Odd or even plaits?

[Equus Leather]

Should the number of plaits in the horses mane be odd or even, including the forelock?

I was taught that you did an odd number taking into account the forelock plait, but a friend disagrees.

I normally just put in the right amount the mane needs and never normally bother counting!

 

[Thistle]

Odd on neck plus one for the forelock.

 

[MandyMoo]

odd on neck, plus one for the forelock i always do

xx

 

[miller]

Odd on neck, forelock making even for showing though for BD I just do as many as happens - I'm sure nobody counts them

 

[camilla4]

I don't think anyone ever counts them either but even so I have always done odd plus forelock!

 

[marmalade76]

I have an old book about showing (published 1961) and in every photo where it is possible to count the plaits, there are 8 or 10 along the neck.

 

[only_me]

I always do 10 plaits on neck and one on forelock to equal 11

Ive always done it even on neck, odd in total

 

[Blue-bear]

odd on neck, even with forelock

 

[MegaBeast]

Isn't seven plus forelock traditional?

How the heck this is possible without having ginormous golfballs I don't quite know!

 

[Divasmum]

Even including the forelock is traditional.

 

[k9h]

It should be odd down the neck with the forelock making it even as when you look at a neck with even plaits you eye splits the neck in the middle. Where as if they are odd you do not get this effect.

Traditionally hunters are 7 or 9 down the neck + the forelock.

 

[OneInAMillion]

i have always been told odd up the neck then even inc. the plait but usually i just plait him up and dont care how many i have!! especially as he usually has 30-40 plaits as he has a bush for a mane!!

 

[Chico Mio]

In 'the olden days' when I was taught to plait, it was 11 or 13 on the neck plus the forelock. So neck odd + forelock = even. Of course, if your pony had a poor mane it looked ridiculous so any combo would do - or hog it!

 

[rlhnlk]

[ QUOTE ]
Isn't seven plus forelock traditional?

How the heck this is possible without having ginormous golfballs I don't quite know!

[/ QUOTE ]

Very thin, fairly long mane and very tight plaits

 

[jumptoit]

I always have 27 plus the forelock for my mare. Always an odd number though whichever horse I'm plaiting.

 

[OldGit]

NFC!!!! He's plaited up for me 'cos I'm a clueless bloke and can only count to 10 with me boots on!!!!

 

[Attila_the_Hungry]

I think it's a trick question, because surely zero is not an odd or even number!

I don't do showing, so until such a time as I'm rich / successful enough to have a groom, my horse's mane will remain un-plaited. (So that'll be some time between hell freezing over and England regaining the Ashes)