Plaiting tails for dressage

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zola89

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Do you plait your horse's tail for dressage? I've always plaited both mane and tail but a friend questioned it the other day and it turns out lots of people just trim their horse's tail! Who knew!? I'm trying to decide what is "better" or "expected" as not plaiting would certainly save time! I will definitely be plaiting her mane.
 
I just leave them au naturel - no pulling, no plaiting, i just lop the bottom off when it gets too long! There are no points available for turnout so just do what you prefer :)
 
What MP said ^

I'm growing out Topaz's tail so am plaiting it for the moment until it's long enough to not look daft, then it will be au natural too.
 
I had 2 part-bred natives that had full tails that I plaited, it's very quick and easy once you've got the knack but it's not essential; for me it was part of the pre-show ritual and it did balance out the overall look with a plaited mane.
I prefer plaiting rather than pulling as it keeps the full tail they need for weather-protection for the rest of the year when not doing the odd 5 minutes-worth of a dressage test ;) . The natives of course, have Full Hair as per their breed standards
 
No marks for state of tail! That said, I like to look professional (even though I'm not) so I pull tails. If I had a horse where I didn't do that for some reason, I wouldn't plait a tail for dressage no so long as it was otherwise tidy. I almost always plait mane (on a non-native), the only exception being if it is a relatively low key event, the horse's mane is neatly pulled and my test is ridiculously early!
 
The picture above looks lovely. If you look at a lot of the continental dressage combinations, they neither pull nor plait tails and that is at internationals.
 
*whispers* I don't plait mane or tail, unless it is for a regional.

We still seemed to win, although I have not done BD since 2014 I think. Not plaited this horse yet, although we have only been doing unaff prelim, she is doing well.

I also didn't always clip, shoe, have a flash strap, have a whip, have spurs...

When I go music next year I fully intend to have WORDS in my music!

I find that as long as my horse is happy, well schooled, with appropriate tack, in good condition and clean and tidy (pulled mane) then the judges seem happy.

I did have one trainer tell me I was letting my horse down. That made me laugh, my horse just wants to be treated fairly, they don't give two hoots about plaiting.
 
Pre-baby (when I had more time!) I used to plait my boy’s tail, but only because I like how it looks! I’m not a fan of pulled tails (or even worse at our yard there are some who take the clippers to them 😬) Now dressage has to fit around baby-care we just go clean and tidy!
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I now have a new issue.... she's rubbed her tail! What would people suggest to do with this for dressage? Just trim the sides? I'm not sure it will plait!

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dont know if i am right but always thought you should not plait tails for dressage,, none of the dressage riders i know plait tails........you dont have to plait manes but it does look as though you have made an effort, always plait manes and tails for showing unless it is traditional cob or m & m....
 
zola89 said:
I now have a new issue.... she's rubbed her tail! What would people suggest to do with this for dressage? Just trim the sides? I'm not sure it will plait!

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I really wouldn't give it a second thought. One of mine did similar one year, it grew back fine as there wasn't an underlying problem. No one is going to notice or mind either way.

Personally I think if you trim this it will look more bald. I'd leave it and apply something soothing in case it's still itchy.
 
I hadn't thought about that but good point, definitely don't want it looking more bald! She's having a bath on Thursday before we go to the comp so I might just try and get it to sit a bit neater and leave it as is!
 
Pinkvboots said:
I absolutely love your pony can I ask how tall is he and how tall are you? I am seriously considering one.
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He’s 133cm so a hair over 13hh and I’m 5’7.
He’s a very broad old fashioned B,really takes my leg out so it doesn’t hang down. Absolutely love him he’s so easy ,ponies rock :)
 
zola89 said:
I hadn't thought about that but good point, definitely don't want it looking more bald! She's having a bath on Thursday before we go to the comp so I might just try and get it to sit a bit neater and leave it as is!
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On the day, give it a good comb through, wet it thoroughly and arrange it so the bald patch is as covered as you can get it (it's really not that bad) and get a tail bandage on it for as long as possible (but no more than a couple of hours obvs) and it will look lovely.

My vet swears by a bath in Head and Shoulders for itchy skin and it definitely seemed to make a difference to my old boy who had sweet itch. Cheap as chips compared to horsey shampoo too.
 
If I plait my horses mane, I plait her tail. She really should have a pulled tail but I cant be arsed doing it, and I don't really like the look of it. Because her tail is a massive bog brush affair it does need something done, and it only takes me 5 minutes to plait it.
 
I only plait tails if I'm really, really bored. I don't plait manes either, other than a running plait sometimes. Mind you, I have natives, I hate plaiting, and I'm really lazy ;)
 
I loathe plaiting and wish it would be frowned on like whisker trimming so I didn't have to bother anymore! I am utterly useless at it and very unmotivated about getting better because I think it is probably uncomfortable for the horse. Given how much of a fuss my kids made of me plaiting their hair a lot more loosely than horse plaits! Would never plait a tail as thankfully it is not expected.
 
Ambers Echo said:
I loathe plaiting and wish it would be frowned on like whisker trimming so I didn't have to bother anymore! I am utterly useless at it and very unmotivated about getting better because I think it is probably uncomfortable for the horse. Given how much of a fuss my kids made of me plaiting their hair a lot more loosely than horse plaits! Would never plait a tail as thankfully it is not expected.
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i actually agree re being uncomfortable so i do big loose dutch style plaits and make sure i pull the roots very loose before i fold it and then sew through the center rather than tight to the neck.
 
I love the look of a plaited tail (and don't like pulled tails personally) so always opt for that.

But then my tactic is to look as smart as possible to try distract from the riding :D And I always volunteer my mum to plait them as she does it so beautifully.

I think whatever suits you is fine!
 
Hallo2012 said:
i actually agree re being uncomfortable so i do big loose dutch style plaits and make sure i pull the roots very loose before i fold it and then sew through the center rather than tight to the neck.
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It was you that got me into the bigger, looser, hooded plaits.

Except mine still look tiny compared to Rafs!
 
Ambers Echo said:
How do you do loose plaits?
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Do you first few crosses loosely and then tighten up and plait to the end. I then push my thumbs firmly in to the roots to make sure it’s not tight.
Thread through the end of the plait and knot to secure then push through base of plait to fold in half. Sew down the plait to the end and then push needle back through base. Repeat once more if a long mane then sew back and forth through the centre of the plait a few times.
I think wiggle the sides and base a bit to loosen any caught up hairs.928B5970-F0CE-47D0-BAE0-124548DEC99B.jpeg
 
Hallo2012 said:
He’s 133cm so a hair over 13hh and I’m 5’7.
He’s a very broad old fashioned B,really takes my leg out so it doesn’t hang down. Absolutely love him he’s so easy ,ponies rock :)
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See I thought he was a Welsh c because of how his built, I am about 5'5 and weigh 9 stone and I just love the thought of a pony, I have Arabs so used to the smaller type but they are wide so take up your leg, I really want to look for one now!
 
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