Mane - cutting or braiding - at what level?

I plan on showing my APHA stallion at a bunch of open shows this year for HUS, english pleasure, and h/j. My question is about his mane. His mane is currently very long (way past his neck). With just open shows do I need to cut his mane short? If so, how short? Does it need to be braided for each show? If so, should his tail be braided as well?

Thank you - and pictures would be appreciated.

The point of braiding is to show off the neck, so if you are going to leave it long, do a running braid tight against the crest.

The tail is usually braided in hunters along the length of the tailbone.

Bump :)

If you cut it, you have to cut it rather short, 3-5 inches more or less. If you don't want to cut off all of his beautiful mane, maybe just trim it a little and do a very tight running braid along his neck like equiniphile suggested. :)

Please never, ever cut the mane. Pull it if you want it shorter. A cut mane almost never looks good, to be quite honest.

That being said, if you want to leave it long you can, just do a running braid.

If' its really nice, long and thick I'd go with the running braid as suggested. I personally pull/cut (I'm using solocomb), BUT my mare's manes were short and rather thin to start with.

This is his current mane (most of it at least - ignore the colored part that was our gift from Gypsy Tails):

Anyone else?

Yup, definitely do a running braid. Or trim it an inch or two and do rosettes (or something like that). Though it still might be too long for those. Not sure, I never did a horse's mane/tail. :/
Anyone?

Look at my own thread: Is french braid a must for show?

Moonstick posted some great videos on how to do the running braid and "usual" braids. I think it may be helpful!