I’m trying to hold on to hope that spring (and show season) are coming. Eventually.
When that happens, I’ll need something to keep braids covered overnight. Do you have a favorite brand/style? What works well and holds up? Zipper or no? And should I go with a solid color or try to maximize my horse’s embarrassment? :lol:
I’m interested, too - trying to braid mornings-of is starting to get too annoying, especially with Mr. “I want the rest of my breakfast NAOWW!!”. 
Always found them to squish the braids. I do fat rosette braids for horse trials and can do them in 20 min in the morning. I hate sleeping in braids, so I assume the horses do too! It really is not that hard to do in the morning once you get used to it. The first couple of times made me a bit panicked, but I got used to it quickly. When I was a groom, 3 of us would braid 20 horses the morning of!
I have used the regular Sleazys, and they work just fine. I always worry about them slipping into their eyes. Probably unreasonable.
I have a Centaur and a Robin Hood.
The Centaur brand one is nice ever since I had it replaced. I bought a brand new hood, used it once without damage, washed it, and the zipper ripped out in the washer. Once I took it back to the tack shop and exchanged it for a new one, it’s been fine, so I imagine I just bought a lemon. I’ve had it for 3 years and occasionally use it for shows. It still looks nearly brand new. It has a large zipper and buckle girth so is relatively easy to use. The only thing I don’t like is that the lycra is not super-duper stretchy, so even though it’s the correct size, I think it’s a bit restrictive on my horse and that’s he doesn’t like it much (or maybe he just doesn’t like that I’ve thwarted his plans to get dirty…).
My Robin Hood is wonderful. It does have small holes in the neck and the velcro under the chin is just now ripping off, but I’ve had it for over 10 years. I used it when I showed western and halter, when I did hunter braids for huntseat, and now I still use it for my eventing braids on my big guy when I braid him the night before. My halter horse even wore it for an entire winter one year underneath a hood. It has a buckle girth and very long zipper. It’s a lighter weight lycra that is very stretchy, but still sturdy, so I think it’s pretty comfortable for the horse. Assuming they’re still made like they were 10 years ago, I would highly recommend Robin Hoods. I’m actually planning on replacing mine this season with a new Robin Hood.
ETA: Apparently Robin Hoods are expensive- $70 for the same one I have (http://www.robinhoods.com/ecommerce/all-robinhood-products/6oz-robinhood-solid.html). But considering that mine has taken a fair amount of abuse over the years and still looks as good as it does, I’d consider the upfront cost worth it.
Thanks Maggini, I will check out the Robin Hoods. That’s exactly the kind of report I was looking for!
CatchMe, it’s great that braids are easy for you; that’s just not the case for me. I can’t do detail work on my best day, and when you add it show nerves, I will just have a better overall experience if I pay someone else to do it, and if it works better for them to do it the night before, so be it. Then I don’t have the stress of wondering if they’re going to get it done in time in the morning.
Hey, if it wasn’t for people like me, people like you wouldn’t get paid to braid!
I don’t get paid, Snugglerug! I was a working student and now I do it for friends. Although, I guess I could advertise.
I was JUST like you though. I get very stressed out at horse shows and was not a good braider at all. My hands would even get cramped up after a few braids. It took maybe 3 shows to get used to it, and now I like braiding in the morning. It is “meditation” time for me. Time to clear my head and focus on one thing and get in a less stressed mental space. I do about 8-10 braids in a mane too - not very many at all. The biggest key is to roll them up tightly. The tightness of the braid doesn’t even really matter if you can roll them tight. I also use two rubberbands to secure the braids because then I have to go around less times.
Well Catch, if you were closer to me, you’d get paid! :yes:
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