Plaiting forelocks...and plaiting in general I guess.

[Equus Leather]

Yesterday we took the project horse to BD. We never leave the yard unplaited if we're going to a comp, even unaff...so when we got the the venue I surprised at how many horses where not only unplaited, but covered in stable stains!

Anyway, I nticed those that were plaited hadn't really done their forelocks...one person had plaited the mane and left the forelock completely...I plait the forelock like the tail, from the top in a french plait. However, I noticed lots of people seems to eithe just bunch it up like a ponytail, or plaited like a mane plait.

Am I just very old fashioned?

Also, I did the tail yest...normally OH does it as I get cramp in my fingers. This was taken after she'd travelled and competed, and I know it's wonky, but I thought it looked quite good!

 

[Halfpass]

Very neat plait. Wish I could do them like that.
I always plait for dressage but never plait the forelock as Ollies is pretty much non existant!!!
I don't plait tails as Ollies is pulled but would if my horse had a full tail.
I just think that plaiting and good turnout is good competition etiquet (??SP) and shows the judges that you have a made an effort and not just dragged your horse out if its stable without so much as seeing a brush!!

 

[ann-jen]

When I saw you at UH that was probably the only time I've ever not plaited for dressage and that was only because I was running so late when the lorry wouldn't start.
I do forelocks the same as you (although nowhere near as neatly - your plaits at UH looked very professional!)
I plait the tail 99% of times - except sometimes in the summer Jen rubs the very top so the hair is too short to plait and then I leave it full.
I never plait for SJ - but would consider it if we qualified for a big class I suppose.

 

[ann-jen]

Just wondering if you could give me any tips actually - Jenny's tail plait often "drops" at the top and I find it really hard to keep it tight at the top and not looking like I started the plait an inch or so too far down. Her hair is really coarse and springy and just doesn't like staying in position and its not helped when she rubs it obviously!

 

[Equus Leather]

I know what you mean about starting the tail plait at the top. The one I did yesterday is prob the first one this year I've managed to start right up there. I start by taking my first 3 sections from the middle of the tail and not the side and start there, then bring in side bits. That helps. As does not washing the tail, but it does help that the chestnut in the picture has grown lovely long bits for me to use!

 

[Mbronze]

I tend to plait for everyhting, BD and BE. But I can't plait the forelock properly, i always do it like a mane plait and i want to do it like a tail one but i can't.....!

 

[ann-jen]

Thats a really good tip for starting the plait - thanks

I will give it a try next time out dressaging. Unfortunately its the middle rather than the sides she rubs the worst ....but touch wood.....this year she seems not to be rubbing as badly.

 

[spookypony]

I'm a nerd, and plait for SJ including the tail and forelock. For dressage, I plait the mane, but not the tail. I leave the spooky pony's forelock unplaited though, because he has a long mane, so gets a running plait or a lattice. I tried plaiting the forelock on him, but he just looks better with it natural.

 

[ester]

Oh i miss plaiting tails , maybe shall make the welshi go with a plaited tail but I think it might be too chunky.

I always found with the top of the tail what can help is when you get you 3 starting strands as near the top as you can I twist each strand round which tightens it up a bit and I think helps it stay up.

i do forelocks like tails too.

 

[lizzie_liz]

I am another one that always plaits for dressage both unaffliated and affliated and for ODE's.
My forelock plaits vary between french plait and mane plaits, depending on time and how helpful the horse is being at the time!!

I think it is important to look your best at a competition as you are there to show off your horse. It is also respectful I feel.

 

[connie1288]

I dont plait for unaffiliated dr or BSJA, but always do for BE and hunting.
I try and do french plait forelock but usually fail miserably and last year generally grabbed someone else to do them all for me!!
All ours have pulled tails so no plaiting there. I am surprised to see how many people eventing are now leaving forelocks unplaited and also tails unpulled and unplaited.

 

[kirstyfk]

I really really dislike unplaited forelocks. I think it looks really untidy and I would rather see a neatly pulled mane (unplaited) than a plaited mane and unplaited forelock. And if you plait a mane then your horse should have a plaited or pulled tail.

My old pony had virtually no forelock but I made the effort to try and make it neat.

 

[PapaFrita]

*cough cough* Holds hand up in shame. I'm afraid I'm one who leaves the forelock unplaited. It seems to be the vogue here as well, perhaps it has something to do with the heat and flies. I always used to plait up as you do; like a french plait, and then someone bored me to death about it and I didn't bother again. I think it looks much better (done) so I WILL raise my standards for the next show

 

[TarrSteps]

I don't know if it's the same here but traditionally in North America an unplaited forelock means the horse is a stallion. At one point people obviously thought it was "cool" to leave the forelock (or maybe there were so many stallions competing people got confused) but most people, when they find out there's a reason, realise the sense in it.

 

[spookypony]

[ QUOTE ]
I really really dislike unplaited forelocks. I think it looks really untidy and I would rather see a neatly pulled mane (unplaited) than a plaited mane and unplaited forelock. And if you plait a mane then your horse should have a plaited or pulled tail.

My old pony had virtually no forelock but I made the effort to try and make it neat.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think it depends very much on the horse and the shape of his head as to whether or not the forelock looks better unplaited. One horse I ride has such a ridiculously tiny forelock that plaiting it is just silly-looking. And my pony just looks really wrong with his forelock plaited: must be the native blood! Before anyone jumps on me, let me hasten to add that I usually do plait the forelock on other horses.

As to tails, for dressage, the discipline standard seems to be that tails are not plaited, even when manes are?

I leave the pony's tail natural and unpulled for dressage, simply because it lies beautifully all on its own and I don't see why I should touch a single hair of it. If it were a scruffy tail, that would be different!

 

[bigbirdtoo]

10 out of 10 for the tail, I'm not good at them.
Found a great product called Quic Braid for spraying on the hair in manes and tails so you can get it all together for plaiting. It doesn't go flaky like hair spray or dry and horrid like hair gel.
Seems a lot of people don't take pride in their horses or their own turnout at shows or camps these days

 

[rara007]

I leave Pips forelock as he hates it plaited. Throwing himself on the floor in a demented way... When I do plait the forelock I do it as a mane plait- I was taught this was more correct. I leave the tail for dressage, as is most correct, same for driving. Would plait it for showing however.

 

[JessPickle]

You'd hate me! I don't plait for unaffiliated dressage, as I can't plait to save my life, not helped by my dyspraxia (i.e co-ordination) if a friend who can plait is around they plait him but otherwise he goes natural! but he is shiny, bathed and white bits gleaming.