Do you plait for unaff dressage?

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Smith123

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Hi

I haven't competed since affiliated eventing last year - not had time with work etc, taking my horse to his first competition of the year on sat - Unaffiliated dressage - do i need to plait him up? I can't remember the last time i did just plain unaff dressage so can't remember!

Thanks!
 
Yes i would plait. A few people dont but they are usually in the minority. It shows respect for your judge and fellow competitors plus it just makes you look smart.
 
I don't, but my horse is a traditional hairy cob.
With dressage you are marked on your accuracy and your horse's way of going, impulsion, submission, rhythm etc, not whether you have plaited or not!
 
I always plait for unaff dressage.

My instructors always drilled it into us in Canada to look good for ANY show we go to as the judges are only human and sometimes that little bit of extra polish can influence them. If 20 minutes of plaiting will help gives a tiny bit of edge, then it's worth it :D
 
you dont have to but i always do if i have one or two, but if i have a few horses in the same test then depending on time i sometimes leave them un plaited.
 
Never, I'm lucky if I get up in time lol! Seriously though, I reckon my time is better spent working in.
If you're competing at Novice level or above then I would suggest you do, but otherwise in my experience the judge will be perfectly happy provided you're neat and tidy and dressage legal. (If you get there and everyone else is plaited, blame me!)
 
Definately! Its respectful, and it shows off the horse's neck muscles too.. I've never been to a dressage show that had unplaitted competitors - even at unaffiliated levels.
 
I would always plait for any dressage comp - and the places I go to for unaff dr everyone is ALWAYS plaited up, so you would stand out like a sore thumb if you weren't!

I was however considering letting my little chaps mane grow out long so I could go in the natural stylee - but have now decided (after a couple of nights of rain, and subsequent mud searching in the field by said boy...) that I would prefer pulling & having to plait than coping with a long mane!! LOL!!

If you can learn to do it - you can enhance your horses neck shape quite a lot by strategic plaiting :)
 
I always plaited for dressage even the local low level RC events!

I always think horses look scruffy unplaited and usally don't watch their test properly because their mane is distracting me! :o

So plait up you lazy so n so! :p :p
 
I never ever plait for unaffiliated dressage and it doesn't affect my scores - I usually win or if not, then I am always highly placed. When I plait my old boy he goes really tense in his neck and won't bend - it's as if he can feel them and doesn't like them.....
 
I used to plait but my boy got very stressed knowing he was going somewhere so not plaiting kept him calmer for longer. I only did unaff and riding club dressge, never stopped us being in the ribbons.

Jane
 
I would always plait, no matter what level, unless your horse is of a type that shouldn't be plaited. So, I always plaited my thoroughbred for all levels, but now I have a long maned connie I don't!
 
I did a lot of writing for judges at both affiliated and unaffiliated shows. Round here most of the unaffiliated classes are judged by BD listed judges.

I did ask a couple about plaiting and their opinion is that it shows respect for the judge. Whilst it will not actually affect your scores they will get a first impression of you on your initial trot round and if you have taken the trouble to plait they may feel more kindly disposed towards you.

I have always plaited for dressage whatever the level. As long as your horse's mane isn't too long it doesn't take long to plait (you can always plait the night before).
 
It depends on the horse!! I will not plait my welsh D for dressage as he does dabble in showing classes as well - but having a native or traditional cob type is NO excuse for the horse or pony to be presented dirty!! I turn my welsh boy out as though he was going to a show class, white bits are WHITE mane and tail brylcreemed (works better to make everything lay neatly than any equine stuff I know of!!) He does have his mane pulled as much as I can get away with! We get lovely comments on the sheet saying "smart horse" TBH I cannot pull the mane enough to make decent plaits and it would look a total mess anyway!! I also HATE with a passion lattice plaits....and spanish running plaits should stay on spanish horses!! Having said all that when Alfie starts dressage he will be plaited as he is some sort of TB cross native and plaits will look right on him as well as being smart and correct for his type. As long as the horse is neat tidy and clean - rider too I hasten to add, you won't have a problem!! I have NEVER had a judge, steward or fellow competitor say anything derogatory regarding plaiting at dressage - showing, however is full of nastiness, jealousy and backstabbing!!
Here is my boy - taken in feb I think...

DSC_0300-1.jpg
 
There is no actual rule that says you have to plait for dressage.

I will plait if I have time (depends on work), but otherwise I don't worry for most local unaff shows.

If I'm doing RC teams or something then I do plait as I think it looks nicer.

When my Connie was a bit funny about loading I never plaited as if I plaited he wouldn't load!! And if that happended I'd end up dragging the old boy out of the field for an outing and he's be dirty AND unplaited.
 
I have one who i never plaited due to his scrawny neck.:D It had a huge impact on his scores.

All others were always plaited.

But you dont have to plait tbh.
 
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