Drag hunting a native - plaiting?

[Morgan123]

Sorry if this has been done to death but can't find any answers anywhere. I've got a welsh cob, quite lightly built for a welshie, and at the moment his mane is longish like any normal welsh cob (not ridiculous or below the neck or anything). What should I do, do I need to do one of those little running plaits just at the front to show I'm making an effort? Or just leave it?

Am contemplating pulling it - eek.

And by the by - oh my god drag hunting is amazing!! Can't believe I've wasted twenty eight years of my life not doing it, after first hunt last weekend my horse and I now want to give up everything else and devote our lives to it....:-D

 

[Christmas Magic]

Cant you just plait it normally,even with mane being longer than needed you still can do nice looking plats. Is it long enough to do running plait all the way? I managed to plait mine who been hogged for all this time,only had about 3 cm to work with,quite the opposite of your problem,but with the huge amount of plaiting bands to thicken it up and lots of styling wax it looked ok What im trying to say give it a go with nice tight plaits(as tight as you can if its longer than you need for "standard"size plaits),and sew them in place instead of using plaiting bands.

P.S.He he, i've only discovered joys of drag hunting last year,now cant get enough!

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

If I have a decent mane on a native (like FLF currently has of around 14 - 18inches) then - no - I wouldn't plait it.

On a welsh D, you could thin it & then plait it tho

 

[ConnieLove]

I don't plait my native, but make sure that he has a decent main to present for the season. He's a connemara but I do see some lovely welsh's being pulled and plaited and also presented unplaited when they do have a long main. One lady at our hunt does a superb job doing that sectioning into diamonds that you can do (if that makes sence?) or sometimes a long running plait.

 

[GlamourPuss86]

Diamond thing like this? Did it for a friends wedding, surprisingly easy!

Sorry if its massive, doing it on my phone!

 

[ConnieLove]

Yes like that !

Her irish cobs mane is lovely and thick and just to the bottom of her neck. She does it in smaller diamonds but it looks stunning, especially as she's such a compact little thing.

 

[Morgan123]

Thank you all. I was thinking about doing the diamonds thing. Running plaits always seem to come out no matter how tight you do them especially as my horse has a habit of throwing his head on the floor and waving it around when excited :-s) - sounds like I'll either do diamonds or leave loose - thank you!

 

[JenHunt]

the only thing with leaving it loose is that it can get tangled in your reins... BUT that's only really a problem if you're showing and don't want it thinning at the bottom of his neck!

 

[Flyermc]

Ive got my first beginners hunt on Saturday (really cant wait!!) and was told i needed to plait (also have a welsh with a longish mane) I think they'll be golf balls, but ill give it ago : )