PLAITING THE MANE AND TAIL
We plait our horses for many reasons:
If you are showing or competing
To make the horse’s mane lay over one side.
If you want to enhance or hide a feature on your horse, for example, if they have a short neck by putting more plaits in, can make it appear longer, or, if they have very muscled quarters, plaiting their tail can show off this feature.
You may need to keep the hair away from a certain area.
Plaiting is very easy but it does take practice and a horse with the patience of a saint is a godsend.
HOW TO PLAIT
Split the hair into 3 sections.
Put the right hand piece into the middle.
Put the left hand piece into the middle.
Put the right hand piece into the middle.
Keep repeating for as long as you want the plait.
TIGHTNESS IS THE KEY
THE MANE
How to do a simple bobble plait with bands
You will need
A mane comb
Plaiting bands the same colour as your horse’s mane.
I am using contrasting colour bands so you can see more clearly.
A clean well trimmed and thinned mane. I am demonstrating on Susie, our little school pony, because she is easy to get photos and videos of without Sue, my camera lady, having to climb on anything. Susie needs her mane and the grease in it as she lives out at nights, and we live in the UK and it is winter at the moment. So please forgive the rather large plaits and unwashed mane.
Everybody has their own way, I am showing you the way I do it, but you must practise and find the best way for you and your horse.
How to
Comb the mane.
You can damp the mane down as this makes it easier to plait and holds the plaits in place.
Divide the mane into equal bunches using the comb to measure, and to make sure the line in between each bunch is straight.
You should have an odd number so as not to split the neck in 2, and aim to have about 11-13 depending on your horse’s neck and mane.
A horse with a short neck would have more plaits, to give the illusion of a longer neck, and a long neck will have less plaits.
If your horse has a very large crest you would try to plait as low as possible, and with a ewe type neck (the crest appearing to dip down) the plaits should be as high as possible.
Plait each bunch in an upward direction, making sure the band is tight at the base and in the centre of the section.
Plait as far down as you can and secure with a band tucking the scraggly ends in.
To finish, fold each plait in half and then half again and secure tightly with a band at the base.
Some people use hair spray on the plaits to help keep them in place. If you are going to do this then test on a piece of skin on their back leg at least a week before, so that you know they will not react to it.
How to secure with thread
You may wish to use thread to secure your plaits so they will stay in for longer.
Again everyone has their own way, I am showing you how I find it easiest, but you will need to practise and find your own way that suits you and your horse.
You will need
A- plaiting thread the same colour as your horse’s mane.
B- a blunt needle.
There are many companies that make these especially for horses.
How to
Follow the above instructions from 1-5.
Thread your needle with a long piece of thread and tie the end.
Fold the plait in half and then half again.
Push the needle from the base of the folded plait on the inside to the outside, making sure you are careful to miss your lovely horse’s skin.
Half circle around to the same place and push the needle through again. Pull the thread tight as you go.
Half circle in the opposite direction, again pushing the needle back through and pulling the thread tight.
Wrap the thread twice around the plait finishing on the outside.
Push the needle through the plait pulling the thread tight.
Finish by knotting the thread through the previous loops. I always do this twice so that it does not come undone.
Cut the thread as close to the plait as you can.
How to remove thread plaits
Cut the thread on the left hand side of the plait.
Cut the thread on the right hand side.
Unravel the plait and remove the bands.
The running plait
Wash and comb mane. Again we are using susie and she needs the grease in her mane as she is going out in the field at nights, so please forgive her greasy mane.
Plait one left hand cross then the right, just behind the ears.
When you put the left hand piece across to the middle add in some more mane keeping everything as tight as you can.
Put the right hand section across without adding more mane.
Continue all the way down the mane, keeping it as tight as you can.
When you get to the end of the mane, plait a single plait.
Wrap a band around the end tucking in all the straggly bits.
Fold the plait in half and then in half again and secure with a band.
Plaiting the forelock
Start a normal plait by taking 3 small sections of hair at the top of the forelock.
On the second cross over add some more forelock in.
Each time you cross a piece of hair over add a small piece of forelock keeping it as tight as you can.
Once all the forelock has been included in the braid, do a single plait to the end of the hair.
Secure with a band tucking in the scraggly bits.
Secure with a band tucking in the scraggly bits.
Push the banded plait in the gap you have made so there is only a small bit of the plait left.
Secure the plait with a band.
PLAITING THE TAIL
Wash the tail the day before and brush the tail thoroughly before plaiting. I have not washed Susie’s tail as she lives out in the field and needs the grease in her tail as waterproofing.
Take 2 pieces of hair from the sides and band together to make the centre piece for the plait. Once you get more experienced at plaiting the tail, you will not need to do this.
Start plaiting the tail like a normal plait:
A- Taking 3 sections of hair (one from the left, your banded central piece and a section from the right).
B- Cross the right section over the middle piece making it the new centre section.
C- Cross the left piece over making it the new middle section.
TIGHTNESS IS THE KEY.
As you work down, alternating crossing the sides over the middle piece, start adding a small section from the side of the tail each time. This is called braiding.
Make sure you keep each piece small and straight across like the red line, not diagonally down like the blue line.
Braid all the way down to the bottom of the dock (tail bone).
Plait a single normal plait to the end of the hair.
Put a band in the end tucking in the scraggly end bits.
Fold the tail up, tucking the end up inside the braid, then put a band around to stop it falling down.
A lovely plaited tail. I think Susie likes it as well.
Final Thoughts
As with all things to do with horses- practice makes perfect.
Tightness is the key with plaiting though.
I look forward to seeing pictures of the lovely plaits you do.