Is there a solution (can I go showing?)

RubysGold

RubysGold

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Ok, so this is my boy

WP_20131026_008_zps137e1443.jpg


I showed him as a 3.5 year old in hand before I backed him. Didn't enjoy it much but always said I would quite like to have a go at ridden classes one year. He was shown traditional. Full mane and feather:
2012-07-22115643.jpg



Last year as a 4 and 5 year old, I started doing dressage with him, so I pulled his mane so that I can plait it.

Therein lies the problem. I will NOT cut his feathers off, they are my absolute favourite thing about him.

So I have a horse that needs a short mane for dressage, but would need a long mane for showing

Is there a solution Im missing (Without losing the feathers) or will I have to accept that I can't do both, in which case, dressage wins
 
What level dressage are you doing? Could you grow his mane out then do a long running plait down his neck for dressage? Obviously not acceptable for higher level but might be okay for what you do?
 
Oh, I didn't know you could do a running plait for dressage.
We only do Intro and did our first prelim at the last show before winter, so hopefully this year we'll start doing better at prelim :)

Haffiesrock, no, That top pic is one of our more recent pics, around November time, he just has his small clip. He doesn't have much feather but Im rather fond of what he has lol
 
If you are just going to local shows, I would just show him as he is. If the judge mentions it just explain about the dressage and you are trying something new with the showing.
 
You don't need to plait for dressage, especially with native types. Me and my trad compete dressage with full flowing locks.

Sometimes gets in a bit of a tangle in the reins, but you get used to sorting it quick.
 
Hi, can I offer some well-meant advice from the showing perspective in addition to all the good advice people have given regarding dressage? You say that your pony doesn't have masses of feather, and I'd agree with that from looking at the photos. In that case, if I were you, I wouldn't necessarily try to grow the mane back to the length that it is in the photos. Traditionals do have masses of feather, and thick abundant mane, but native types with less feather and thinner manes look much better with the mane about 6 to 8 inches in length, following the curve of the neck muscle and gently tapering at the shoulder. I'd say your pony sits somewhere between the two types so you don't necessarily need to get his mane super-long before you show him. I hope that's helpful.

Great to see Tiger Tim on the front cover of the British Dressage magazine.
 
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