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first braiding attempt!

3K views 18 replies 13 participants last post by  QHDragon 
#1 ·
Went to a show yesterday (no pictures from the show sadly) and decided to give a long braid a try. I think it turned out well for a first attempt. Half way through the show I had to re-do it though. I couldn't get it really tight for the life of me, but practice makes perfect I suppose.






By the way, in the show we placed in all of our classes. Yay! Did beginner hunter over fences (5th place, I think we did the course too fast), beginner jumpers (1st place, cuz we did the course super fast...), beginner EQ (3rd place, picked up a wrong lead, ah well), and then the intro dressage tests 1 and 2 (1st in both which isn't saying much because there was only one other rider on a cranky pony). Was nervous about cantering him, but my friend that went with me told me to just go for it.
 
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#3 ·
I think it looks really good! Nice and tidy. =]

I hear that sewing it up will help it stay, of course I don't know how to do that, so hopefully someone else can help you out, or maybe you can find a video on YouTube?

I'm also trying to find a way to braid that last little bit by the withers back up to the crest. I'm not sure how I'm going to do it, but it's always bothered me how it just hangs there at the end, lol.

Oh, you can also try a long braid all the way down her neck at the crest. Just another variation of the same braid. =]
 
#5 ·
Thanks!

riccil0ve - I heard about sewing the very end up. I will have to look into that.

FehrGroundRanch - this is an acceptable alternative to braiding as far as I know. I did it this way because he has a really long mane that I reall didn't want to cut.

I think it will look better if keep getting it really tight each time I bring in a new piece of hair. This was really easy actually, I thought I was going to have issues since I can't french braid regular hair.
 
#6 ·
Mane looks great! :) If you want it really tight, try standing on the ''wrong'' side of the horse while you braid. It often helps :)

And congrats to placing :P
How old is your horse and what breed is he(she?)?
 
#9 ·
Was the mane wet? Thats the secret to getting a really tight braid, and have a bucket and rewet it when it drys where you are working. Hairspray can help at the end to keep it looking fresh, and don't let your horse rub! But wetting the mane before braiding is muy importante!
 
#11 ·
First, Congrats on placing in all your events! Well done.

Second, nice job on the braid. Can't believe you can't french braid!

Third, yes wetting will produce a tighter braid and also adding a little "product" while you braid. A good firm gel. Just don't over use.

And last, yes the more you practice the better you get. Looks like it's all good from here!
 
#13 ·
That looks like quite a nice running braid to me, especially for your first time!

I know how you feel about pulling her mane, I have an arabian that I bought with a mane down to his shoulders. When I first bought him, I wouldn't pull it even though we were showing hunters. But I finally gave in, and while sometimes I miss it, I love how he looks with traditional button braids. Not to mention his mane was so thick we could barely get half of it in the running braid =P

But what a cute horse and congrats on your placings, and best of luck for future shows and braids!
 
#14 ·
that looks really good! I tried doing that with my mare, and here mane is SO thick it was really hard. and i didnt really know what I was doing, lol.
 
#16 ·
I am a terrible person at explaining things, but the general idea is that you start a braid and each time you cross over to the left take a new piece of mane. It helps if you go through the mane with a braiding comb first so that it's kinda pre sectioned. Keep pulling it tight, and like some of the people said above, try wetting it down a little bit before.
 
#18 ·
looks good for first time! youll get better each time you do it too. and i know what you mean about not being able to braid. its funny, i cant braid a persons hair for the life of me (atleast not well) i find it a lot easier to work on the horses for some reason. maybe its because peoples hair tends to be real soft and shiny and slides apart easy? i dont know, but the horses are definately easier.
 
#19 ·
I can do normal braids pretty well, they are just time consuming, I much prefer banding when I can, but that requires a short mane too. I think if I do ever cut his mane I will just shave it all off.
 
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