Anyone do dressage with natives?

[superpony]

Do you plait?

I have a welsh x something (we think mostly welsh d with abit of arab). I've done unaffliated dressage with him for the last 5 years or so. And I would like to step up to affliated this year. I've always pulled his mane and clipped his feathers off, however after having the autumn/part of winter off he is currently looking very fluffy and hairy! He hates his mane being pulled, has the thickest mane and tail you have ever seen and is a pain to plait as his mane has a mind of its own and hes so impatient and can't stand still for longer than a minute!!

So i was wondering what everyone else does? Do you leave natural? Or do you do a spanish plait? Or persevere with plaiting?

 

[Minxie]

Yes my friend competes at elementary with my mare. Big beast of an Irish cob with super thick mane and a shocking attitude to 'pulling'.

Mate does a running plait and it looks fantastic. In fairness she is fantastic at plaiting in general but does a super good job of the running one.

I don't know if I've a photo of her done up but here is a link to another site

http://www.raspberryridge.com/runningbraid.jpg

 

[sazzle44]

I used to do a lot with my Welsh A (not affilliated though) and he had a very long, flowy mane. He always had it in a running plait which looked really smart This was mostly so I could easily grab my kneckstrap when he bronced! but that's not the point...lol

 

[miss_c]

I do dressage with Genie (well... I am dragged kicking and screaming to dressage with Genie) and I don't plait her unless my trainer does it! She's Welsh D.

 

[PippiPony]

I have seen a lovely Dales with full mane not plaited doing aff dressage

 

[trendybraincell]

There is no rule in BD stating they have to be plaited, just make sure you are tidy & smart after all you're being judged on performing set movements, not general appearance.

Don't lie miss_c...you love every minute of it!!!!!!

But I do plait my Welsh D, his mane is thinned & pulled to a showing length

 

[PaddyMonty]

My OH competes her welsh D mare aff dressage (adv.med) and always plaits.
Occasionally my daughter will take mare to unaff dressage and perhaps wont get plaits, depends how late OH and daughter are running.

 

[Sanolly]

There is no rule in BD stating they have to be plaited, just make sure you are tidy & smart after all you're being judged on performing set movements, not general appearance.

Don't lie miss_c...you love every minute of it!!!!!!

But I do plait my Welsh D, his mane is thinned & pulled to a showing length

Whilst you are not required t plait on natives I generally do because it shows off their neck better. When I do dressage with Sandy she will have a running plait, Olly has had his mane pulled s will have "normal" plaits

 

[ester]

I plait for affiliated and RC champs stuff.

when his mane was long and not pulled I did running plaits but they never lasted throughout the day too well, particularly after a long rein walk.