How to Braid a Horse's Mane for Hunting

Braiding a hunting horse's mane is a tradition that came about when foxhunters were trying to find a way to keep their horse's mane from becoming tangled in trees and bushes, it gives the horse a nice tidy appearance that is easy to keep clean.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plaiting comb
• Rubber bands
• Thread
• Hair gel

1. Tether your horse securely and stand on the right side of him. Use a stepstool so you have a better reach.

2. Start at top of the mane behind the horse's ears. Grab a clump of hair and make sure it is thoroughly detangled. Use a claw style clip to hold the remainder of the mane out of the way.

3. Braid the hair very tightly all the way down to the end. Keep plenty of tension on the mane while braiding so that it lays flat against the neck. Secure the ends with rubber bands and fold the braid once or twice, depending on the length of the braid. Secure at the top with a rubber band or thread.

4. Repeat Step 3 until the entire mane is braided.

Tips & Warnings

• The braids should lay flat against the right side of the horse's neck. If you can see the braids when you stand to the left of the horse then you didn't braid them tightly enough.
• Use hair gel to control any loose ends that stick out of the braids.
• Use a plaiting comb to measure the braids and ensure that all of the braids are the same width.
• Don't wash or condition the mane on the day that you braid it or the hair may be slippery. If your horse's mane needs to be washed you should wait a few days before braiding it.