Running braid

Hey, has anyone else tried this? I used it for my last dressage show. The pic's a quick one I did on wednesday, a bit uneven. For the show it was tighter and I used extra hold hair stuff, and it wasn't as dropped. Is this acceptable for dressage schooling shows? It's on an Anglo arab that looks kind of ponyish, and his mane is too long for button braids and too short for continential.

And, it leaves manes cute and wavy for a bit if you keep it in a while.

I like the running braid.. it looks nice and it's an easy way to get hair out of the way - I.e. I do a running braid down my mare's mane when it's hot out and I know I'll be working her hard.
However, I do not find them at all acceptable for the show ring - mainly because they are so labour-free... and if I have to suffer through 3+ painstaking hours of doing proper braids, then everyone should
No, but really, they are very easy to do, and I do not consider them "proper" for the showring.
I would certainly do one for a sale picture just to tame a mane a little and make the horse look a little more polished - but if I had the time I'd do proper braids.
It's all about image ... it's easy to pull your horse out of the pen, give it a quick brush and enter the showring... it takes effort to do braids, and bathe, shine the hooves, etc..
I am in no way putting down running braids or that picture - it's lovely! And I already stated I do like them.. but there's a place for them

I'm not much for running braids but I know they are acceptable for certain breeds and shows. I would look it up to make sure before you decide to show.

As far as I'm concerned it's prefectly acceptable for breeds that are supposed to have natural manes like friesians, morgans and arabians.

In many of our saddlebred shows there are horses who show country pleasure (saddleseat style with a full mane and tail) and hunter pleasure (does that need explaining??) The running braid is essential for any horse who is cross entered between country and hunter, and is actually the most commonly seen fashion in the hunter ring

It's kind of hard to see in this pic:

I think they're pretty. :)

I know it is probably not acceptable for western classes on a stock type horse, but that is exactly what I am going to do this year. Dez (my stallion) has the thickest mane ever, and I have tried pulling and thinning, and even clipping the underside. He differs from many stock type horses because his crest (where the hairs come out) is actually like 2 inches thick, as opposed to all of our other horses with maybe a half inch section where hair comes out. No amount of thinning has helped, and it has always looked ridiculous, so I let it grow back out, and plan on using a very tight running braid with some quick braid to make him look tidy. We will see what the judges tell me this year...I may be out there pulling main again :roll:

Dressage schooling shows, yes, but not A rated shows.
A lot of the people who are in the dressage schooling shows with me doing running braids on horses that can be braided and they don't get marked down.

Sometimes it depends on the judge though.

You don't get marked on appearence for dressage, although if you present un untidy horse you will not be allowed in the ring. I think they're fine depending on what kind of class your doing, but personally don't like them used out and about at shows, as JDI sais, they seem like the lazy way out

I think they're pretty for everyday, but not so much for the show ring.