Plaiting

[FREESTYLER]

ok, my plaits are "reasonable" but I want to have "Excellent" plaits.

. how do I do this? Any tips?

I love using my white tape but want lots of small plaits, do you have to thin the mane more to achieve these? Also I want them to "stick up" more rather than flop!! I use a needle and thread but to no avail......

.

 

[KatB]

Lol!! Lots of very skinny tight plaits are the best! The tighter the better, an if you use white tape, they dont have to be brilliant anyway cos all the sticky out bits get tucked in!??

 

[CJ1]

How do you get the plaits to stay tight the whole way down? My podgy fingers have trouble nearing the end so i just fold it all under but bits poke out within minutes!
Is gel the answer?

 

[dressagespain]

Lots of gel or hair mousse. leave a slighty longer end to wrap up around the plait.

Freestyler - if you want sticky up plaits, you have to plait from the opposite side of the neck. but roll up on the normal side!

 

[dressagespain]

These are mine:

You can just about make them out. I leave my mane a bit longer so that i have plenty to wrap around so I don't get bits sticking out and use plenty of mousse.

 

[FREESTYLER]

Dressagespain, I shall give this a try (before my show of course!!) You plaits look very pro...I wont send a picture of mine... they do have a tendancy to look like a rack of lamb chops with white heads on, or huge golf balls!!!!

 

[bellgave]

I have no idea about little plaits, but plaiting up the show horses I am a pro at!!!!! Love it actually, love to sew them in, they look fab!!!! Love littl eplaits too, just never done them!!!! But defo' use lots and lots of Mousse and spray!!

 

[mitchellk]

Plaiting for eventers- don't put product in hair

, wash mane at least two days before plaiting and plait very tight, if for dressage from the offside as dressagespain described. Mine never seem to go fuzzy or loose, it has taken years of practise tho!

 

[vicijp]

Only way to get better is lots and lots of practise. If you teach yourself to plait backwards they will lie better. Products are cheating!

 

[FREESTYLER]

Bellgave.... want to come and plait for me!!! I HATE it!!!! Probably because I am sooooooo nervous and rushing in the morning thinking of everything else.... I would loooove to get the plaits right and do my boy justice.... going to the Nationals so I suppose I need help!!!! Gotta try and look good, even if we do pants!! LOL!!! Any chance of hogging and sticking some "made" ones on!!

 

[Krysha_n_Helga]

I need some help to
What should i do for plaiting for dressage if half the manes is just bits of hair and then at the top a nice thick mane?
i have put the mane grow on it but don`t know if it will be that long to plait up b/c the dressage test is the 25th feb. Hope it growns back quick.

 

[mat]

I do the first part of the plaits REALLY tight, which makes it look neat. I also stand on a really tall stool so I cant plait the horse upwards from the crest rather than either side. When they are rolled they sit really straight and stick straight up.

Quick braid is a really good product for helping you grip the mane and its not sticky! x

 

[FREESTYLER]

bbmat,
I am investing in a ladder.. my boy is 17.2 and I think probably that is half my problem, my arms kill after the 5th plait and he is sooooooo tall for me. What white tape do you use?? I get mine from Inches saddlery but it seems to loose its stickiness quickly ??? Yours look too good.. NOT FAIR!! Do you measure them with your comb too as they all look the same width, etc.. I am not use to neat tidy.

..clean yes.

.but even as a kid I could never do the tack and turn out because my horse would drool all over me and I would invariably tread in some form of poo!

! LOL

 

[mat]

In that picture I used 2 white bands on each plait wrapped around twice, its a rush job!

When I do tape I use bandage tape but split it down the middle so its not too wide.

The key is not to touch the end of the tape. Put it around so one end is longer than the other, stick the shorter end to the long one, and then wrap the longer end arouond the plait. It is easier to try to stick it to itself than to the hair x

Again sounds complicated probably, its just practice really, Merlin (MFSS Raubritter) is so good, he goes to sleep when I plait him!

Standing above definitely stops your hands hurting!

 

[CJ1]

Do you start from the top or the bottom of the neck? I always seem to go bottom upwards and they get better as i get nearer the ears!

You cant really see them, but being a chunky boy, we have chunky plaits...not sure we can pull the 'white tape' look off so can hide any ends under it! Can you get ginger tape?

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/Soooz/WoodyOldMill1.jpg?t=1170753327

 

[dressagespain]

ALWAYS start from the top, cos the bottom ones will always have less hair in them and be a little bit smaller.

Only use the white tape/bands look if you are really good at plaiting, cos it can look really stupid if they aren't perfect.

Krysha - I had this problem with my horse. He itched half of his mane out - there is NO WAY I can describe properly what I did, but it was a bit of botch job with some pipe cleaners - you know the things kids use to make little men. They looked really fab afterwards and you couldn't tell. I plaited them into the bits of mane!!

To get your plaits the same size, you do have to measure them - I don't need to now but I used to use the width of a pulling comb.

At the end of the day, its just a matter of practice or possibly getting someone to show you first!

 

[FREESTYLER]

Ok I am going to practice... I will let you see them when I finish!!! Possibly!! Thanks anyway everyone

 

[Krysha_n_Helga]

[ QUOTE ]
ALWAYS start from the top, cos the bottom ones will always have less hair in them and be a little bit smaller.

Only use the white tape/bands look if you are really good at plaiting, cos it can look really stupid if they aren't perfect.

Krysha - I had this problem with my horse. He itched half of his mane out - there is NO WAY I can describe properly what I did, but it was a bit of botch job with some pipe cleaners - you know the things kids use to make little men. They looked really fab afterwards and you couldn't tell. I plaited them into the bits of mane!!

To get your plaits the same size, you do have to measure them - I don't need to now but I used to use the width of a pulling comb.

At the end of the day, its just a matter of practice or possibly getting someone to show you first!

[/ QUOTE ]
thank you dressagespain
i will have ago at the weekend