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Hunter Braids: These are flat braids horse hair braids

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Hunter Braids: These are flat braids horse hair braids

Braiding horse hair can be just as tricky as braiding your own hair. There are different types of braids for different reasons and, well, you know how it is - your horse obviously wants to look his best before he steps out in front of all those ns. Here are the top 5 styles you can use when braiding horse hair, to make your horse look and feel like a million bucks.

Button Braids: These are the most common types of braids in the US and the UK. Theyre round and typically used for show horses. Each horse generally has between 9 and 15 button braids - more, to make the neck look longer, and less,horse hair braids to make it look shorter. Years ago judges required that your horse have an odd number of buttons but these days the rules are more relaxed.

Hunter Braids: These are flat braids, much smaller than buttons, and a horse can have 20 to 30 on the neck. Hunter braids are allowed for dressage competitions but theyre typically seen in US hunt seat competitions.

Knob Braids: These are a variation of the hunter braids and theyre usually used in dressage competitions. Youll also see them at breed or jumping shows.

French Hunter Braids: These are flat braids horse hair braids,Braids: You may also hear these referred to as Andalusian braids and theyre typically used on a horse with a long main. The French braid is generally used on horses competing in dressage who also might be required to show with a long mane at other times.

Continental Braids: These arent really a braid like the others and sometimes youll hear them called a macrame braid. They work best on horses with long manes. A Continental braid looks like a net and knots or rubber bands are used to join strands of hair to create the design.

Before braiding horse hair you should take a look at the competition requirements. Certain horses and certain competitions require different braiding styles.

For example, Baroque breeds like the Andalusian or Friesian typically show with their manes left long and natural, but in some competitions theyre required to have a French braid.

For Arabian horses you show in multiple events their mane should be long and natural in all events, with a 6 to 8 inch bridle path. However, for dressage,horse hair braids hunt seat or show hack then the French braid is the braid of choice.

As you can see, theres a lot more to braiding horse hair than picking up a brush and comb and a few rubber bands. The best thing to do is to check the competition requirements before you start braiding. Youll more than likely only need to learn a couple of different braids. But wont your horse be proud when he prances out into the ring with his beautifully braided mane?

Teresa Douglas is absolutely passionate about braiding horse hair so they look like a million bucks, whether theyre in the show ring or not. Visit her blog to learn how to braid a horse mane so your horse will look like a winner, too.

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