Running plaits in manes!

Devonshire dumpling

Devonshire dumpling

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I do a very smart running plait on the Cob, can you tell me why it then falls out within 10 mins of hacking?? Whats the key, am I doing it too tight so when he moves his necks its pulling, or am I doing too loose., is there some sort of skill to this?? thanks in advance!
 
In all seriousness I plait a lot of horses and find that cobs manes seem to be made of an entirely different kind of hair! If his mane is clean it wouldn't surprise me one bit if it slides out of whatever you do to it - I have to sew plaits in super tight to keep them in when I plait cobs the usual way for people. Never tried a running plait on a cob though so this is just a guess!
 
Mousse. :p


Not being rude, but I use a quick squirt of mousse in my cobs mane just before plaiting. Never had one come out when hunting or at XC. ;)
 
OK I should have explained more lol.. I fail on the cob and the Haflinger is pulled short and plaited... BUT its to be grown longer, so won't be able to do regular plaits, SOOOOO I am worried my running plait will fail, can you all post pictures or something, what am I doing wrong.. I suspect too tight?
 
Devonshire dumpling said:
OK I should have explained more lol.. I fail on the cob and the Haflinger is pulled short and plaited... BUT its to be grown longer, so won't be able to do regular plaits, SOOOOO I am worried my running plait will fail, can you all post pictures or something, what am I doing wrong.. I suspect too tight?
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Could it be that the mane isnt long enough??

I plaited a pony once with a shortish mane (hasn't been pulled in a while) and it fell out half way down? have done them on much longer manes and always stayed in
 
I'm not sure what I do is technically a running plait but it works for us!! Excuse the sweaty creature...this was after an especially long line and little legs have to work hard to keep up!!:rolleyes: It has fallen down and out some but it does the job and keeps mane away from my hands!

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cob&onion said:
Could it be that the mane isnt long enough??

I plaited a pony once with a shortish mane (hasn't been pulled in a while) and it fell out half way down? have done them on much longer manes and always stayed in
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Yes would have thought the mane would have to be long enough.
Sorry no pics of mine with her plait but this is her length of mane and a running plait normally stays in all day and only falls out overnight if I leave it in and turn her out with it...

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I have an iberian so his mane is slightly wavy which MAY help but...

I don't wash it. Ever.
Don't use canter spray of detangler before you plait as it makes it too shiny.
Brush lots of water and human hair gel into it, making sure you get right in underneath and through the bushiest bits.
Plait it fairly close to the neck.
Put a few plaiting bands in before you plait up the loose end.
Put another plaiting band in the loose end.
Tuck in the little tail.
I trim off the mane on his withers so the plait doesn't go too far down. He is a hairy beastie!!!

Hope that helps.
Mine occasionally comes out in the trailer as his travelling buddy likes to pull it out for me, how kind :(
 
Here is my first attempt at a running plait, I need to practice more before the opening meet and I intend to sew it in.
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She has quite a long mane.
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Hmmm its shorter than Clava's and uneven big time..... I think button braids will look too big, so thinking what can I do!! might try a french plait along the top... or might try trellis........ can't have it out as so many different lengths, and don't want to pull it anymore!
 
I don't think any of the photos above are of the thickness of our NF's mane, it's longer and a lot thicker than CIaB's! We tried regular plaits and ended up with about 20 mini-footballs which came out, so resorted to running plait. However that also came out even when sprayed with Extra Firm hair spray and a whole tin of mousse. (our PC insist on plaiting for rallies, DC says it's good practise and I agree it would be if we hadn't deliberately bought a M&M, it takes two of us to plait as we need 3 hands as there is too much mane, but we are so much quicker now)

Now we have the secret: plaiting bands left in. We divide the mane up into about 30 bunches, each held (firmly but not mega tightly) with an elastic band about 4 inches down from the crest (daughter starts at withers I start at poll, and this bit is quite quick now!). Then I start the running plait, making sure when I add each bunch in I add it in below the existing plait, making sure that it covers tightly over the elastic band (I sort of twist it over) as I go, and daughter sticks her finger over to hold as I plait in the next bit - we have a system! I always stick an elastic band on the bottom to hold it to sew in the final long end at the bottom, the remove that band. Then we check over the running plait tucking down any elastic bands that show into the running plait. (which incidentally doesn't look as trim and neat as the ones above because it is so chunky and thick in the middle - it is like a great big fat fish stuck to his neck), and stick anything down that needs to with gel.

Sorry no photos!
 
Dubsie said:
I don't think any of the photos above are of the thickness of our NF's mane, it's longer and a lot thicker than CIaB's! We tried regular plaits and ended up with about 20 mini-footballs which came out, so resorted to running plait. However that also came out even when sprayed with Extra Firm hair spray and a whole tin of mousse. (our PC insist on plaiting for rallies, DC says it's good practise and I agree it would be if we hadn't deliberately bought a M&M, it takes two of us to plait as we need 3 hands as there is too much mane, but we are so much quicker now)

Now we have the secret: plaiting bands left in. We divide the mane up into about 30 bunches, each held (firmly but not mega tightly) with an elastic band about 4 inches down from the crest (daughter starts at withers I start at poll, and this bit is quite quick now!). Then I start the running plait, making sure when I add each bunch in I add it in below the existing plait, making sure that it covers tightly over the elastic band (I sort of twist it over) as I go, and daughter sticks her finger over to hold as I plait in the next bit - we have a system! I always stick an elastic band on the bottom to hold it to sew in the final long end at the bottom, the remove that band. Then we check over the running plait tucking down any elastic bands that show into the running plait. (which incidentally doesn't look as trim and neat as the ones above because it is so chunky and thick in the middle - it is like a great big fat fish stuck to his neck), and stick anything down that needs to with gel.

Sorry no photos!
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The secret of the bands in bunches sounds fab!! think this would stop a shorter mane falling out!!!! gonna give that a try, thankyou so much!!
 
woo, the plaits on here look gorgeous! I have a running plait in my cob all the time to keep it relatively tidy/clean, (well, thats the reasoning anyway!), and I think it stays in because its long. But will def try the bands on each bunchy trick, thanks!
 
wish some of you could post videos .
We have a new forest with lovely long mane and not too thick but quite often looks scruffy no matter what we do. I use quick plait spray to help it stay in.
I have tried over and over to plait a friends dartmoor pony but doesnt stay in for a minute, her mane is lovely and sleek and shiny with no products used and it just wont stay in.
has anyone used those eazibraid things advertised on horsemart, would love to try but cant find a uk supplier
 
Another option for the shorter mane is to try the Portugese style ie 2 running plaits.

Divide the mane with a crew cut and do a running plait on each side. That way it's thinner relative to the length and might last longer.
 
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