How to Braid a Horse's Mane

There are times that you may want to braid your horse's mane. Horses in shows and competitions have many hours of special grooming attention that end in beautiful symmetrical rows horse lovers have come to admire. It takes some practice to master the technique of braiding a horse's mane. Use the following as your guide to learn how to braid a horse's mane.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Basic Horse Mane Braid

1. Tie or secure your horse in an area that both you and your horse will be comfortable to work on the horse's mane.

2. Gather the supplies you'll need to braid the horse's mane. Be sure to use a bench or step stool, if needed, to have a good view of the horse's complete mane area, which will be your braiding area.

3. Start with a clean but dry horse's mane. Skip the conditioner on the mane, as it makes the mane a bit slippery and the braids will slip out. Instead, use a sponge to dampen the mane with water as you work or moisten with a small amount of styling hair gel.

4. Pull the horse's mane to one side. Comb through the mane to remove any tangles, knots or debris that landed in the mane.

5. Section the mane into one-inch sections and secure each with a hair clip or rubber band.

6. Braid one section at a time. A basic braid on a horse is just the same as it is on a person's hair. Divide each 1-inch section into three even piece of mane hair. Braid downward by crossing an outside section over the middle, pull tight, resection and then pull the other outside section over the new middle section. Pull the braid to tighten and secure after each cross-over. Work all the way to the bottom and secure with a rubber band.

7. Continue braiding each section of the horse's mane until all the sections are braided. Redo any braids that are not neat, tight and even.

8. Comb the dangling ends of the horse's mane hair that's below the rubber band. Use your scissors to neatly trim or even up any straggly hairs. You're done and it wasn't too hard

Knotted Braids for Horse's Manes

9. Take a sectioned braid and very neatly fold the braid so that the rubber band securing the end of the braid is touching the beginning point of the braid.

10. Hold the braid in the position tightly with your fingers and fold the braid over again. You are folding in half each time.

11. Fold the braids as many times as necessary to form a knot. Most of the time, it's just two or three folds.

12. Secure the knot with the thick rubber bands.

13. Admire your row of braided knots down the mane of the horse's neck area.

Horse Braids for Shows and Competitions

14. Make the basic braid on your horse's mane.

15. Insert a ribbon through the rubber band securing the end of the braid. Have the ribbon secured in the rubber band at the middle point of the ribbon.

16. Do your folds to make a knotted braid.

17. Secure your folds with a strong rubber band keeping the strands of the ribbon out long.

18. Wrap the ribbon around the braided knot from each side.

19. Leave enough of the ribbon strands to tie a knot in the ribbon to secure it and then tie a tight crisp bow.

Tips & Warnings

• Be creative with the ribbons or other accessories to the braids. Use ribbons that match your horse's mane color or really bright ribbons to draw attention. There's no right or wrong, so let your imagine flow.
• Take the braids out after each day's events. If the braids are left in too long, the horse may pull and try to scratch the area causing damage to the braids, the hair in the braids or to the horse in general.
• You can braid the horse's forelock in the same manner as the other braids or knots you're doing. Just be sure to start at the top of the head and work downward towards the horse's nose.
• Make sure that the stool or bench you stand on is steady and firm. It's possible your horse may move or bump the stool causing you to fall, so prepare your work area for your own safety.

[ambertea123]

on 6/18/2009 I find it easy if the whole mane is wet because it makes the plaits tighter. also you need a pulled mane for plaiting so that the mane is not too long on thick.