PLAITING FOR DRESSAGE

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Piglet

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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
 
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
Gamebird said:
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.
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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 😉
 
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.
 
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!
 
Tiddlypom said:
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!
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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 😂
 
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