What should I do with a natural mane for a schooling show?

[beau159]

My local area is doing a relaxed hunter/jumper schooling show. Attire is casual, so long as you are neatly presented, but I’m wondering what to do for my horse’s mane? For our area, I know that no one will care what I do with his mane including the people putting it on (which is one of the trainers I take lessons from), but I still like to be turned out neat for the event.

Normally, I do a running braid for my horse when we do Hunter Under Saddle and Hunt Seat Eq but I honestly don’t know if my running braid would stay neat all day, or for actual jumping. I’ve done both local shows and AQHA shows with my horse, so it’s only been like a couple of events at a time, and braiding is the last thing I do before tacking up and getting one, to keep it as nice as possible. Also, I had it happen one time, where the end of the braid (near the saddle) actually broke off some hairs near the base, so I always try to keep it looser there if I can, to avoid that breakage.

So curious what other braiding options I can consider? My horse has a natural mane, and I intend to keep it that way. First and foremost, he is a barrel racing horse. Secondly, he’s a ranch horse (and must be decent, as we qualified for the AQHA world show last year in ranch riding, our first year showing AQHA). But we like to dabble in lots of things, including English. So I won’t be cutting his natural mane!

I did see a video where they did the “jumper braid buttons” (I’m probably totally calling them the wrong name) but doing it with a natural mane, which looked interesting.

Picture of what I normally do for a running braid.

Picture of what he naturally looks like.

They are going to be doing several different divisions for different skill levels, with 4 classes in each: working hunter, equitation over fences, hunt seat equitation, and equitation on the flat. Along with some fun events at the very end. So should be a good time.

[SuzieQNutter]

I use the running plait, it only takes a few minutes. I take it out after and do it again if riding again.

[enjoytheride]

I either do the braids you mentioned on a long mane, or I do a french braid. Not a running plait. I find that the extra strand in the french braid keeps the braid in, then I sew it in down the length of the mane. Stays in all day.

[joiedevie99]

Definitely go for the running braid. If you have pulling issues at the withers, you don’t have to braid quite so far down. You can just make a little pony tail or bun out of those shorter hairs at the bottom, or tuck the ends under your saddle pad. When I show in a running braid (dressage), I tend to take it out and put it back in if the horse needs to look presentable multiple times during the day.

[alibi_18]

Yep, do your running braid and be ready, at any time, to redo it when needed. Keep some spray water, a comb and elastics close.

Have fun and stay safe.

[Atlas_Shrugged]

We are not allowed to braid at shows due to Covid concerns but I don’t understand why some people don’t at least pull the mane and spritz some quickbraid on it - seen some real two-maned bush necks at A shows

[Training_Cupid]

Try a “running button braid.” Olivia did a nice tutorial on her blog: https://diyhorseownership.com/diy-how-to-do-button-braids-on-long-manes/

[mollymoon]

I don’t have advice, but just wanted to say that the running braid in your picture looks really nice!

[beau159]

@enjoytheride

I either do the braids you mentioned on a long mane, or I do a french braid. Not a running plait. I find that the extra strand in the french braid keeps the braid in, then I sew it in down the length of the mane. Stays in all day.

Hmm, any videos or pictures you can direct me to that shows how the french braid is different? Not sure I have seen that.

@Training Cupid

Try a “running button braid.” Olivia did a nice tutorial on her blog: https://diyhorseownership.com/diy-ho…on-long-manes/

Yes! This is what I was referring to. I think I saw a different video of someone else doing it, but same thing. I should practice and see if I can do it.

Quic Braid though … I’ve never heard of this, nor do I think I have seen it on any store shelves in my area. What exactly is it, or is in it?

I usually spray the mane down with diluted Healthy Hair conditioner, before I braid it. I don’t know that it adds any extra “stick” but it helps make it neater. At the AQHA shows, I quite literally sprayed it with hair spray when I was done, to help keep it nicer for our classes. Don’t know if that’s the right thing to do, but it seemed to help.

@mollymoon

I don’t have advice, but just wanted to say that the running braid in your picture looks really nice!

Thank you!

[KBC]

@Training Cupid

Try a “running button braid.” Olivia did a nice tutorial on her blog: https://diyhorseownership.com/diy-how-to-do-button-braids-on-long-manes/

This would be my suggestion, my friend does her natural mane QH with this for shows, and she has got pretty darn quick at it, and it stays in nicely.

