Piglet
Well-Known Member
Hi guys, do I have to plait for Riding Club Area Dressage, my horse is not a native. Everything will be clean and correct including said horse who has a neatly pulled mane
PLAITING FOR DRESSAGE
- Thread starter Piglet
- Start date
VRIN
Well-Known Member
Its not obligatory but it does set a good impression
Piglet
Well-Known Member
Thank you, I appreciate that it sets a good impression it my fingers struggle a bit in the winter
obviously everything else will be clean and sparkly
94lunagem
Well-Known Member
You don’t have to but I always used to for the reason above, it gives a good first impression. But as long as you are neat and tidy you will be fine
splashgirl45
Lurcher lover
As long as your horse is clean and his mane is tidy you will be fine, good luck and remember it’s supposed to be fun 
millitiger
Well-Known Member
You don't have to.
If you can get the mane lying really neatly and it is all trimmed tidily, I think it can still look smart.
If you can get the mane lying really neatly and it is all trimmed tidily, I think it can still look smart.
myheartinahoofbeat
Well-Known Member
I stopped plaiting my horse for dressage a couple of years ago. As expected, its made no difference to my mark.
claret09
Well-Known Member
no
Squeak
Well-Known Member
You'll be absolutely fine not to especially if it's an issue. I'm pretty sure I went to our BC area qualifier unplaited.
I've massively gone off plaiting since it's potential to cause pain has been discussed and tend to not plait if I can get away with it. I also think it makes a long day even longer for a horse. I'm slightly biased though as I'm always happy not to have to faff with plaits.
I've massively gone off plaiting since it's potential to cause pain has been discussed and tend to not plait if I can get away with it. I also think it makes a long day even longer for a horse. I'm slightly biased though as I'm always happy not to have to faff with plaits.
Gamebird
Well-Known Member
Obviously there is nothing in the rules saying you have to plait, and I don't often for unaff these days, however if you are riding for and representing your RC team it might be worth running it past your team manager. They will probably be totally happy with it, but I do think that representing a team is a slightly different scenario than just being there on behalf of yourself.
ihatework
Well-Known Member
I kind of agree with this (and I’m pro no plaits!). If your RC are iffy about it I’m sure one of them will plait for you if you get there 30 mins early
RachelFerd
Well-Known Member
I've stopped plaiting my more sensitive horse - I think there's a lot of evidence that suggests thay plaiting isn't a good idea for equine welfare. We shouldn't be beholden to tradition just for the sake of it.
Ample Prosecco
Still wittering on
I stopped plaiting Lottie, who hates it. I have competed BE and unaff dressage without. No one has ever commented and it’s made no difference to her marks.
Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
I agree with both plaiting being not great for equine welfare, but also wanting not to upset others at RC for teams.
If plaits are expected, there’s a knack of making the first couple of crossings over of the strands quite loose, then once much tighter once the hairs are no longer pulling tightly on the neck.
I’d just go tidy mane but plaitless, but then I’m an ornery s0d!
If plaits are expected, there’s a knack of making the first couple of crossings over of the strands quite loose, then once much tighter once the hairs are no longer pulling tightly on the neck.
I’d just go tidy mane but plaitless, but then I’m an ornery s0d!
RachelFerd
Well-Known Member
So I have been occasionally plaiting the sensitive one if it's a "big" show by doing the fat dressage plaits and sewing them in - which means there's no tightness against the neck. But it is a bit of a faff so I'm not going to do it every time. Only works with plaiting, can't do it with bands unfortunately. I've never managed to make a looser band plait look anything other than upsetting
DressageCob
Well-Known Member
Hogging is the way forward My hogged dressage horse is so much easier to prepare than my old coloured (mainly white) plaited horse!
My hogged dressage horse is so much easier to prepare than my old coloured (mainly white) plaited horse!
IrishMilo
Well-Known Member
I'm a proper judgemental sod but I hate seeing horses be plaited up for something the day before a show. My god how uncomfortable it must be!
Squeak
Well-Known Member
I used to plait the day before a show all the time but now I hate seeing it too.