Question - Why, When Some People Plait, Do They Not Plait The Forelock?

[Tillypup]

As title really, I have seen this a few times at various events and wondered if there was any reason for people plaiting like this? Thanks!

Can't say it particularly appeals to me but hey ho!

 

[albeg]

I don't plait the forelock a lot of the time as my pony's is really thick (Connemara with a mane like a bush), and it's not like the mane where you can make more plaits to prevent them looking like golf balls.
While I'd prefer to be able to plait it, he looks better with it unplaited IMO.

 

[kiritiger]

With a loan horse I used to have (unregistered Welsh Cob), I would plait everything (mane, tail and forelock) for dressage but only plait mane for jumping. I probably wouldn't have bothered plaiting his mane for jumping if it hadn't been for the fact that his mane was about 3 different lengths so it just looked tidier. Left forelock as he is a fidget to plait and it looks fine anyway.

 

[Jesstickle]

Well, my friend who SJs tell me this is just the newest fashion. Out with scissor cut manes and in with plaited ones but with forelocks left undone.

Showjumping is weird

 

[vam]

Because my old mare had a white face, when i plated her forelock she looked like a cow.
My current boy has more hair on his chin than his forelock so im not sure if it actually possible to plait.

 

[Sol]

If I plait, I always french plait forelocks I've known people in the past who didn't plait them simply because they couldn't (so I used to go & do them all!), but I think some horses don't like being plaited. I'm sure Dan's more tense when he's plaited so usually I'd leave his mane & forelock loose, I'd rather he was happy, and it takes me a long time to plait with dodgy hands!
Plus, I have to stand on a stood to plait the forelock of anything about about 12hh, so often get headbutted off. Horses have a brilliant sense of humor

 

[vic07]

Have never plaited forelocks as I don't like how they look all tied in a ball!! Dressage fashion about 10 years ago was leave it loose!

 

[albeg]

Plus, I have to stand on a stood to plait the forelock of anything about about 12hh, so often get headbutted off. Horses have a brilliant sense of humor

My pony either does a giraffe impression, or very slowly shuffles backwards so you're leaning further and further. He does it very gradually, so it's not really noticeable until you're stretching a decent bit...

 

[Sol]

My pony either does a giraffe impression, or very slowly shuffles backwards so you're leaning further and further. He does it very gradually, so it's not really noticeable until you're stretching a decent bit...

Dante thinks walking backwards is the answer to all of his problems! Doing it on command however, is another thing entirely Got to love them!

 

[tinap]

I don't plait the forelock if he's plaited for jumping just because he wears ears so its a job less to do if you can't see it anyway

Always do it for dressage though xx

 

[Jenni_]

Dash is a struggle to plait the forelock because he's an appy x and the hair there is almost non existant! You probably wouldn't notice if it wasn't plaited.

 

[TarrSteps]

It's traditionally to designate a stallion. This allows them to be spotted easily and people with in season mares or other stallions to be extra careful and avoid putting the stallion or rider in a situation which unfairly tests his temperament and training.

I get a bit annoyed when people just do it randomly for this reason. It's a bit like someone putting a red or green ribbon in their horse's tail because they think it looks pretty.

 

[albeg]

Dante thinks walking backwards is the answer to all of his problems! Doing it on command however, is another thing entirely Got to love them!

Sounds exactly like Bob (unless there's feed involved, he can back up perfectly if you promise food).

 

[scheherazade]

It's traditionally to designate a stallion. This allows them to be spotted easily and people with in season mares or other stallions to be extra careful and avoid putting the stallion or rider in a situation which unfairly tests his temperament and training.

I get a bit annoyed when people just do it randomly for this reason. It's a bit like someone putting a red or green ribbon in their horse's tail because they think it looks pretty.

Thank you TS, I did not know that. Whoever said you never stop learning was very right!!

 

[Pongwiffy]

I have done it in the past because I'd have to pull half of my horse's forelock out to get it into a decent plait and his head suits a fuller, longer forelock.

I only go to a maximum of 2 competitions a month so I'd rather I got tutted at for being incorrect on 2 days of the month than have my horse look stupid for the other 28.

