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you can still make your horse look like a national champion

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you can still make your horse look like a national champion

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If you grew up riding hunters 20 years ago, chances are you mastered the art of braiding a hunters mane. It was simply part of a show horses turnout. But with non-rated divisions allowing todays riders to forego braiding, the ability to braid well is disappearing. A beautiful coiffure on a modern show hunter is now often left to the skillful hands of a professional groom. However, you can still make your horse look like a national champion, even if youre competing at a schooling show. Just follow these step-by-step tips.

Assemble an assortment of braiding tools: 4-ply yarn cut into strips 12-inches long (for our photographic purposes, were using a contrasting color), a latch hook (bought at any craft store), a plastic alligator hair clip, a mane comb, scissors and a spray bottle of water mixed with a styling gel or braiding solution.

Make sure youre braiding a mane thats freshly shampooed, free of coat polishthatll only make it slickand pulled and thinned to about 4 inches.

Using the comb, make a part about one-inch wide. Each braid needs to be the same width against the top of the horses crest. Snap the clip on the neighboring hair to hold it out of your way.

Begin braiding. Keep even tension on the hair, horse hair braids sure that you pull down on the mane as you braid. If you pull the hair toward you, the finished braids will stand away from the horses neck.

Meticulous braiders make a note of how many crossovers they make in a braid before they add the yarn. This adds a consistent look to the finished job.

Wrap both yarn tails around the braid and knot once. Make sure you pinch the end of the braid with the fingers of one hand while you knot with the other. This will prevent the braid from unraveling.

For a secure knotHorse hair hat decora, wrap both pieces of yarn around the bottom of the pigtail while forming a small loop with your index finger.

Finish the entire mane in the same manner. There isnt any hard and st rule about how many braids are required in a mane, but generally speaking, the more, the merrier. And the ncier.

Once your tool has hold of the yarn tails, gently pull on the end of the braid until it butts up against the horses crest.

This is what the mane will look like at this second stage. Now you are ready to knot the braids off.

Cross the yarn ends under the braid once, then bring the ends back to the top side of the braid about halfway down,horse hair braids where youll finish off with a double knot.

As you prepare to knot the braid, heres a little trick to make the braid lie flat against your horses neck.

Tie the first part of your double knot, but before you snug it up, slip your thumb underneath. Press the braid against the crest with your thumb

Then push upward slightly, enough to form a little bump in the braid. Slide your thumb out from underneath as you snug up the knot.

To finish the mane, braid the forelock. You can simplify things and braid the forelock like the rest of the mane, but if you want to be extra ncy, create a French braid.

Now, wasnt that easy? If your horse tends to rub at night or between classes, you will need to protect your beautiful braids. Pull a stretchy hood over your horses head and neck. Wearing some funky pajamas is a small price to pay for looking lovely.

Need help with the tail? Check out our guide in Top Tails for Show Hunters