French plaits for competing

[skewbaldmillie]

What are you opinions on people using a French braid for a competition if their horse has a long mane? Does it look tacky if it is tight up to the nevk in your opinion. Debating whether to pull her mane or not.

 

[pennandh]

Personally, I like a neat french/running plait on natives, coloured cobs, Iberians, etc. for non-showing competition, but not on a breed/type that would traditionally be pulled or hogged.

A horse needs quite a sturdy, muscular neck for a french plait to look right - anything with a thin or particularly straight/ewe neck looks utterly ridiculous in one - and if you've got a solid-coloured cob then you might as well hog it because it's far less hassle (french plaits are not the easiest thing to do - schedule plenty of practice before you try one for a proper event).

 

[Enfys]

If I was judging then it would make no difference to my opinion.

No, I don't think it looks tacky at all as long as it is well done, but then I like running braids having had breeds where long manes are desirable.

Whether you pull or not is entirely up to you, and what you like and think suits your horse.

 

[orionstar]

I've done it with every native I've known if competing at dressage, or jumping in winter, it can look just as nice as standard plaits if done well.

 

[spookypony]

French or running plait is a doddle to put in compared to normal plaits, provided there is enough mane. Takes me about 2 minutes even on an impatient pony, and will stay in (mostly) fine through a whole endurance ride, let alone a dressage test. I'm a fan!

 

[Shay]

If you can't get a french plait but have too much mane for traditional plaits you can try dividing the mane in half along the neck and then plait both sides. That looks really nice done neatly.

 

[Tnavas]

If you can't get a french plait but have too much mane for traditional plaits you can try dividing the mane in half along the neck and then plait both sides. That looks really nice done neatly.

I have a friend who does this and is competing Grand Prix dressage - looks great.

 

[skewbaldmillie]

Thank you everyone. I don't know what to do with the forelock though. It is long enough to tuck under her noseband now(she wears a micklem). I can't her the thought of pulling that

 

[milliepops]

I leave my cob's forelock down even if the mane is plaited. It would also go under her noseband

 

[pansymouse]

Thank you everyone. I don't know what to do with the forelock though. It is long enough to tuck under her noseband now(she wears a micklem). I can't her the thought of pulling that

You could gel into a unicorn style horn

 

[pennandh]

Thank you everyone. I don't know what to do with the forelock though. It is long enough to tuck under her noseband now(she wears a micklem). I can't her the thought of pulling that

On H, I normally do an old-fashioned forelock plait (more French plaiting! yay!) with the end pulled all the way through to the top (I usually do this with the aid of a bit of string, but you can get proper pull-throughs that do the same job), which looks very tidy, but a loose forelock looks pretty dramatic as long as it's been carefully detangled; so it's really a matter of personal preference.

 

[alainax]

We do a running plait, and for the forelock just normal plait and under the browband. Either straight down, or off to the side

Here is a longer one

 

[Honey08]

That looks nice Alainax. I'd never have thought of doing that.

I think a good, high running plait looks lovely for dressage or equitation etc. It looks workmanlike and as though you've made an effort. I always used to roll up the end of the running plait into a rolled (regular) plait and do the same with the forelock. If you plait it tightly enough and roll it up well it won't be that big hopefully.