shake uncontrollably when he was braided. Big awesome TB that looked like a WB. He did maclay finals unbraided. He was a leased horse and owners told us that he was really bad about it but the boss at the time just wanted to try once to see for herself and yeah we ended up taking them out. Idk she did lots of 3’ eq with the horse at big venues and I always felt like her placings were pretty fair.
Idk I think most judges are pretty smart and reasonable and genuinely care about good performances over everything. I know there’s politics and stuff in the hunter ring and I’ve never really showed at a super high level but I’ve done every normal class 3’6” and under at A rated shows and always felt like I was treated fairly, even if myself or our clients didn’t have the fanciest horses, tack, etc.
I’ve done a lot of clinics with hunter eq judges too and they have all expressed to me that as long as horses look healthy and are performing well with properly fitted tack, they don’t care too much about the other stuff.
But that’s just my experience.
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Here in Georgia we don’t braid for Channel II or local shows.
Also, our region tends to not braid for USHJA classes, even at Channel I shows (unless a larger or AA venue like WEF or WEC). We braid for the standard divisions, like Greens, Performance Hunters, Junior/Amateur/Child/Adult, and ponies. Sometimes we braid the tails and sometimes we don’t.
Also, I’m seeing more and more horses competing with just mane braids and not going the full tail route. I used to feel like my horse was half-dressed sending him in with just mane braids, but as time goes on I realize it doesn’t really change his performance and it’s a lot less expensive on Sunday when I get the bill.
OK. It looks like alot of people don’t want to pay someone to braid…then why don’t they just braid themselves? I like the look of a braided mane. Yes, it is easier to be lazy and not braid it, but braiding can be learned by anyone, and anyone can do it. I really don’t understand this trend of professional braiders only. When I wanted to learn to braid, I got up early before school every day for a couple of weeks and braided, and then unbraided, my horse;s mane. I practiced so I could do it for shows. That seems to be missing now. My students are all require to learn how to braid and braid for shows–even if noone else is braiding, just so that they can learn the skill. Why does noone teach or learn it anymore?
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I feel like there’s kind of a mythology around hunters and hunter judges, concerning politics and nitpicking. Yeah, there’s probably an anecdote for every scenario but an anecdote doesn’t make the rule. Your experience seems more the rule to me.
Back when I was doing rated shows, I certainly felt like I had been treated fairly more often than unfairly – and I was a no-name kid from a no-name barn.
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