I plait the rest of his mane because it creates a neater picture overall.

 

[Cortez]

I never knew it was to designate a stallion either, in which case it now no longer applies as many people leave the forelock loose, in all disciplines. It's just fashion; some horses look better with their forelocks loose.

 

[TarrSteps]

I never knew it was to designate a stallion either, in which case it now no longer applies as many people leave the forelock loose, in all disciplines. It's just fashion; some horses look better with their forelocks loose.

True. But if you're siting on another stallion you wish people still adhered to it!

 

[Pongwiffy]

I don't know about other disciplines but BD rules state: "Stallions must be identified by the rider wearing a yellow cross band or stallion disc whilst working in."

so I'd say that is safer rule to follow these days!

 

[Nollaig Shona]

My horse doesn't have enough of a forelock to plait, someone must've trimmed his poll and overdid it, and it's never grown back properly since!

Now if I could get a little wig for him...

 

[Laafet]

It was very fashionable in dressage a few years back, I sometimes plait sometimes don't when it comes to the forelock. As I have bought Nickel a blingy browband I am inclined to plait it to show off the browband, sometimes I just can't be bothered and as it is neatly pulled then I leave it be.

 

[albeg]

My horse doesn't have enough of a forelock to plait, someone must've trimmed his poll and overdid it, and it's never grown back properly since!

Now if I could get a little wig for him...

What colour is he? I could send you some of my boy's next time I pull his mane.

 

[Kokopelli]

Mine hasn't got enough forelock to plait

 

[letsgobonkers]

My horse gets really upset if I try to plait his forelock - equally to take the plait out again. He's fine to have the rest of mane done, just very headshy about his forelock. So I don't do it to be fashionable, different or otherwise, just dont want to upset my horse unnecessarily.

 

[Jesstickle]

My horse has no forelock either and I manage to bundle it up into something resembling a plait.

I'm sorry, I don't buy the 'not enough to plait excuse'!

 

[PapaFrita]

Well, my friend who SJs tell me this is just the newest fashion. Out with scissor cut manes and in with plaited ones but with forelocks left undone.

Showjumping is weird

It is certainly the fashion in SJing in Argentina. I was actually ASKED why I plaited PF's forelock, which left me a bit baffled because it's just what you DO, isn't it?... And yes, SJing is weird

 

[Lolo]

My horse has no forelock either and I manage to bundle it up into something resembling a plait.

I'm sorry, I don't buy the 'not enough to plait excuse'!

Yep... Reg has been growing his forelock for 3 years now, and it's now about 4 inches long and consists of about 10 strands. I can french plait it down from the top, including the fluff either side for some bulk and bundle it into a decent plait. It completely transforms his face, as silly as that sounds.

He is the most annoying horse in the world to do the forelock plait on though. He stays stock still, then whips his head away and makes an enormous fuss if I don't let go in time and it gets pulled. It's now a 2 person job, and my sister has to shovel pony nuts into him to keep him quiet...

 

[Santa_Claus]

I don't plait Fleur's forelock firstly as I think it looks better unplaited as it is so thick and secondly by the time i've done 30+ in her mane (yes i did say 30+!) I really can't be bothered

 

[Tillypup]

Thanks for the replies guys!

 

[Suziq77]

Those of you with horses with very thin forelocks could try using megatek. The £8.99 pot would be sufficient for a trial as it does last a good while on small areas. I use it when hair or mane gets rubbed out and find it works well. It won't give you my little pony length forelocks but it might be worth a try for a bit more body? It also smells gorgeous and is safe for human use so it shouldn't be a total waste of money either way

http://www.tailgator.co.uk/tg/pages/eqyssmegatekhorse.html

 

[MadisonBelle]

My horse has no forelock either and I manage to bundle it up into something resembling a plait.

I'm sorry, I don't buy the 'not enough to plait excuse'!

Ha I had this exact same conversation with my friend that took my mare eventing. He is very old school and told me off, plaited the 3 hairs, rolled it and said you are right it looks ridiculous and he took it straight out!!!

New horse has lovely forelock though so I do plait this one.