false horse tails Show Horses and their Beautiful Tail Braid

Classic French Braid with Pinwheel. Variations in the hair colors often make tail braids very unique to each animal.

Tuck - For those who dont care for the Pinwheel, here the free portion of the braid is just neatly tucked in.

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Missed the manes? See...Show Horses and their Beautiful Mane Braids

Some classes at horse shows are judged on a horse or ponys conformation; or how they are built. Similar to a dog show, it is based on quality breeding and intended purpose for the breed. A beautiful tail braid draws positive attention to and shows off the hindquarters.

Spectators at irs and competitions are often kept at a distance from the horses for safety reasons (especially from their rear-ends!), so heres your chance to see up-close and personal what the braids in the horses tails look like. Here are a few styles of tail braids I have done over the years. Enjoy!

is great for an added touch of flair and refinement. The braided portion of the strands are exposed like a decorative piping and the gathered strands lie snug to the tailbone. Like the other versions, it can be finished off in any way you choose.

You alternative tail braid is GORGEOUS! Any chance youll be doing a tutorial on this one? Im just learning how to braid (just for fun, not getting into the braiding business....no one would pay me to braid a tail, Im pretty horrible at it!)

Horse braiding is a great skill to have. You not only save money by doing it yourself, but you can also make money too! Where else can you earn $45 per hour? ...And yes, you CAN learn to braid!

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BEAUTIFUL!!!!! I wish you were around here so I could take lessons. I cant even find anyone to pay to braid for me around here (South of DC and Annapolis, MD).

is a beautiful design that originated for practical reasons and then made its mark on the show-world time and again. Before the popular trend of ke tails hit, it was an especially attractive choice for horses with little to no tail to brag about.

No Conformation or In-Hand class is complete without a beautifully braided tail. This 2 year old patiently awaits her debut in the show ring.

Mud Knot - Both the free braid and the remaining tail is intricately wound around the base of the tailbone.

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If you have questions about your own braiding challenges or are interested in learning these and other show grooming tips, please comment below and also check out my blog,The Mane Alternative. I will be adding articles often and they could be catered to your question!

Copyright note: Please ask for my permission before distributing any of these photos. They are my own work and craft.

Most horse show tail styles are French Braided. They are then tied-off in one of several ways for a customized look.

Stick - (not yet pictured) Rather than rolling the free-braid up, it is doubled back and molded into a stick shape that freely hangs with the remainder of the free flowing tail.

Other reasons that tails might be braided is more practical than esthetic. Polo, Racing, Hunting and Driving are just a few examples of activities where tails may need to be secured out of harms way.

Traditionally, horses and ponies to be shown in English styles of riding and driving are braided for horse shows. If there is braiding to be done, the mane always comes first. But theres nothing quite so gorgeous than when the look is completed with a finely braided tail. The braiding styles are absolutely beautiful pieces of art and many hours of love and practice have gone into producing them.

Braiding prices vary depending on your area. Here, hunter manes are $45 and tails are $30 a piece. If youre just getting started, you can charge less to get more experience and business. Good Luck!

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Hi Meredith. Thank you! You definitely should learn. Ask a local braider if they will do a lesson for you. If youre in my area, Ill be glad to help you out.

once again, is my own creation. And, just like the manes, works especially well on horses and ponies that have overly voluminous tailsBlack fake horse tails - No.4,

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