Plaiting for eventing

[Ample Prosecco]

I never plaited for my first season on Amber because I couldn't plait for toffee. It was never commented on by anyone or marked down for dressage. I then learned to plait as I wanted to look smarter. But Lottie HATES it. She has incredibly sensitive skin - hates being groomed, stroked, massaged. Hated Masterson. And is head shy. So plaiting is just traumatic, and tidying her mane so I can plait even worse! Even with a rake. (I would absolutely never try and pull it. She'd go into orbit). I can insist that she tolerates it - and she will. But I can tell how uncomfortable she is. Plus when my daughters have their hair in tight plaits it gives them a headache. Why would horses be different?

I tried to plait for Norton Disney but she got so upset that I gave up and went au naturel. Again no-one seemed to care at 90 anymore than they did at 80. I have read the rule book and it is not in there. So why sdoes everyone plait? Can I just not bother anymore to save us both a load of trauma!

x

 

[Chippers1]

I read somewhere recently (although I couldn't tell you where at the moment!) that a horse that had been autopsied had bruising along its neck that correlated with where plaits would be. So it's entirely possible that like your daughters, having plaits could cause more pain than we realise!
I very rarely plait, Buzz is similar to Lottie and doesn't really tolerate it but if I need to I do a loose-ish running plait instead. Being native though it's very very rare!

 

[Ample Prosecco]

I read somewhere recently (although I couldn't tell you where at the moment!) that a horse that had been autopsied had bruising along its neck that correlated with where plaits would be. So it's entirely possible that like your daughters, having plaits could cause more pain than we realise!
I very rarely plait, Buzz is similar to Lottie and doesn't really tolerate it but if I need to I do a loose-ish running plait instead. Being native though it's very very rare!

That's interesting. I really would like to see the tradition of plaiting ended. I am certain it is at least uncomfortable. But may even cause pain to some. Hopefully it will go the way of whisker trimming!

 

[Squeak]

I read somewhere recently (although I couldn't tell you where at the moment!) that a horse that had been autopsied had bruising along its neck that correlated with where plaits would be. So it's entirely possible that like your daughters, having plaits could cause more pain than we realise!
I very rarely plait, Buzz is similar to Lottie and doesn't really tolerate it but if I need to I do a loose-ish running plait instead. Being native though it's very very rare!

I think it was @Elf On A Shelf who mentioned about the bruising on a neck from being plaited.

As someone who hates the faff of plaiting, I'd be happy to see it go. I can see that in some ways it does look smarter but I also think a horse with a tidy mane and tail also looks smart.

In your position AE I wouldn't plait. If someone challenges you on it and it makes you lose marks or something then I'd maybe rethink but until then I wouldn't bother.

 

[TheMule]

I wont leave plaits in overnight and they come out as soon as I've got time (usually after dressage), but there's not need to plait tight to the horse's neck- the modern fashionable big dressage plaits are very loose at the neck, just the length of the plait is tight.
I do like to plait for eventing as I think it is smart and I need every single mark I can get!

 

[RachelFerd]

I really don't like plaiting. I'm too chicken not to do it for the dressage, but I never jump with plaits in and whisk them out asap after I've done my dressage test.

 

[Red-1]

I too hate plaiting, although my horses have all been OK about it. It really spoils my morning. I put them in always on the day and remove asap after dressage.

I stopped plaiting for BD, except at RF, and no one ever commented. I was advised that BE was different, but now I have read that you have done it and no comment was made, if I do take BH, he will be au natural.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

I also think Lottie has had her mane pulled in a way that has freaked her out in the past. She just really struggles to tolerate her mane being touched. Even from her back I struggle to put hand on her mane to piuck out straw or whatever. So preparing the mane for plaiting is as bad as plaiting itself. And loose plaits not much better than tight ones.

