Does it REALLY matter?

S_N

S_N

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Unless you show/compete a breed of horse that has to be in natural condition, does it REALLY matter which side of the neck the mane lies on? I mean we all know that the 'correct' side is the right - as in ye olden days when horses were brought to the Lord's door for inpsection before mounting, it was the left side that was presented, as that was the side he would mount from due to wearing a sword belt, allowing the horses neck to be clearly viewed.

Personally I couldn't give a hoot which side of the neck my horses manes lie - if they go to parties they are plated up - on the right - so what's the big deal?
 
Badgers is on the wrong side and when he's plaited they are on the wrong side too! I guess it's just an old tradition thing really isn't it.. but can't really see why it would matter at all! I don't care anyway!
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I rarely have time to even realise what side its on! Too busy faffing around feeding/riding/rushing before or after work! I dont suppose anyone else really cares so I dont
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Well, I have been training my horse's manes over on the right for years, but last year I was at Olympia and it was about 50:50 for left or right side!

So I am happily abandoning convention and now it is on the left! If it's good enough for the top riders, who am I to argue...?
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I've had people mention G's mane falling on the wrong side like its some kind of neglect!

The hairs are fine so it'll 'bend' but the actual mane is a decent thickness so I can brush it over, and I tend to plait it to the 'correct' side. It just lies naturally and more neatly to the left.

I don't see why not for natural breeds, unless you're doing very orthodox showing where they'd dock marks for something silly like that.
 
Of course not, why should it? Not all judges mind either, I have seen many in the show ring win with the mane on the 'wrong' side.
 
No, it doesn't matter at all. I was told this by someone who had qualified a pony for Olympia whose mane lay on the wrong side. It's been a source of comfort to me ever since as I also have one with a "deviant" mane - which has not stopped him in the slightest from doing well in the show ring. His best achievement to date was 1st, 2nd, 3rd in ridden classes at last year's breed show.

There are better things to spend your time on rather than making a mane lie on the side it doesn't want to!
 
No not at all. My tb had had a skin graft as a foal and her mane lay on the "wrong" side too. It was also au naturale as it couldn't be pulled and I couldn't be bothered with a solocomb - the odd trim with thinning scissors seemed to do the job. She wouldn't have won any prizes but who cares!
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No, it doesn't matter at all - and I never force over to plait either.

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I used to do that, but not anymore!
 
Doesnt bother me at all. Id rather the mane lie nicely and tidely on the wrong side than look a mess on the right side.

The mane often lies on the side of the horses naturally strongest working rein also btw
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Been told this by a few classical trainers over the years and while i judged it as more an old wives tale, it seems to be correct. Bit like an indication of whether they're left or right handed ;p
 
Generally it doesn't matter in the slightest!
Although we have to have the yearlings manes on the off side when we take them to the sales, so spend forever training them over.
But recently heard that pushing the mane onto the correct side at birth can help. So this year i've tried it as soon as they pop out. It'll be interesting to see if it works!
Anyone else heard of this?
 
Somebody came to see a horse I was selling and the first thing she said was "Oh, his mane's on the wrong side". Well, I thought if that's the only thing she can find wrong, I'm doing well.
Mine lies half and half but it doesn't bother me.
 
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