Do i have to plait up?

[MandyMoo]

im 15, and wear a hacking jacket out hunting (as i am a child) but have been told by a few people i MUST not plait up, its wrong for a hacking jacket wearer to plait up their horse...but someone else said that it is up to me...was just wondering what you guys thought (i dont want to turn up plaited and be told its wrong, or unplaited and look really scruffy...) mandy xx ly xx

 

[helenhorse]

its really up to you how you turn yourself out!
aslong as you look tidy!
i always unplate when hunting as none of the horses neck muscles are nesed then!
but i do plate up for the boxing day hunt as i like to look tidy
its really is up to you what you wear, totally!

 

[LizzieJ]

I think people are getting mixed up with the times we all wear ratcatcher for cubbing when you would not plait. I would plait during the main hunting season especially if it is a lawn meet (I am assuming you mean with foxhounds?)

You are correct to wear tweed at your age by the way

 

[MistletoeMegan]

Keep plaiting - as LizzieJ you don't plait when wearing tweed if the reason you're wearing tweed is because it is before or after the full season. As you're wearing tweed because of your age, you are correct to keep plaiting

 

[helenhorse]

Thers no law that states you have to platte, so it is up to you

 

[LizzieJ]

No, there's no law but there is long standing etiquette! Agree that turnout in general has slipped over the years but I always plait for lawn meets as courtesy to the hosts.

 

[helenhorse]

Yes but the point was that she asked if you had to plate at all. Not if you could go unplatted to a lawn meet, which fair enough shouldnt be allowed, except the exception for native breeds.

 

[LizzieJ]

I think it was about whether she should plait or not. Yes you should! Agree about natives

 

[MistletoeMegan]

Yes but the point was that she asked if you had to plate at all. Not if you could go unplatted to a lawn meet, which fair enough shouldnt be allowed, except the exception for native breeds.

I thought the OP was about whether to plait as she's wearing tweed and people had told her she shouldn't plait because she was wearing tweed.

With the exception of natives (or any Iberians, not that you see too many out hunting!!) everyone should plait within the season.

 

[helenhorse]

well sorry, with the exception of special town meets, i always go unplatted but tidy to a meet because their muscles will be free and tension free and we all follow trend except for the huntsmen and bug hunters. Its more cumfy for the horses!
but i enssure you that we all look smart!

so i think we are all agreed that it looks smart to platte but you dont have to, yes????????(i know, except for lawn meet)

 

[MistletoeMegan]

A correctly-plaited horse does not have tight, tense or otherwise hindered muscles. You can plait perfectly fine without causing any problems with neck muscles!

 

[BankEndRescue]

Check with your hunt sec to ask her about the expected etiquette

 

[smellyellie741]

i was taught you have to as it is disrespectful to the master if ur not

 

[xcalicox]

I would say do as you feel fit, and be judged accordingly.
Personally I would plait any horse of mine that was attending any event at any level.

I'm intereted to hear more about how plaiting could affect a horses performance.

Ultimately you answer to your horse and yourself.

 

[soph21]

Its quite confusing LOL!
I tried plaiting my cob x at home once and he looked awful even though he has a nice deep neck, he's more of a welsh D type,I wear tweed or a black showing jacket, which should I be wearing? Im nearly 22!

 

[Jo_x]

I would always plait unless you have a native (or an iberian) or a hogged and trimmed cob, its curteous (sp?)