White tape around plaits ?

[Llwyncwn]

I was told recently by someone who should know ... white tape around dressage plaits is only meant for WB stallions. At low level I see so many horses turned out with white tape but never at higher levels.

What do you do ?????

 

[Binkybex]

never ever ever ever ever put white tape on the plaits, Its horrible! I can see why people do as it does make the horses topline look fab but its just not right! (I guess I'm just a bit old school

)

 

[the watcher]

But it makes them look so pwetty........

I'll get my coat

 

[Llwyncwn]

Errrrrm, is that a no then?

 

[Enfys]

Haven't got a clue, so I'm no help

, but I have always wondered if they are a real pain to get out afterwards?

 

[Binkybex]

I would say it's a free for all really, you can do it if you like no one should tell you off for it. I just don't like it

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

If I owned a stunning, if occasionally hysterical, mare with Grand Prix potential and a bum to die for, I'd put white tape round any bits of her I felt like!!!!! You go girl!!!!!! Knock 'em dead at Broomies!!!!!!

 

[skewbaldpony]

when i was dressage grooming at a pretty high level, it was considered naff - what the part timers did - if that helps at all! Mind you some pretty top people do use tape, but I wouldn't want to take it out without mucking the horse's mane up. And I always plaited and unplaited every day.

 

[the watcher]

Maybe there is a marketing opportunity there, for a variation on these little frilly hats you can put on cutlets (that is what taped plaits always remind me of) - and for the truly dedicated they could be glittery or have sparkly stones glued on.....



.....off to find the craft glue and experiment

 

[mat]

Im really into the big fat boofy anky plaits atm, so much quicker and they can really help to add a bit of crest on to the more TB types!

 

[Bananaman]

Echo Mat.

The white tape is SO last year darling!

Dressage seems to suffer from fashion as much as the catwalk. One minute we're all in white edged browbands/nosebands, then it's cream instead of white, fishtail saddle squares, brass/golden bits, stirrups and spurs......the list goes on!

 

[Jo C]

I must be seriously unfashionable then as I don't have any of that. Brown tack (I'm an ex showing person!) with double bridle from showing days and white saddlecloth (the cheapest cut back one I could find)and I don't plait either cos Patrick is a native. Oh dear, I'm off to hang my head in shame.

 

[Bananaman]

No, you're fine Jo.
What I meant is that all those things have come and gone in the relatively short time that I've been in affilated dressage.

So by not following the fickle fashion trends you can't be too wrong either, 'cos at least you're not in last years fashion!

 

[skewbaldpony]

don't hang your head in shame,Jo C - know that you are the toast of the grooms in the bar!
'all that stuff' is the punch line of many a joke .....

 

[Jo C]

I just hope that one day minimalist will come back in then I will be seriously fashionable

 

[Jo C]

Groom?! Should I have one of those too?

 

[skewbaldpony]

[ QUOTE ]
Groom?! Should I have one of those too?

[/ QUOTE ]

Not if you can find someone else to blame if things go wrong

 

[StaceyTanglewood]

I must say last year when we first started we used white tape - as that was the fashion at the time but gradually its now not so we dont any more !!

as Matt said love the anky plaits and they are so much quicker - especially as im the only one who can plait on my yard !!

 

[fairhill]

What are Anky plaits?

 

[reynold]

aren't they what the showing world used to call 'plaiting to improve the conformation' ;-)

 

[Tempi]

I put white tape round Bloss's plaits for 'special' occasions! She had white tape in at the nationals both years, and at the BYRDs nationals aswell. But never for 'normal' compeitions.

Archie wont ever have white tape in as hes gay enough already apparently

 

[Alibear]

Does any one have a close up of Anky plaits, I'm intreagued.

 

[spaniel]

Me too!

And for what its worth in my opinion white taped plaits look tacky, nine times out of ten they arent straight or level and just look awful.

 

[Bananaman]

Couldn't find a clear pic of the genuine article but found one of Gribaldi with 'Anky's' in!
Also one of Rhiannon at the regionals.

Yes, basically they are just like the showing plaits, bigger and a bit 'bunchier' to help improve the topline.

 

[burtie]

[ QUOTE ]
Yes, basically they are just like the showing plaits, bigger and a bit 'bunchier' to help improve the topline.


[/ QUOTE ]

Wow I'm finally fashionable, but I've always done it because I keep forgetting to keep the mane short enough and I'm too lazy to do too many!

 

[volatis]

anky's just copying me - that's how I always plait anything that needs 'help' in the topline department

 

[the watcher]

Yup, always done it that way if they need a little help in the neck, it's nothing new

 

[shelly018]

Somtimes, sometimes not - depends on what state the mane is in!!

But, if we do it's a million tiny little ones right along the top of the mane, that's how the girlfriend was taught at a top stud - personally, I prefer the fat ones, even better if banded rather than stitched in !!!

 

[CentrestageSHS]

Could someone please tell me how to achieve the "improve the topline" or "Anky" plaits??!! I would love to know! Does the mane have to be thicker or longer? I have tried but they just look like I haven't pulled them tight enough and they look crap and floppy. I have always done very small neat tight plaits as have done a lot of county working hunter but now I am a fellow dressage diva I really need to know!!! I heard that anky uses garden wire to keep them high on the neck, is that the trick or am I just missing something?!!! Do I need to plait from above or plait vertically!!!! Please enlighten me!

 

[the watcher]

Yes, start by plaiting vertically, then bend them over, you might need to allow a little more mane to grow to give them substance