I will ride Stafford unplaited and see if it gets remarked on.... I'lltry and see myself as pioneer not as a scruff! I did think about sedating her and then getting her mane really smart just once, then keeping on top of it all year. So at least it's not a thick unkempt unplaited mane. But a sleek, smooth, short one.

 

[Chippers1]

I think it was @Elf On A Shelf who mentioned about the bruising on a neck from being plaited.

As someone who hates the faff of plaiting, I'd be happy to see it go. I can see that in some ways it does look smarter but I also think a horse with a tidy mane and tail also looks smart.

In your position AE I wouldn't plait. If someone challenges you on it and it makes you lose marks or something then I'd maybe rethink but until then I wouldn't bother.

Ah! Yes I think you're right

 

[Ample Prosecco]

When I say headshy I really mean mane shy tbh. She is fine to have her head rubbed, with poll pressure, to have her ears trimmed and handled. Its the mane - especially near the poll. But actually everywhere really. Traumatised by over-enthusiastic pulling I think.

 

[tda]

So glad I have natives, no plaiting required. I'm really surprised by the bruising thing, but shouldn't be, I always got headache after wearing a high ponytail

 

[Michen]

Can you just scissor it? Since moving and loosing my amazing freelancer I just scissor bogs mane now. Can’t be arsed thinning and pulling it. It’ll be fun trying to plait it this weekend though!

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I think that's why dressage plaits are now huge and loose, to stop the bruising. I no longer plait but my boys mane is tidy. I went to an eventing camp once and we had a demo on plaiting. She wanted 30 plaits in the mane and they were tiny and tight. I thought at the time, poor bloomin horse.

 

[stangs]

I've dressage written at BE80/90 and BD Prelim, and none of the judges cared whether a horse was plaited or not. I've never been asked to make a note of it on the test sheet, and I don't recall any noticeable difference between plaited and unplanned horses' scores (admittedly most of the eventing lot are plaited so it's not a great sample).

You could not pay me to do tiny rosebud plaits these days, especially not on a horse who's not going to stay still for it, and especially if they're not standing still because they find it uncomfortable. I hate pulling manes, and I'm awful at trimming them. Let them grow out long and then do a running plait if you must imo.

 

[LEC]

You don’t have to plait but it does assist with a myriad of visual tricks which is of course why it’s done for showing and dressage. Mind you bad plaits look even worse.
My plaits are never done particularly tightly and I am quick at doing it so normally done in the morning.
It won’t affect your scores for dressage particularly it will just be over the first impression thing like if someone turned up wearing jeans for an interview and maybe you could run an experiment for us with plaiting and not plaiting!

 

[splashgirl45]

I’ve written for lots of dressage judges and as long as you are both clean and tidy it’s never been mentioned about plaits. Sometimes they might put a comment if a horse and rider are very well turned out but I’ve never had a judge mention if they are scruffy.. many years ago I did a dressage test in a hot day and forgot to do my jacket up, the judge mentioned that!!! When I watched the video , It did look scruffy I must admit, I never did that again

 

[doodle]

My horse must be the exception. He loves getting his mane plaited. I don’t need to tie him up and he stands with his happy face on while munching his hay. Once I am finished he gets very excited that we are leaving to go to a party. We either have to go or put his hood on so he knows it is time for bed and we go tomorrow. He will also let me pull his mane loose.

 

[JGC]

I'd love it if someone had a link to the autopsy report - there's one horse at the stables who really, really hates plaiting, but YO is very traditional, but I think if I could pass that on I think she'd soon change her mind. I'd love to help them out with that.

I do a running plait on the horse on my avatar and plait with thread on the other as I think it pulls less. I use scissors now for shortening, hate pulling and they both react to it.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

You don’t have to plait but it does assist with a myriad of visual tricks which is of course why it’s done for showing and dressage. Mind you bad plaits look even worse.
My plaits are never done particularly tightly and I am quick at doing it so normally done in the morning.
It won’t affect your scores for dressage particularly it will just be over the first impression thing like if someone turned up wearing jeans for an interview and maybe you could run an experiment for us with plaiting and not plaiting!

