Do you always plait for dressage

I plait, but only because I feel more in a 'dressagey' mood if the horse is plaited. I don't know why I do though as my boy isn't the easiest to plait, as have to dodge teeth.

With four I don't think I would plait, just make sure all is neat and tidy. Or if they had long manes then a nice arab plait only takes a minute :)

Eight tests....Blimey I struggle remembering one.
 
ihatework said:
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!
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What she said!! /\ /\ /\ :D
 
What a shame hardly any of you would plait. Feels like standards are slipping. I think people look much smarter plaitted. Why not hog if you can't be bothered? Personally I'd always plait, but use bands for eventing and dressage as there are no marks for it (thread for showing!).
 
Honey08 said:
What a shame hardly any of you would plait. Feels like standards are slipping. I think people look much smarter plaitted. Why not hog if you can't be bothered? Personally I'd always plait, but use bands for eventing and dressage as there are no marks for it (thread for showing!).
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I'm a big advocate of always plaiting. But for a 5 minute test, when the horse has an immaculate mane (honestly, my sister obsesses over it, and his tail!) it's not feasible. FWIW, I always plaited my old horse for almost any outing, as he sported a pit pony mane that went into mohican-afro style when it was pulled short. Standards aren't slipping, just how they're being met are changing!
 
Id love to plait for dressage but my horse doesnt stop head shaking if i do, even if the plaits are really loose!!! So plain mane it is!!
 
Black_Horse said:
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 :)
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10 MINUTES???!!! You must be joking!! If not we need some videographical evidence to prove this phenomenon!!! ;-)

OP, go au naturel, unless you have a willing groom to help! It's not the end of the world!
 
I judge and never mark anyone down for not plaiting as it's not about that.
On saying that I will put a PS after my signature and tell a competitor that I appreciate their turnout if their horse is very well turned out. That includes those lovely running plaits, or if someone has a very hairy native who is all brushed out nicely.
I give up my free time to judge and it is appreciated if people make effort. I manage to muck out all my horses, change their rugs and flick the straw or shavings out their tails and be at a venue to judge first thing.
I always plait when I compete..but must admit have never taken 4 to a comp.
I hope your doubling on test's and don't have 8 different ones to learn.

Good luck, plaited or not xx
 
I plaited mine three times for his unaff dressage debut on Tuesday! He has a long-ish spanish mane so did a running plait, looked awesome, as I walked him round he shook himself so hard that it all started pulling out, so went back to lorry and re-plaited. Did first test, came back, shook himself again, so i replaited again! Thankfully running plaits only take me 5 mins, they just don't withstand rough treatment!

With 4, as long as they were tidy, I wouldn't get stressed over not plaiting. but with 1 or 2 horses I think it's respectful to make the effort.
 
If "standards are slipping" perhaps it is a reflection on our busy lives. Keeping horses and competing is supposed to be for pleasure.
 
dollycorn said:
I too can plait in 10 mins (with bands ) used to work on a hunting yard ,horses usually had to be on lorry by 9am.
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I used to be able to as well when I worked on hunting yards. Takes me about twenty now! If the manes are short and thin when pulled it doesn't take long.

I still don't agree that a neatly pulled horse looks as smart as a plaitted one.

I've watched a few BS shows this year, and the flapping pony tailed riders and flapping manes, plus blouson jackets made it look quite scruffy. I love watching dressage and eventing as they look so elegant in the dressage. I know the plaits don't contribute to the test, but neither does a jacket and stock - will that be the next thing to slide!
 
To add futher to my earlier comment, I recently received an email from a judge (who is my pal's Mum, hence her being able to contact me after the event, she wasn't a stalker judge! ;) She also said to feel free to share her comment) who said about our test;

When you came into the arena yesterday you came in looking as if you were a real combination, both you and Heidi were immaculate , you rode round the outside preparing - ALL these things although NOT being judged makes the judge sit up and say 'oh this looks nice'.

I am NEVER a judge who writes off a competitor and always judge what I see - even if lots of the test goes wrong if there is ANYTHING worthy I will awards good marks. However, it is very heartening when I make the effort to get up on a Sunday really early to sit and judge numerous tests to see competitors have prepared, horse, themselves and learnt the test.

I can forgive a badly prepared horse as we all have bad days but I do think that if you can at least be clean and have learnt the test that's the competitor’s part of the bargain - or explain to the judge why this has not happened.

