I have tried everything. Take from the top, from the bottom, from both. Fat or thin sections. “the secret is in your thumb” holding it tight. Tightening every strand every time. I DO tie him up during and after so no lowering of his head.
It ALWAYS comes loose in the same place - where it is thickest in the middle of his neck.
What is YOUR secret? Honestly I am going to try sewing it in with a running blanket stitch after its all done… ??
I take from the bottom. If it’s just for schooling, I would end the braid where it usually falls apart (just braid that section down and secure) and restart a new braid.
Run in a piece of string or wool in an appropriate color as you braid.
For manes that get thick in the middle of the neck, you can try letting the braid hang down off the crest a bit in the thick part. Focus on keeping the braid straight and tidy (rather than letting it get wavy) - the weave of the braid should be tight, but it doesn’t have to be snugged up against the crest. This worked really consistently well for me with friesians.
Couldn’t describe in words how to do the straight and tidy part though - it’s been too long. All in the thumbs sounds about right. Also maybe just being attentive to the direction the braid naturally wants to go. Then it stays secure because you lessen the forces of the neck pulling on it.
I’ve also heard some people split the mane in half (length-wise) and do a running braid on each side.
I’ve only ever thought of running braids as temporary - long enough to showcase a horse while riding, or at a show. (~1 hr or so) I don’t think they naturally stay in as long as regular braids.
I’ve found that you need the opposite of really tight bands, because the tension is what ends up pulling it apart. You need at least 4" of mane, longer is better. Take a string that is almost twice the length of the neck. I prefer to start at the top (the ears) and work my way down because I think that is more natural, but either works. Thread the string through your first braid, leaving a little bit of the other end loose to loop into your next strand (think how you would braid with string normally). Then, small (the width of one finger, so 3/4 inch for most people) bands of hair each new braid… make sure you are braiding “down” as in resting against the neck of the horse, not holding the braids “up” - I leave a little bit of hair loose off of the crest, and I think that makes for a snugger braid when you tighten on the downside of the next loop, vs tightening up against the crest.
That probably makes no sense. Easier watched than typed! :lol:
THIS^^^^^
Most people I know who do running braids, (either 3-strand or 4-strand) will tie up their horse with a hay net so the horse does not put its head down.
I’ve never heard of running a string the length of the braid, but I’ve had really good luck tying small loops of yarn throughout the braid. After I braid it I cut a 3” or so piece of yarn and run it between the braid and the crest. Pull it tight and turn it so the knot is hidden under the braid. I usually do 5 or 6 loops.
I saw a video a while ago that the person was doing a combo of a running braid and a regular braid. It was cool but of course I didn’t bookmark the video. I do my mare’s running braid in sections…usually 2 or 3. It looks fine. Her mane is thin and short at the top, thicker and longer in the middle and really thin but longer than the top at the bottom. The sections seems to manage the different thicknesses better.
Susan
I do that. FIrst paragraph original post… 
I will try that!!! That is just what I was thinking - either that or something like a blanket stitch…
So then you have two or three dangling pigtails? OK for training but not the show arena…
Why not?
I think she was referring to this approach. I am thinking of teaching myself to do it as my 1/2 Arab has a beautiful neck and mane and I don’t really want to pull it. He’s been shown so far in a running braid, but this looks cool too.
My horse has a long, thick mane that gets longer as it approaches his shoulder (and is well past the point of his shoulder in length, nearing his knees, so a whole lot of mane).
Beginning behind his ears, I do a running braid that is not right up against the crest at the start, and gradually gets further away from his crest as it nears his shoulder, so that the hair length between crest and braid widens as the neck widens. In other words, when seen from the side, the braided mane is longer in length near the withers.
I find that not braiding tight to my horse’s crest helps the braid remain in place; think it’s because he can move his neck without putting tension on the braid. I finish the braid near the withers with a braid tail, which I partially roll up (to be closer in length to the nearby mane) and rubber band.
I’ve tried braiding tight to the crest, small and large sections, Quik Braid product, and dividing his mane in two along the crest, etc., without much lasting success.
I do find that the braid seems to stay in better when his hair is not super clean and soft – a little bit of dust/grime seems to give a bit of grip that holds the braid in place better, as compared to his freshly shampooed/conditioned mane that looks gorgeous and feels soft, but is too slippery to hold the braid well.
Good luck!
No judge has ever rung me out for her pig tails. I rubber band the ‘pigtails’ right up to the bottom of the braid. Her mane stays tight and together. I also don’t braid tight to the crest but about 2-3 inches down the neck. It also allows for more stretching of the neck.
I have also braided standing outside the ring before every class. A running braid takes less than 5 minutes…
Susan
Yes, I was considering doing this for shows this year instead of the running braid. I will probably practice at some point and see what I think. This is an option as well, and I don’t think it is terribly difficult.
^ its not, and IMO looks nicer than the running braid.
Thanks for the clarity. Unfortunately I have a trigger finger - middle of left hand. Takes me more than 5 min… have to “unhitch” my finger about every third braid…
Yeah…a trigger finger isn’t going to help. I had an Arab gelding that just had the funkiest mane and no matter what I did back at the trailer or stall, it was popping out by the time I got to the ring. He had rubbed out the middle of it after he was freeze branded and it grew back weird. So, I braided right before I went in the ring.
I like the method in the posted video and will have to try that.
Susan
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