Plaiting

[millitiger]

if you enter a showing class you expect to be judged on turnout- it is a totally different ball game and says in many rule books that you must be plaited for certain classes.

also, talking about etiquette- what about respecting your elders?

some people on this thread (one in particular) seems incapable of holding a debate without being extremely rude and not actually making any valid points.

and posting pictures of your horse well plaited hardly proves a point- we all know a well plaited horse looks smart but the point is it is not neccesary if you are well turned out with a neat mane.

joe_carby- what exactly do you think is going to happen if the field is unplaited? to you they will look untidy but will people ride worse, fall off more, get in the way of the huntsman?
i very much doubt it.

i actually always plait my own horses for hunting but i certainly don't frown upon and don't care if other people come out with neat unplaited manes.
hunts need all of the support they can get and should welcome everyone- regardless.

 

[AmyMay]

I agree Millitiger, about the one particular poster. However, the superior attitude of the person you wish to be respected does nothing to endear them. And quite frankly smacks of the sort of attitudes that do put people off ever venturing on to the hunting field.

Plait or don't plait. Just make sure you are immaculately turned out is the bottom line.

 

[LouBerry]

Agree with both of the above. I can't plait but get someone else to plait for me but on the days i can't i make sure he's neat and tidy with a short well pulled mane. I think it's better to be neat and tidy than to have bad scruffy plaits.

But as the above have said, hunting needs the support, why scare people off. Yes be well turned out but maybe make a few small allowances. Not plaiting isn't quite the cardinal sin like wearing pink numnah and pink boots. I know quite a few of the Quorn don't plait, i always got taught by the old school of you don't have to plait for the Leicestershire packs?

 

[chestnut cob]

I think it's quite bad how scruffy people look nowadays.

Yes - Mermaids with no hairnets, dirty and Dressage Topped Boots, badly tied - or even worse, ready-tied stocks, mud still in situ in various places from the week before - and ear-rings!

Well I'm afraid my boots are dressage ones but that's all I have and I'm not about to buy a new pair when they cost me enough! I've been told on several occasions by one of the Secs that as long as people are tidy and well turned out, in general they don't care about plaiting (ie, neatly pulled mane and tail).

I don't think bouncing off the walls because you've putting plaits in is solely the territory of P2Pers... my IDxTB HATES having plaits in. I do some dressage with him and am either going to have to start plaiting to work at home or stop plaiting for that - he will not work with plaits in, for the reason you suggest MrWoof, they restrict neck action. He's a bit of a sensitive soul and he obviously finds it very uncomfortable.

 

[R2R]

I think making the effort with turnout should be done out of respect for the people who let you ride accross their land/followed to help with wire etc/hold the meet etc etc- it sort of says "thanks for making the effort, I have too" so to speak.

Besides I think it is nice to plait your horse and be tidy. My horse is always immaculate, I make the effort with him as it makes me feel proud too.

I will say, that I cannot afford two pairs of leather boots so hunt in my ariat short boots and gaiters which do me for everything. I dont get out enough to buy all the kit so have worn a ratcatcher for the past few seasons, however have now invested in a very vintage but very warm hunt coat which is too big so I look like a size 14 on top and size 10 on the bottom, oh well.

I went out for my first day on Sat this season, 5 hours and I STILL feel like I am going to die of the aches...

 

[Maesfen]

if you enter a showing class you expect to be judged on turnout- it is a totally different ball game and says in many rule books that you must be plaited for certain classes.

also, talking about etiquette- what about respecting your elders?

some people on this thread (one in particular) seems incapable of holding a debate without being extremely rude and not actually making any valid points.

and posting pictures of your horse well plaited hardly proves a point- we all know a well plaited horse looks smart but the point is it is not neccesary if you are well turned out with a neat mane.

joe_carby- what exactly do you think is going to happen if the field is unplaited? to you they will look untidy but will people ride worse, fall off more, get in the way of the huntsman?
i very much doubt it.

i actually always plait my own horses for hunting but i certainly don't frown upon and don't care if other people come out with neat unplaited manes.
hunts need all of the support they can get and should welcome everyone- regardless.

