Band A Horse Mane

In English horse shows, the horse's mane is often braided to show off the horse's neck and make it look slender and neat. Western riders band their horses' manes for the same reason. Banding is a time-consuming and challenging occupation for beginners, and it may take hours of practice to get it to look perfect. It is also important to practice on your horse as often as possible to familiarize it with the process. Band the mane the day before the show to save time and anxiety.

How To Thin a Mane

Trimming and thinning a horse's mane gives it a clean and neat appearance. Although horses have no feeling on the crest of the neck, it is best to thin the mane in small sections over a long period of time. Doing the entire mane in one long session may irritate the horse and make it resent the process. Thin with a pulling comb or using only your fingers, making sure to pull from the underside of the mane to make it less noticeable.

The Development of Fjord Horses

The Fjord, or Norwegian Fjord horse, is a small compact horse originating from western Norway. It is thought to be an ancient breed, and in appearance resembles the Asiatic wild horses familiar from cave paintings. Extremely strong for its size, it was used both for battle and agriculture over the centuries and is now a popular modern day riding horse. Despite standing only 14.2 hands high (56 inches), the Fjord is normally referred to as a horse rather than a pony due to its stocky, muscular physique.

How to Cut a Fjord's Mane

A Fjord is a type of horse that originated in the mountainous area of Western Norway. It is a short and stout horse that has a muscular body. It is agile and tends to be light in color. Owners use the animal for farming and riding because of its gentle temperament. Owners generally cut Fjord horses' manes very short so that they stick up straight. The horses manes are unique in that they have a black stripe down the center of them with two light layers of hair on either side. Owners traditionally leave the black part slightly longer.

How to Thin and Cure the Mane of a Horse

A ratty, unkempt mane can make even a beautiful horse appear unattractive. If you're planning on selling or showing a horse, it needs to look its best, so take the time to get its mane cleaned up. Thinning a mane is traditionally done by a method known as "pulling" because it creates a much more natural look than using scissors would. A mane that won't lie properly can often be cured by rubber-banding sections or using a neck covering. Even if you want to keep your horse's mane long and flowing, thinning it will help keep it from getting tangled…

How to Band a Horse's Mane for Western Riding

In Western horse show circles "banding" is the equivalent of the braiding done for English horse shows. The tail on a Western horse is left natural and should look full and healthy from the tip to the bottom. To get a professional-looking banded mane for a Western show class, you must first start with a clean healthy mane. Wash and condition the mane before attempting to band it; keep a bucket of water nearby to keep wetting it down.

How to Band a Horse's Mane for a Show

Preparing for a horse show can be a difficult and time-consuming task. Bathing, grooming, tacking up and practicing all take considerable time and effort to do properly. Many different horse show events, such as reining and barrel racing, allow riders to leave a horse with a long, natural mane and tail. However, in a number of sports, such as western pleasure and trail, a horse’s mane is normally banded. Banding a horse’s mane makes the neck appear thinner and longer, and gives the horse a clean, polished appearance.