Am I the only one

Shantara

Shantara

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Who can't plait a horses tail?!?! I have bought books, watched countless youtube videos and I still can't do it.
Anyone got anything to help an idiot who can't plait?

Not: I can plait manes fine! Just not tails.
 
Annielusian said:
Good idea! But sadly the only friend on mine that has long hair lives 60+ miles away :(
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Lol... best start finding a few more closer to home :D

In the meantime, you could practice with baling twine or lead ropes. Tie three (or four depending what plait) on a gate/rail an inch apart and practice with that.

It's not going to teach you to grasp correct amounts of hair as you go but you could emulate this by tying more lengths of twine and take up as you go.
 
tallyho! said:
Lol... best start finding a few more closer to home :D

In the meantime, you could practice with baling twine or lead ropes. Tie three (or four depending what plait) on a gate/rail an inch apart and practice with that.

It's not going to teach you to grasp correct amounts of hair as you go but you could emulate this by tying more lengths of twine and take up as you go.
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I can do normal plaits, it's just ones like this I can't do http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj85/jessRAWRRR/manhostail.jpg
 
Get your two strands from the outside edgees at the top of the tail, cross them over, then add another strand & cross over then keep adding a bit of hair to the strands from each side of the tail as you go down, crossing as you go. when it has gone down far enough go to a straight forward plait for 7 inches or so. Fold the plait under making a loop & band or stitch. I was always told it shoud look like a folded hunting whip.
 
Think it depends a lot on the tail you are plaiting, I have been able to make passable plaits on thick tails with long hair at the top, my daughter once won a lead rein class helped by the fact the pony had a beautiful plaited tail-but a friend did it lol.
 
Annielusian said:
Who can't plait a horses tail?!?! I have bought books, watched countless youtube videos and I still can't do it.
Anyone got anything to help an idiot who can't plait?

Not: I can plait manes fine! Just not tails.
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I must admit I have giggled at this post..:)
Poor you...I TOTALLY get how frustrating it is...however...help MAY be at hand..
You may be someone who learns by watching....nothing wrong with that...
May I suggest you get a friend over who CAN plait a tail....ply them with coffee or tea and Jaffa Cakes...and spend the morning having a go.
This friend might actually point out that your beasts hair 'aint long enough at the top.....or is too slippy with tangle free...or something....
Once learned...never forgotten...
Best of luck
Bryndu
 
How easy tails are to make look nice depends a lot on the state of the horses tail and the time of year - when they are changing coat,they tops of their tails tend to go sparse and then its really hard to make the tops look nice. You might find it helpful to take a strand (about a centimetre thick) from each side and stitch them togehter so that you have the middle strand ready as an anchor (stitch rather than band (or both and cut the band away) becuase it doesnt show up ;) ) then take strands from either side like normal. I always think it looks nicer if you start and end with the strands level - I know it doesnt matter one bit really,cos 99% of the people around cant see that much detail - its just me.
If it goes loose at all,start again - its really hard to rescue if it starts to go wrong - Ive been known to restart tails that people have looked at as more than acceptible,just becuase I dont like it !!!

Also - when you get lower (and it starts to get lovely and easy if you have a nice clean tail cos you have nice long hair to hold on to! oh - almost forgot - DO NOT LET ANYONE PUT SHOW SHINE IN A TAIL YOU WANT TO PLAIT - it doesnt work,makes it way too slippy.hang on until you have finished then put it in the bottom (trust me - Ive spent hours trying to do it when other people have got horses ready for me thinking they are helping!) the big thing you need is grip!) take it down at least 3/4 of the dock before you start the normal plait, it looks way neater (im a racing girl, so mine go right to the end of the dock,but I know other horse sports dont take things that low) and secure the loop with either stitches or two bands (its easier and neater to twist the band before you put it on the loop rather than fold the plait this way and that to get it in) - some people like to put a band halfway up the loop so it lays flat, but i like the loop. I only say two bands for security to stop it falling out when you are going along :)

Most of all - its just practice practice practice, and have fun !! start with a clean,well brushed tail and a stool if you need one - if you are higher up its much easier to grip things and pull them tight enough.

I cant do people at all - but I have won over 60 BTOs at racecourses... ;)
 
rockysmum said:
I cant do it either, but why would you want to.

Its not correct for showing anymore, thank god :D
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I like doing things just 'cause I can :P

Ned has a fabulous tail, it's smooth, neat and tidy without me having to pull it (I often trim the bottom though)
Also, I notice quite a few jobs list plaiting as a talent they'd prefer you have.


And thanks everyone who gave me tips :) I'll have a practice on monday! I'll take pictures, even if it goes horribly wrong, haha!
 
:) You'll be grand Annielusian, at MAHOOSIVE risk of sounding immensely patronising, we all had to start once - you wouldnt believe some of the messes I came up with before it all clicked into place, and even now - there are days where I just give up, comb it through really well, fill it with shine and damp it straight at the top....

theres little nicer IMO than a well plaited horse - if they are the shape to show it off properly of course !!
 
I am hopeless. I have one thumb that is shorter than the other (FREAK, I hear you shout :p), and it just doesn't do, also, I have poor circulation to my hands, so my dexterity is just not there! I can't do mains (manes haha, idiot) either! I know how to do both, but they just come out terribly! I'm sure if I spent time on it, and HAD to do it, I'd force myself, and it would take ages, but I just CBA. I'd rather get my genius of a friend to do it, she can do it in record time.

Luckily it's really unfashionable to do it now :p and unnecessary.
 
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I can do them .. Just not very good at them. At Ethels first (and only) show we got very good marks for her tail plait and a comment saying, 'very neat tail plait' .. A friend had done it :p
 
I'm ok with manes, but I rock at tails! :D Often get roped in to do them for others... :D Having had long hair most of my life helps, and having a pony with a massive tail helps, too! :D
 
Erm, I'd suggest practising on a very patient horse that doesn't mind being groomed - you've said before you cant get anywhere near Neds back legs so standing almost being him fiddling with his tail would make the chances of getting booted in the face very high!! :D

I practised on my own hair for a while and got to grips with the whole process of adding bits in generally - didn't matter what it looked like then as I couldn't see it! I'm still not very good at tails though, and don't think I ever will be!
 
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