I definitely don't have the skill for strategic plaiting. I'm glad I posted - I am feeling much more comfortable about not bothering now! I will just make sure we are neat and shiny-clean.

 

[humblepie]

I definitely don't have the skill for strategic plaiting. I'm glad I posted - I am feeling much more comfortable about not bothering now! I will just make sure we are neat and shiny-clean.

Go for some stunning quarter markers so they look at that end first. I stopped plaiting for pure dressage as whilst I love turning horses out for the show ring, it really wasn't going to make any difference to my dressage scores.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I worked for quite a few showing people and hated the ones that had plaited horses, I loved the job with the show cobs no plaits but clipping instead.

My Arab's are the easiest just wash brush spray and go so easy to show

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

If you don't need to plait don't. It's only aesthetics.

We don't plait all of the racehorses. Some don't like being plaited at all. Some get their manes done but not tails Some get the full works and the quarter markers to go with it.

 

[millitiger]

I evented my old mare without plaits and she was always top 3 after dressage dressage so didn't make a difference.
Just a nice, very tidy and clean, loose mane.

I never plait the night before and always take them out before xc (or before sj if enough time).
Also never plait tight.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

If you don't have to, and the horse hates it, then don't.

My last horse seemed to find it relaxing or boring, I'm not sure. He just dozed off. Being a Spanish horse with a long mane (aside from the one time I trimmed it short like a fool!) he spent a lot of his life having his hair done. I did my plaits looser at the top, and moisturized his roots/skin at the base of the hair. I think if they've had a traumatic experience and/or are sensitive, it's much harder and you've just got to choose your battles.

 

[myheartinahoofbeat]

I really don't like plaiting. I'm too chicken not to do it for the dressage, but I never jump with plaits in and whisk them out asap after I've done my dressage test.

I'm the same as you. I need to be braver and just not bother! I practically start to undoing them as I'm leaving the dressage arena on a long rein.

 

[myheartinahoofbeat]

I've dressage written at BE80/90 and BD Prelim, and none of the judges cared whether a horse was plaited or not. I've never been asked to make a note of it on the test sheet, and I don't recall any noticeable difference between plaited and unplanned horses' scores (admittedly most of the eventing lot are plaited so it's not a great sample).

You could not pay me to do tiny rosebud plaits these days, especially not on a horse who's not going to stay still for it, and especially if they're not standing still because they find it uncomfortable. I hate pulling manes, and I'm awful at trimming them. Let them grow out long and then do a running plait if you must imo.

Thats really interesting to read. I have done some dressage writing ages ago and you're right, I don't remember the judge making any comments either way! My horse has a really short tail and I think thats more off putting for judges than whether he's plaited or not!

 

[quizzie]

I've given up plaiting for day to day BD. I have various auto-immune issues which make it more difficult, so am reserving my efforts for Regionals/Areas.

No comments so far ! BE : I only used to for the bigger events.

 

[daffy44]

I do usually plait for BD, and I always used to when I did BE, but it only takes me 10/15mins max to plait, and its the last thing I do before I load, and I ping the plaits out as I'm walking the horse off post test. But when I take youngsters out for their first shows I try to keep everything as low key as possible and I dont plait them, and I've never had a negative comment about their lack of plaits, but I do present a tidy, well behaved mane.

I've also written for a few dressage judges and I've never heard them make any comment, even privately, about an unplaited horse, so if it really upsts your horse then dont bother.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Hurray no more plaiting! I expected a more horrified reaction

 

[RachelFerd]

I think my concern is that, although dressage judges will never comment on it on sheets, or even to writers, its hard to say if it does/doesn't create some bias within the judging.

Mind you, I've just seen a Piggy March video where she says she couldn't see/feel any difference between 2 intermediate tests she did on the same horse - one got a 30 and the other got a 14 - so maybe it's all just a roll of the dice anyway!!