to plait or not to plait for unaffiliated dressage

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madginger

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As the title really, would you bother to plait up for a small unaffiliated dressage show? I'm thinking of just doing intro B or prelim 1.

Maybe I'm just being lazy but could you possibly get marked down for not plaiting?

It takes me ages and I'm thinking is it really worth it for a 4 minute test?
 
I don't bother for unaffiliated and never had any comments and always had good marks so don't think judges are as bothered as some people think.

As long as you are clean and not scruffy you will be fine :)
 
i asked exactly this about a month ago, the overwhelming response was 'plait'.
i was glad i did, all bar one or two were plaited. it's a mark of respect to the judge too.
if you use elastic bands it should speed you up a lot, good luck!
 
I do just with bands though but always get a comment at the bottom of my sheet about being nicely turned out so they do notice even if it doesn't affect marks.
 
I always plait but then I am old and that is what we were taught to do! I am from the era of plaiting for pony club rallies so to compete unplaited is just wrong :) and I sew :o
 
IMO, everything should be plaited for dressage unless it's a native or hogged regardless of the level or unaff/aff.
 
Plait. Always.

If you have the mane correctly pulled it shouldn't take more than 15mins to plait. It's a pain, but you wouldn't dream of going without cleaning your tack and it's pretty much the same thing.
 
I always plait! Any photos look good, its polite to the judge, and you feel so much better having made the effort.

For the sake of 20 minutes the results are always worth it! :-)
 
I always plaited my old horse...then I stopped as she was a pain to plait as though it irritated her and amazing my marks went up!! Maybe it's because I did more schooling or maybe she was more comfortable in her neck???

We were always VERY smart though as she had 4 white socks which I would wash the day before and bandage overnight to keep clean so no I didn't feel scruffy for not plaiting as her mane was still very short and neat, tail freshly washed and gleaming body and socks!
 
always plait. for a 'normal' mane you can plait in 10-20 mins max. Hell I have to plait both sides and that still 'only' takes 40ish mins.

Its a mark of respect to the judge and normally shows the horse off as well as gives the neck a better line.
 
As the others said, it is a mark of respect for the judge. They give up their time for no money and for unaffiliated they tend not to get expenses either.

I would just love for a judge to turn round after a test and say sorry you couldn't be bothered to plait I couldn't be bothered to write !
 
i always plaited mane as it made me feel a bit more like i was going to a party!! never tail for dressage as they can hold it a bit stiffly if it is plaited and it doesnt give a good impression.....i have written for lots of judges and none have ever marked anyone down even if they looked scruffy, they may make a small mention at the end though.....
 
I would... but I don't! Why? A) it kills my hands. I have the beginnings of arthritis in both at the age of 18 (in fact, have had since I was a lot younger!) and seeing as my job is as an artist, I try to avoid doing things that kill them further. B) Dante hates being plaited up, it makes his neck tense & winds him up. So if the judges have an issue... tough! :p If he had a long enough mane to do a running plait in, we might have discussions about it (my hands can just about cope with them!) but he doesn't, and looks silly with a mane that long.
We've never had any comments. I figure being courteous & happy is just as nice to the judge as plaiting. In fact, I think they'd be less impressed if my plaited horse dived on them in a mad fit because he disliked his plaits! :p
 
Yes to tails as well. I do tail the night before and just hope he doesnt scrub it out and section the mane off the night before as well so it just gets plaited and rolled on the morning. If I was really early like we were for pc areas I'd sew them in the night before so you dont have to do it in the morning and just rug with a neck cover on.
 
I don't as he is a Highland x TB with the emphasise on the Highland. He also gets very wound up with plaits and the appearance of the horse box!

I do my best to ensure he is as well turned out as possible though.
 
I do, I figure that I need the practice and that I will get quicker and neater with more practice, that can only be a good thing for when we do something bigger!

I wouldn't necessarily do it if I was going to dressage on a weekday evening as it would take too long. I would make sure everything else was as neat as possible though.
 
I often write for judges at dressage comps on my yard. We run unaffiliated alongside affiliated classes. Every judge i've asked said it makes no difference whether you plait or not.

Personally I dont plait unless its a big unaffiliated show like a championship or BRC Qualifiers/Nationals.
 
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