Very Thick Mane - Plaiting Help!

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Matafleur

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I'm hoping the hive mind here can help with this, I've recently bought a new horse, nicely bred, very classy, elegant but with the mane of a Highland Pony!! I have nothing against Highland Ponies but I wouldn't want to have to put dressage plaits in them!!

I am used to a mane that I can chuck 8/9 plaits in within 30 mins. I have no idea what to do with this mane, it is unbelievably thick! I've started hooding him in the hope that some may fall out. I don't love pulling these days, although have tweaked a few bits out and he didn't seem to mind.

Does anyone have a magic plaiting method for v thick mane? Ideally that doesn't take 90 mins to do?! I usually do small ish plaits with bands, not big dressage plaits - maybe they would work better on this horse? I've only had him a few days so haven't tried to plaits yet but am dreading it!! Help!
 
I half hog mine- his 1/8 NF pony is only really visible in his mane, tail and insatiable appetite, so he has a lot of hair and I won’t pull it, hate the wisps that raking gives so this is very quick and easy. I literally just hog one half of it and the rest of the mane lies nicely over the stubble. You do have to commit to it once you have done it- it takes a long time to grow back and sticks upright as it does
 
TheMule said:
I half hog mine- his 1/8 NF pony is only really visible in his mane, tail and insatiable appetite, so he has a lot of hair and I won’t pull it, hate the wisps that raking gives so this is very quick and easy. I literally just hog one half of it and the rest of the mane lies nicely over the stubble. You do have to commit to it once you have done it- it takes a long time to grow back and sticks upright as it does
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Oh god, I can see myself removing a lot of mane here! I think he has a very wide crest so I'm worried it will look odd. It also splits each side so looks very wild! Can you see the hogged bit when you plait? I'm worried my hands are too shaky to get a nice even line 🙈🤣
 
There’s a method that works really well (just tried googling, can’t find it). Make one plait at the top of the neck, just long enough to bend into a plait. Bend it in two and pull the remaining ponytail up through the top of the plait. Incorporate this in the next plait down. Continue all down the neck. I’ll try to find a video…
 
Abacus said:
There’s a method that works really well (just tried googling, can’t find it). Make one plait at the top of the neck, just long enough to bend into a plait. Bend it in two and pull the remaining ponytail up through the top of the plait. Incorporate this in the next plait down. Continue all down the neck. I’ll try to find a video…
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I've seen this before actually! Thanks for the video, I will take a look. Maybe the way is to let the mane get longer and do this with it. We do Working Equitation so maybe this will suit, even though he's not Iberian.
 
Matafleur said:
I've seen this before actually! Thanks for the video, I will take a look. Maybe the way is to let the mane get longer and do this with it. We do Working Equitation so maybe this will suit, even though he's not Iberian.
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I've used it for hunting a Welsh pony with a very long mane, TBH you'd get away with the plaits for dressage, they can look pretty good.
 
Polos Mum said:
Can you do a running plat for the dressage? You certainly can unaffiliated and it looks really smart.

You're only other option is some form of drastic chopping - solo comb or scissors !
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I totally could but I think it's too dense. It's not that long at the moment but there is so much of it, and it is wild and free!

I think both solo comb and scissors may make it worse!
 
Will try to find a video but I did the tucking the end of each plait into the next one with my actual Highland and it worked and took maybe 30 mins? (Less if you’re competent at plaiting!)

Running plait is the other option (I WISH I could do them but I just can’t). My Highland had a super thick mane with the consistency of wire wool and it did running plait really nicely if someone who wasn’t me and was GOOD AT IT did it.

Oooor and I really really don’t know how to do it there is plaiting in a lattice but think you need a pretty long mane for it to work well
 
Boulty said:
Will try to find a video but I did the tucking the end of each plait into the next one with my actual Highland and it worked and took maybe 30 mins? (Less if you’re competent at plaiting!)

Running plait is the other option (I WISH I could do them but I just can’t). My Highland had a super thick mane with the consistency of wire wool and it did running plait really nicely if someone who wasn’t me and was GOOD AT IT did it.

Oooor and I really really don’t know how to do it there is plaiting in a lattice but think you need a pretty long mane for it to work well
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I will experiment at the weekend and see if I can get this to work
 
I did the big Dutch dressage plaits in Chilli's thick mane (it didn't grow long enough for a running plait, also I find the running plait can discourage them from stretching forward especially in front of the withers), if you use quick knots they're very quick to do.

Will try to find a photo...
ETA - found one! I should mention that I am rubbish at plaiting so they’d look a lot better with a bit more care / talent 🤣. Also it would look better with a forelock plait but my attempts tend to look like a stunted unicorn horn.

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Matafleur said:
I totally could but I think it's too dense. It's not that long at the moment but there is so much of it, and it is wild and free!

I think both solo comb and scissors may make it worse!
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Mine has a really think main, some of the threads of each plat are probably a 50p in diameter or more - it still looks neat when done I'll dig out a photo
 
j1ffy said:
I did the big Dutch dressage plaits in Chilli's thick mane (it didn't grow long enough for a running plait, also I find the running plait can discourage them from stretching forward especially in front of the withers), if you use quick knots they're very quick to do.

Will try to find a photo...
ETA - found one! I should mention that I am rubbish at plaiting so they’d look a lot better with a bit more care / talent 🤣. Also it would look better with a forelock plait but my attempts tend to look like a stunted unicorn horn.

View attachment 170125
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Having been for a lesson today, consensus is big dressage plaits and suck it up! I will have to lose my love of small eventing plaits and embrace sewing. Or maybe quikknots if they work?!
 
Matafleur said:
Having been for a lesson today, consensus is big dressage plaits and suck it up! I will have to lose my love of small eventing plaits and embrace sewing. Or maybe quikknots if they work?!
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Quikknots are ok but I’d recommend getting the XL ones for big plaits - I found the normal ones fine for the thinner parts of Chilli’s mane but they couldn’t handle the middle.

Upholstery needles are essential for big plaits, with the added bonus that they have bigger holes for the thread. As there are fewer plaits it doesn’t take long to do them.
 
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