Do you always plait for dressage

charlie76

charlie76

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I am going to dressage on Sunday and I am taking four horses to do 8 tests. The thought of plaiting all of them makes my fingers cringe!
Its unaffliated so do you think its ok to go without plaiting?
Their manes are fairly neat and tidy.
 
I always plait, it isn't much effort. That said, I have never had to plait 4 up! When I have written the judge has never commented on the plaiting (or lack of) so I can't imagine it would be a big problem not too. So long as they are pulled and tidy then it isn't the end of the world. Sure, it would be ideal, but in the ideal world you'd have a minion to plait up for you anyway!
 
Every time I go out unaffiliated I plait, but often wonder why I bother as so many people dont and they are often long and unpulled. If the manes are as I expect yours will be, neat and tidy, you will be fine without plaits.
Sounds like a busy day.
 
I am old school (just plain old for that matter!) and not only do I plait for everything I sew them in! I know it doesn't make any difference to the horses way of going but to me a horse isn't properly turned out unless its plaited.
 
I simply cannot plait worth beans (and the really crap job that I do takes more than an hour which really annoys my horse), so if I don't have someone to do it for me I just lay the mane, make sure it's super tidy looking. I do find that my horse can't see the point in making any effort if he's not plaited however!

I was surprised at the number of unplaited horses at an area qualifier this summer! :eek: Even if it took me all day and I had no one to plait for me, I'd have plaited for at least that!
 
i normally always plait current horse as his mane is wild but if I had a horse with a nice SJer type flat, neat mane then I prob wouldn't bother at unaff esp if taking 4!
 
Always... unless I had absolutely no time to do it (eg a Fri night test after work, where, to be fair, they prob aren't expecting you to anyway).

However, I also only have 1 horse, not 4! ;) I am sure as long as you are clean and smart you won't be the only one not plaited. :)
 
Always plait for dressage ( & daughter only does unaffil) If I can't do it on the day of show I do it night before & after covering in tons of hairspray or mouse I put his neck cover on, they stay tidy enough! I got told its a sign of respect for the judges & so just always do - she only usually does 1 test too.

Good luck btw!! x
 
charlie76 said:
I am going to dressage on Sunday and I am taking four horses to do 8 tests. The thought of plaiting all of them makes my fingers cringe!
Its unaffliated so do you think its ok to go without plaiting?
Their manes are fairly neat and tidy.
Click to expand...

when i worked as a groom we used to take 6 to the shows, mind you this was affiliated BD but we ALWAYS plaited. Only takes me ten minutes to plait a horse mind you :)
 
I can plait quickly but It makes my fingers so sore. I might risk doing two the night before And if They look a mess take them out and go unplaited
 
Yes, we always plait. I believe it's an insult to the judge if you don't.

The judges aren't paid, so to make the effort to present yourself and your pony properly, when they've made the effort to give up their day to judge you is the least you can do in way of appreciation. :)
 
Plait them but don't roll them up, put a neck cover on, then roll in the morning - they should look fine. Alternatively plait and roll and put an old pair of tights over the plaits secured with bands on each plait.
 
This was my last attempt at paliting
Picture030.jpg

it was for a dressage championship, had to get up at 5.30am to plait and sod's law the lights went in the stables so I had to wake OH up (he wasn't impressed) tried doing it on my own but ended up getting stuck up a ladder!(don't ask):o
Was not impressed when I got there and some horses weren't plaited :mad: especially as we came second from last :rolleyes::D not that paliting would of helped us ;)
 
I do think it's impolite to not turn up plaited but lots of people do it so you won't be the only ones if you don't I'm sure!
 
i've written for an awful lot of judges and none have ever mentioned being offended by not plaiting. I even know judges themselves who dont plait. I think as long as you're neat and tidy then not plaiting is not the end of the world. The judge is far more concerned about the quality of the work than a few plaits.
 
I always plait, but if you've got 4 and it's only unaff I doubt they will mind that much. Pull and neaten the manes and you'll be fine.
I've judged before and don't get offended by unplaited horses (as long as they're neatly turned out otherwise). If you really want to plait do as mentioned above, plait into strands the night before and roll up in the morning. But often I find a neat mane can look better than messy plaits!
 
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We were at BD at the weekend and plenty weren't plaited! I always do but only because I fear the wrath of my mother if I don't (even if she does live miles away and is very rarely with me it's like she KNOWS! Even at the grand old age of 30 something closer to 40 than 30, I still have the fear instilled in me!)
 
BD & RC teams I do. Unaffiliated I don't, but horses are always sparkly with pulled and laid manes.

I honestly don't think most judges care two hoots! The quality of the test you present is far more important.

So in answer to your question - 4 horses out at unaff, no way would I plait!
 
Wouldn't bother for unaffiliated and really don't understand the train of thought that plaiting shows respect- how exactly??

Has never seemed to have affected my marks and have never heard/spoken to any judge who is worried about plaiting/not plaiting.

I always plait for BE and BD but thats only because I don't want to be the odd one out!
 
I wouldn't bother especially with that many. I only plait if really necessary, as it takes me ages, and they don't look very good.
 
I don't for most unaff things, especially the league I run, as I simply do not have time to be there for the begining of the day, and plait my boy for the end of the day - he often ends up standing waiting for his turn as it is, whilst I am running around like at blue a****d fly.

Always for BD and area RC things.. I too have written lots, and no judge has ever commented. Last week I won and wasn't plaited, so don't think it makes that much difference.
 
I only plait for big competitions like the nationals. My horse doesnt really like being plaited, he looks lovely without plaits too. Never had a comment about him not being plaited.
 
I always plait but then I am the strange person on the yard who's horses have to be pristine before I put them to bed. :D I just cannot leave them if they are muddy. :o

I would plait the night before and roll up in the morning if you are stuck for time.
 
I always do, but usually lots of people arn't and I wonder why I bothered!

If they are pulled and tidy I wouldn't bother with 4 at unaff TBH...
 
At 'low key' events I don't plait, I would always plait at bigger events, except for my natives they are turned out to breed specs where ever they go!

Believe me having worked on a showing yard where we did plait upto four each before a show and a needle and thread at that (can't use bands to save my life!!) getting natives manes to sparkle can be way harder and I'm so annoyed when people think we just haven't bothered!!!
:D
 
Well, spoke to a list three judge about it. She said that They really don't notice and That they have never plaited For unaff. Not sure I Can go without though! Doesn't feel right!
 
For unaffiliated, rarely. Reg has a very short, neat mane and it takes Al ages to plait him up. He is immaculately turned out, as is she, but without plaits. For BE/ teams/ posher unaff. he is plaited, but I'm usually about for that and it takes me no time at all to put them in and they stay in well overnight.
 
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