Plaiting for unaffiliated dressage- Do I need to?

S

SAL66

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 June 2007
Messages
814
Visit site
I am going to my first test at Eland Lodge- gulp
shocked.gif
, do I need to plait?, his mane lies to the wrong side and I guess to plait on the wrong side is a big no no, so will I lose marks by not doing so, and how do I get to lay the mane on the right side nicely?

grin.gif
 
No you won't lose marks. It's correct etiquette to plait but I don't always for dressage (unaffil). I can't ATM because my mare has rubbed off nearly half of her mane, so there's not a lot of point! I know people who don't do it for affil, but it is correct to.

Have to admit the only thing I ever plait for is hunting!
 
I would plait...shows respect for the judges and looks much better imo.doesn't really matter which side but I've always plaited to the right side no matter if it lay on the wrong side and it looks fine!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I would plait...shows respect for the judges and looks much better imo.doesn't really matter which side but I've always plaited to the right side no matter if it lay on the wrong side and it looks fine!

[/ QUOTE ]
Just as long as the judge does not get out of her car and say (in a Marlon Brando voice) "You show me no respect."
wink.gif
 
Mmmm I wonder if I can get him to rub his mane before the test then decision sorted.

Seriously I'll have a practice and see what it looks like, cr$p most probably, I just don't want to get myself worked up before I get there worrying about plaits.
 
I only plait if I have time, or want to get in some practice.
I never get many marks, but I think that's because I'm rubbish at dressage, not because I haven't plaited. If you do a nice test I wouldn't have thought you should be marked down.

I don't think judges see it as disrespectful not to plait at unaffiliated level. I think they are probably much more concerned with people being on time, acknowledging them with a smile when they finish and being polite to the other helpers. At the end of the day I'm sure judges appreciate we all lead busy lives (as indeed do they) and their priority would be to get people out competing and enjoying themselves.
 
I've always plaited for unaffiliated dressage and for eventing dressage. Except when I ride my Welshie though
smile.gif
Get a native and you dont even have to consider it!!

I plait my non-native purely because we are crap at dressage therefore I dont want to ENCOURAGE the judge to give me bad marks!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top