I have to agree with this although I am very much old school and always plait after Opening Meets except for bye days, with the only exceptions of youngsters and others, like my pointers, who find a meet stressful enough without a new hairdo to show off and safety of horse and hound is paramount (forget the rider, they can look after themselves!) but it does grieve me that I can't do those also, I feel I am letting down my reputation for correct turnout for any occasion! Without exception they will all be clean, very smart and with tidy manes and tails; to do any less would be a severe impoliteness to our hosts, our Masters and to the horse itself who deserves much better, none of whom would want to be associated with scruffbags of any description as they give out the wrong message entirely that we care about what we are doing, we are proud of what we are doing and we are keeping standards up as high as ever where in most other equine sports, the standard of turnout is dropping quickly and abysmally. As long as everyone has done their best to be very clean and very tidy in all departments and they are happy, I'm more than happy to see them out hunting but I do cringe where people haven't done their homework and checked up on what is suitable and safe for the hunting field because nobody wants anyone to feel awkward because they don't know any better. You read up the rules for turnout of dressage and showjumping, why should hunting be any different?
It very much winds me up when I see bling of any description on any horse at any time but particularly out hunting, mind, to me, a saddlecloth at any time is bling, a numnah is correct, a saddlecloth makes it look like a gymkhana pony and just looks plain childish and stupid on a hunter. If bling was acceptable out hunting you would also see it in the hunter show ring but you don't, correct turnout is the norm of the day there so why bring it out hunting? Bling does not do any horse or rider any favours and only makes those involved look like gaudy clowns. Horses deserve better from us.

Have to add, I find the arrogance of one poster horrid, disappointing and cheap, I expected a lot better from her.

 

[millitiger]

oh, i'm not defending the person i think deserves respect.

i just find it amusing and rather hypercritical that plaiting is seen as a crime punishable by death but being extremely rude to someone who doesn't agree with you is absolutely fine!

i think you always come across better if you are polite and respectful in any debate and people more likely to take your points on board- something that seems to be severely lacking in a few areas of the hunting community sadly.

 

[AmyMay]

Think we have our wires crossed MT....:0)

 

[zero]

Millitiger thankyou. As I said in my eairlier post we plait up to xmas and then after the new year we are to busy with other horses to plait and look after the ones not hunting and still arrive at the meet on time. We dont emloy grooms to do this for us and work very hard to enjoy our hunting. Surely good timekeeing and manners are far more important than plaits. I also feel that a well pulled mane an look every bit as smart as plaits.

 

[joe_carby]

mr woof if uve been hunting 53 seasons surely you should be setting a fantastic example to the next hunting generation and encouraging people to put the time and effoprt into there horse not teaching how to cut corners.

 

[rosie fronfelen]

what alot of unnecessary bitching about plaiting/ not plaiting!!surely if a horse is turned out well groomed, hooves oiled, tack tip top, rider the same, surely a nicely pulled short clean mane is far preferable to a not so well plaited one! i always used to plait but i also appreciate seeing an unplaited one. each to their own i say, and having done seasons with the shires packs( in the dim and distant past) i know a bit about what i'm talking about.

 

[MrWoof]

also, talking about etiquette- what about respecting your elders?

some people on this thread (one in particular) seems incapable of holding a debate without being extremely rude and not actually making any valid points.

I do hope you are not referring to me - if so - profound apologies.

 

[Clodagh]

I'm so glad I don't have to hunt with the Rockwood Harriers or their neighbouring packs!

 

[rosie fronfelen]

i thought the debate was about plaiting? it seems to be about everything but!!!

 

[Irishcobs]

I asked the old man about the traditions of plaiting. The old man has been hunting for 60 odd years most of which were in hunt service.
He said traditionally you plaited for lawn meets and holidays as MrWoof has said.
I asked why we plait so much now and he said because all of our meets are lawn meets and the very rare one that isn't is hosted by the car followers so in respect to them we plait.

 

[Starbucks]

I do apologise for my bad behaviour.

I'm really not that horrible.. I just think people should make a bit more of an effort sometimes so everyone looks nice.