Somebody Help Me!!!!!

steffielu

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4 April 2006
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Going on a weeks trial for a new job, dressage groom...
Everything set to be fine...apart from Iv just realised I really cant plait! (attempted to do my horses mane with disaterous results!)

So is there a knack to it? Doas anyone have any clever hints/tips for perfect plaits or does it just come down to nimble finger work!??

I have one week to practice..or else ill be sending the horses at my new job off to shows with wooley footballs on their crests!!!
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Stand on a stool or something so you are not reaching up and pulling the mane down and concentrate on keeping everything tight. When you are dividing the mane up place the comb on the far side of the crest (perpendicular to the line of the neck) and draw it across to your side to get a straight 'parting.'

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Do you know anybody thats into showing or such that could help you?I am awful at plaits.Did my daughter pony once when she was little(bout 9) and judge praised her as she had obviously did her own plaits lol
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!!We used to get a girl at yard to do them and she was superb,Her plaits before rolling were always nice and firmly plaited if you know what I mean.Sorry not much help really
 
Plait them from the opposite side that the horses mane lies then roll them from the correct side if that makes sense, that way you get the plaits sitting in the correct place and they are generally nice and tight.
 
Its much easier to keep them neat and tight with thread (IMO) I can turn out to county standard with thread, but would never let a horse loose on the world that I had plaited with bands!

As everyone has said keep tight, also keep the partings between each plait straight!
 
Sew Sew Sew Sew
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wet the mane before.. and make sure the original plaits are reallllly tight, then it doesn't mater if you can't roll them that well the actual plait is neat.

Don't pull the 3 sections at the start too tight, or the horse will stretch down and pull half his mane out (Speak from experience!!)
 
I'm not great at plaits, but have always found that dampening with a waterbrush that has been dipped in a bucket of water (and then had the excess shaken) off works well.... if the mane is too wet when you plait it, you get fantastic plaits, but when they dry and the individual hairs start to separate the plaits become tatty.....
 
Wash the mane a couple of days before and dont use any mane or tail spray or it will be too slippy. Get the mane well dampened down and use a fine tooth comb to divide the mane really sharply and work out how many plats you can fit on.

For a fine mane/neck make them slightly thicker and fewer of them for a short neck/thick mane make them thiner and more of them.

Pull them tight but not so he'll be uncomfortable, hes still got a job to do.

Sew!!

Take a baby wipe or damp dishcloth just before you go for warm up to flatten odd hairs gently wipe off dust/scurf etc.

Good Luck.
 
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