[alibi_18]

@Atlas Shrugged

We are not allowed to braid at shows due to Covid concerns but I don’t understand why some people don’t at least pull the mane and spritz some quickbraid on it - seen some real two-maned bush necks at A shows

?

There is no way braiding your own horse’s mane is not allowed… C’mon.

Braiders might have been forbidden - not braiding in itself.

Braiding is always optional, so the shows must have just said to really let it go during Covid.

[alibi_18]

@beau159

Quic Braid though … I’ve never heard of this, nor do I think I have seen it on any store shelves in my area. What exactly is it, or is in it?

I usually spray the mane down with diluted Healthy Hair conditioner, before I braid it. I don’t know that it adds any extra “stick” but it helps make it neater. At the AQHA shows, I quite literally sprayed it with hair spray when I was done, to help keep it nicer for our classes. Don’t know if that’s the right thing to do, but it seemed to help.

Quic braid is more like liquid spray net.

I would recommend you not to put conditioner in your horse’s mane prior to braiding it.
Wet it, yes, but no detangling/conditioner! It will smooth it and make the mane all slicky!

You can use hair gel, spraynet, mousse, whatever that stick. Beware of products that will leave a white residue. Wash well after.

[Madison]

@alibi_18

?

There is no way braiding your own horse’s mane is not allowed… C’mon.

Braiders might have been forbidden - not braiding in itself.

Braiding is always optional, so the shows must have just said to really let it go during Covid.

Tryon’s August series protocol email specifically says “No braiding will be permitted for the Tryon August series.” I suspect they weren’t contemplating anyone braiding for themselves, but I also think they want to remove it from consideration. If no one is braided, everyone feels more comfortable with not doing it.

@beau159 I second @mollymoon 's comment – the picture with the running braid is pretty and looks very tidy!

[trubandloki]

@Atlas Shrugged

We are not allowed to braid at shows due to Covid concerns but I don’t understand why some people don’t at least pull the mane and spritz some quickbraid on it - seen some real two-maned bush necks at A shows

Some manes just will not train to be on the “correct” side. Even with lots of trying. Even with lots of stuff to try to keep it there. So those people with ‘two-maned bush necks’ might be dealing with a mane that braids up fine but is what it is when not braided.

[2DogsFarm]

I do a running braid on my Driving mini’s Trolldoll mane using Dollar Tree hair gel to keep it in place.
Stays all day & if it gets loose, I can redo quickly.

Mane reaches well past his shoulder at the longest point.
I need to keep the last bit at his withers from rubbing beneath the shoulder strap for the breastcollar, so I do a 3-plait braid on that piece and tuck it out if the way.
Same for his bushy forelock, gets braided & tucked under the browband OR I pull & thin it to a civilized shape ; }

P.S.
Any Drivers reading, please look past the too high & tight breeching - fixed right after that class X (

[Backstage]

@alibi_18

?

There is no way braiding your own horse’s mane is not allowed… C’mon.

Braiders might have been forbidden - not braiding in itself.

Braiding is always optional, so the shows must have just said to really let it go during Covid.

The shows near me have banned all braiding, not just braiders. I’m not far from you, either. One prizelist states: “Braiding will not be allowed. Judge will penalize any horse who is braided.”

[TBKite]

@alibi_18

?

There is no way braiding your own horse’s mane is not allowed… C’mon.

Braiders might have been forbidden - not braiding in itself.

Braiding is always optional, so the shows must have just said to really let it go during Covid.

I get the need for the ban. The only way to be sure a braider wasn’t used is to disallow braiding. They can’t know for sure who did it once it’s in the ring.

[alibi_18]

@TBKite

I get the need for the ban. The only way to be sure a braider wasn’t used is to disallow braiding. They can’t know for sure who did it once it’s in the ring.

I hadn’t thought of that, but it does make sense and I agree with that new rule.

[JenEM]

At least one show had a braider test COVID-positive–it may have been Tryon, which is possibly why it’s now expressly prohibited there. I know most prizelists I’ve seen this year have explicitly said it was optional. I’ve been out to a few shows for hunter breeding this year, at the first show I was the only one not braided. I did my own braids for the last two, and didn’t bother with the tail. I saw more horses braided than not. I get wanting to support the braiders, but it seems so unnecessary at this time.

OP, if you don’t have Quikbraid, you can just use something like gel or hairspray. It just helps keep the mane stickier and easier to braid. I would never want to braid something that’s been sprayed with conditioner :eek: