Braiding for classes

I need some tips on braiding in different show classes. I have a horse show coming up and I was wondering what braid I should do. I do my english braids like this (similar pics to what I do)



But what kind of braids should I do for the different english and western classes? Such as pleasure, and equitation. I usually leave it down for western and put it up for english, as I said before. But does it really matter? Thanks everyone!

Honestly I don`t like long manes, especially in English lol. But that is just me personally.

A running braid for your english classes is fine. I would do a tight running braid though like this

I really don't like running braids for english classes, IMO they fall out too easily especially when the mane is pulled. The amount of times I see horses going around with 1/2 undone braids is ridiculous.

Baroque breeds and horses who's manes have been left long hold it better, but unless you braid it super tight and have a longer mane to work with, don't do it.

I think rosettes give a more polished look for english classes, especially when done well.



1/2 plaitted

I would love to do the small braids, but I don't know how. How do you the tight running braid?

What kind of show is this? That may help in giving you an option on what to do :)

The small rosettes are actually pretty easy, but you would need to clip your horses mane nice and short.

Here is a clip on how to do the long mane in a running braid


To do the short plaits this is a decent video

It is just a fun show, all flat classes. Pleasure, equitation, Barrels, its an English and Western show but I want to stand out. Does that help?

I show pretty much the same way you're talking about. I never tried, but I think it is physically impossible to have a horse's mane braided for english and taking it down for western. Even worse if Western is first for you! English always goes first at my shows, but even then, it is impossible to take out the braids and make the mane look decent, because the mane will be kinky. Even if you do the running braid, you'll probably have to rush, and a rushed braid job looks bad. I don't suggest the running braid, because it pulls out so easily.

I always do button braids with my horse. I guess I don't have the patience to do the tiny plaits, because I'm a perfectionist when it comes to showing and would get frustrated if the braids weren't small and neat enough. For western, I just leave them in. Honestly, it looks fine. It shows off his neck, too! I guess some people in AQHA generally pick the discipline the horse is best at and do their mane based on that. If western pleasure was your strong point, you'd have the mane banded all day, or if HUS is your strong point, you keep it braided.