Plaiting

PLAITING

Plaiting your horse's mane is important to the appearance of your horse. Smaller numbers of large plaits will make a thin neck appear more muscular. Large plaits in the dip of the neck will disguise the shape where required. Increasing the number of plaits and making them small will make a thick neck appear less so.

Plaiting can be difficult. To make the task easier, rub hair gel into your horse's mane before you start. Applying setting lotion rather than just water will help keep the plaits in place for much longer.

The first plait behind your horse's head will be easier to do if you hog, or trim off a small part of the top of the mane, immediately behind your horse's ears. It will also allow the headpiece of the bridle to sit more comfortably on your horse's head.

An easy way to space plaits evenly, to enhance the appearance of your horse, is to cut pieces of about 1.5 inches long from a plastic comb and use them as spacers.

When plaiting, make sure you are at an appropriate height to be able to draw your horse's hair up into the direction of the plait, which will look much neater. An upturned crate is ideal to stand on.