Running plait keep undoing itself!

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eva

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Hello!

I have an Andalucuan gelding with a fairly long mane (down to the bottom of his neck), but when I do a running plait it goes undone after I let him stretch his neck! Is there any trick to keep it in? I can't do button plaits as his mane is way too thick for that.

Thanks!
 
Don't let him stretch his neck I think may be the only option... the only really successful ones I see tend to be on Iberians etc that easily maintain a consistent head carriage. The moment they stretch, it pulls the hair (you can't really avoid that, it's the nature of the plait), so it's going to pull looser... usually resulting in it going wiggly! If you're doing it for say a dressage comp, it would probably be best to pop one in just before going in the ring? I used to do them on the Fells for schooling so I didn't lose my hands in mane :p Alternatively, plait with the horse stretching it's neck a little (maybe get someone to hold a feed bucket?) so the plait is a bit looser than normal, but still tight up to the crest, so it should have a bit of 'give'? Trying to think now, it's ages since I've had to do one, Dan has too little mane :(
 
I've found the best thing to do is plait up just before you want to go in to the ring, and try to get it tight, if you can have the horses head in the position it will be in this helps to give the plait some give. Alternatively use a basket weave plait, looks smart and can be done in advance
 
Do it with him eating something off the floor, and when you've done it lift hi head and stitch every few twists in. Keep it really tight to the crest and as soon as it starts drooping off undo a few twists and redo it. It should almost look like you're corn-rowing it to his neck it's so flush with the crest.
 
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