Learning to plait....

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_Acolyte_

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Anyone got any tips? I assume it is easier to learn from someone than from a book or similar... the principle seems easy enough, divide the mane, plait it, then roll up the plaits but I always seem to have too many fingers and not enough mane
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Or do I carry on paying someone else to plait my horse as I have done for the past six or seven years?
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Nooooo that is not what you are supposed to say, you are supposed to assure me that it is easy to plait really
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I am competing every week now so I thought I had better make the effort to learn
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I'd always rather do it myself...i'm a bit fussy about my plaits and end up redoing most of them if someone does it for me...couple of tips:

- Make sure the mane is right before you start - not too short or long and not too thick. I always find it hard to plait a newly pulled mane so always pull mane two weeks before i'm going to need to plait.

- Cut a plastic comb to the right size for your horses plaits, that way when you divide them up they're all the same size and have nice neat lines between them.

-Make sure the mane is quite damp - helps stick all the little 'fly away' hairs into the plait.

-Plait tightly, i find the tighter the plait the neater it is.

-Sew the plait up in folds rather than roll up in one go - tends to stay in neater for longer.

-Get a big blunt needle rather then the titchy ones that come with the cotton - doesn't hurt your fingers so much.

- and practise, practise, practise, i'm afraid!!!
 
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- and practise, practise, practise, i'm afraid!!!

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Oh, I hoped it would just magically come to me overnight
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Seriously though Inchy thanks VERY much, I shall print off your tips and take them to the stables! There was a girl who used to plait for me who was fantastic, she sewed them in and they were just brilliant, so I doubt I can do as well as her.... but I suppose the more I do the easier it will be
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Loads of practice - I can do both of mine without seperating the mane first - I know how big each one should be to get 7.

Recently pulled or not - I can't tell the difference!? But washed.....now thats differnt. Always wash the mane in washing up liquid - takes out the grease but doesn't leave it too slippery to get hold of.

Tight, tight, tight is the key really I think.
 
I am in the same position as you, the person who plaited for me in return for rides has left yard. I am having to consider learning to plait!
 
if you want a step by step to help for the first time....

1. brush through mane, measure into sections with comb and band each section out of the way. Thread needle with plenty of thread and tie small not around the head of the needle so doesnt come undone.

2. Take first section, damp down, plait really tightly down.

3. At the end of the plait fold the last 1cm over and wrap the thread round and round the end a few times then stab through the end with the needle

4. Put needle through the middle of the base of the plait as case to teh neck as possible, draw end of plait up to fold in half.

5. Take needle round alternate sides each time you fold up plait.

6. keep folding plait under and sewing through untill all plait is folded up into a ball.

7. sew round the plait and both sides a couple of times to secure. then cut thread near to plait.

8. finish off with hair spray/gel to hold everything in place.

...Don't know if you'll find that helpful or not but thats how i've always plaited. Everyone varies and has their own little way of doing things.
 
The tips here are good but practice is the only way really, you will get better and fussier each time
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I also fold mine normally but you will develop a method that works well for you
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These tips are fab
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Sorry to hijack a bit acolyte, has anyone any tips on how to keep a wriggly foal still while plaiting?! :P
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Sedalin
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I always find a haynet or plugging them into a tub of horslyx works well
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