Any judges ? Plaiting rules !

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mrussell

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Im after a judges eye opinion of plaiting !

For BE stitching them in isnt an issue but Ive been told that the biggest sin you can commit in a showing class is to use rubber bands.

So is it really such a big issue? If you were pulled in next to a horse of similar calibre, would the fact that one has rubber bands make all the difference ??
 
I believe so! I did a very low-key local in-hand class a month or two ago and the judge was inspecting plaits very closely!
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Thankfully I had stitched all of mine except the forelock.
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If both horses were equal, then yes it could - plaits that are sewed in are correct show turnout.

What I do is to cheat sometimes, I plait and use bands on the ends and then roll and sew so you cannot see the band, though to be honest, sewing all the way is often as quick.
 
I judge a lot and to be hones tht eonly time I really look at plaits is in a take and turnout class. I'd rather see rubber band plaits well done then sewn ones badly done. More important is plaiting to a size and shape that best suits your horse.
 
I wouldn't be able to plait WITH bands!! I simply cannot do it! Sewing all the way for me. They look smarter, stay in for longer and you can adjust 'how' you plait more easily too.
 
I have plaited with both and nobody has ever looked at my plaits close enough to actually tell if they were sewn in or bands.

I have actually shown at county level with my plaits banded and won!
 
showing @ local level & all RC level i plait with bands - i just cant sew. my plaits are good and neatly done so i don't think it makes a huge difference plus you can hardly see the bands as same colour and i do it neatly. if i sew they look naff so i dont bother.
 
Yes sewing if the 'correct way' but it really comes down to how neat your plaits are really, you could have one show pony with untidy sewed in plaits which looks far worse than one with perfect plaits done with rubber bands, as long as their neat, don't look like golf balls, have the right amount and are set correct on the neck, to lengthen the neck, use more and smaller ones, to shorten and thicken a neck, use less and slightly chucker ones laid the other way to put more of a crest on the neck.
Tack and turnout however, a judge will pay particular attention to the plaits, so really you need to sew, otherwise what ever works best and looks best.

Happy stitching....or banding!
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Well i am dire at plaiting and have never even attempted to sew them so i'll be using bands with Blue am not sure which colour to use though? He has white bits of mane and brown bits of mane? Do i need to get 2 lots of bands in white and brown?!
 
Not sure if they still sell them but they used to do light brown ones suitable for flaxen manes or strawberry roans.
 
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