It was a real pleasure to judge you yesterday and I can assure you that you really earned every good mark given. It was a LOVELY surprise for me as it is not easy judging daughter’s friends as, if anything, you tend to be more critical so you are not deemed to be biased.
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So straight from a judge's mouth- although turnout does not affect marks (as it shouldn't) it does give an overall better impression and it is appreciated. Ok, as others have said not all judges will agree or think the same way, but I am sure plenty will and I'd rather put the effort in and please some of them who do care. :)

But also, as I said before, I have one horse, not four!!! I would maybe do 2 the night before and 2 on the day and try rope a friend in to help if I could to make it more bearable? :) (but this is irrelevant as I can barely remember and survive riding 2 prelim tests, never mind ride 8 tests in one day! :eek: )
 
ldlp111 said:
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 ;)
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From just looking at this picture it seems like you are making it hard for yourself.

Your mane could do with being shorter and thinner. Also you are not plaiting tight enough - hence why you are getting the "spread" look:D You need to put your thumb on top when starting and hold tight.

Don't put any conditioner on the mane and wet both the mane and your hands

Do you have someone that could teach you instead of just doing it - as its one of those things that you really need to practice, mine used to be not much better.

Also make sure you are sewing the plaits not banding as rubber plaiting bands are the work of the devil:D
 
This is her mane shorter than it was, and it's also really thick (well in the middle!) and she hates me pulling it (tries to bite me!). I also hadn't plaited in a couple years, add to being in a rush due to light trip going :rolleyes: resulted in that :p some of them were sewn it but it was taking me even longer and managed to stab myself with needle a couple times so gave up and resorted to bands, omg so much quicker ;)

Someone also said that plaiting opposite way makes plaits look better ie instead of plaiting section going over it goes under, no idea if it works. Think i'll stick to a running plait next time :)
 
ldlp111 said:
This is her mane shorter than it was, and it's also really thick (well in the middle!) and she hates me pulling it (tries to bite me!).
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Thinning scissors!!! I have never pulled H's mane, although I'm pretty sure she wouldn't mind as she doesn't mind me pulling out the white hairs to keep her youthful looks! :p I run through the sections of her mane that are too bulky with thinning scissors and will use them to take length off too (since they give an uneven finish, not blocky like normal scissors).
 
I have got a solo comb which I used to thin it abit, but it's abit awkward as her mane lies on the wrong side (and no amount of plaiting it when she was younger helped!).
Plus I don't really plait that often and prefer it long for summer because of the flies. :)
 
H'mm, thinning scissors, a new weapon in the war against unruly manes. How do you use them? Do you have to attack the 'underneath' layer of the mane or just snip at it?

Up until now, I've been using a razor-comb, which I find easier on the hands than a solo comb, but thinning scissors sound even better.

I have let Trev's mane 'go Native' since I sold the lorry as I've got disheartened that I won't be going anywhere til spring. It's quite long now, but the longer it gets, the less I can be bothered to deal with it. :-0

(In answer to the original question, I *always* plait, even tho Trev is virtually impossible to plait as the longest he can stand still for is 0.00000001 seconds. It involves a lot of getting stabbed with plaiting needles & knocked off the mounting block. I am very tempted to try the easi-plait things.)
 
I personally plait for BE and RC teams, however I don't see that having a tidy mane that is clean, short and neat is a problem. I don't see why hogging would be preferable to a tidy mane either? ?

Up until this year my horses lived out, and nowhere to bath them for a show. My hoss was plaited for bigger comps but never for RC local shows. I did my best to get him looking smart but in the dark with a head torch can be difficult. So I guess it also depends on your situation.

I can plait in around 20mins with thread or bands, so I think if I go anywhere this winter I may plait (as have building to keep dry in) but if not, my horse will be clean and tidy so I would hope that the judge would still see that I have made an effort :)

For shortening manes I use a stripping knife (blue handled coarse one) which is fabulous for shortening a mane, I know of several people who have seen me using it and have bought one - I have never had a horse object to it :D http://www.groomers-online.com/product.php/1299/mikki-stripping-knife---coarse
 
Yes it is nice to see a horse smartly turned out...but even better if it goes well.

Judges now have to check to see if you have the right hat, a number, no boots, no whip at some and by then the test has started as organizers only allocate 7 mins per horse and they still have to write up the last horse when the next horse is in.

Does a smart mane improve the way of going, no.

Does turn out influence the marks in a positive way, no.

Could a messy horse with fabulous paces still come in a WOW the judge...of course.
 
I've only not plaited once...and hated it. Felt almost naked to be at a competition with no plaits.

So yes I now always plait...and will always plait.
 
charlie76 said:
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
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I have arthritis in my hands and have done since I was 17. The last time I plaited a mane (one horse!) I cried from the pain. My farrier laughed when I admitted this, I think he thought that I was joking, but it's completely true :o
 
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