[Ponies4Paige]

Im going to get into jumping soon with my 9 yr old qh and his mane is super short (mabey 6") and very thick.... i was wondering if i could do a running braid instead of buttons for shows....also i was wondering about having two running braids down the neck because his mane is soooo short. Any help or tips would be great

 

[gypsygirl]

idk i think that would be kinda weird...

i would just pull it & do hunter or button braids =]

 

[MIEventer]

You can do anything you want for Jumpers. Just make sure it is neat, tidy and respectable

With a mane that short, can you do Running Braids?

 

[gypsygirl]

i dont think so ...

 

[darkwillow]

you probably could, but it would involve a lot of hairgel...
You could try pulling it to make it thinner

 

[MIEventer]

If you are doing big shows, like Classics, or Medals - then I'd say Button Braid.

Majority don't even braid for most Jumper shows, you rarely see braids unless it is GP or Medals or the Classic.

There is no "In" or "out" in Jumpers - it is primarily about competition, period. Not whether the horse has Button Braids, Hunter Braids or a Running Braid. Most don't care whether you have a braided mane or not, it is about performance - and who cares what others think? Just leave the rails up and show them how to get it done

If you do a Running Braid, make sure it is clean, tidy and neat.

I personally - don't braid at all. I prefer to have mane to wrap my fingers around over fences, can't do that with braids.

 

[eventerdrew]

I've only seen a running braid on one horse in competition- a purebred Arabian. A person that I used to ride with had an Arabian mare that she evented and she looked horrid with a short mane. So, she just did a running braid after she grew it out.

I wouldn't recommend trying it with that short of a mane. I would chop a couple of inches off and do some buttons. Or not at all if you are doing jumpers as it doesn't really matter.

I'm with MIE- I like something to grab ahold of in those "holy s***" moments :lol:

 

[MIEventer]

Yeah, personally for Jumpers - I don't braid at all. Heck, when I event, I don't braid. I do all 3 phases with a free flowing mane

 

[~*~anebel~*~]

I braid for everything lol.
But, if you are intent on not braiding, then please make sure you have pulled that mane and it is tidy! Unless you are showing in a breed show, or have a fresian, morgan, arab, etc.. running braids, unless done very well, are sloppy looking and can be tacky. I showed a QH mare with a mane that covered her neck and the owner did not want it shortened and you bet I was at the show at 5AM sewing that mane into tidy buttons.
It is disrespectful to show up looking sloppy. Show organizers, judges and other competitors have put a lot of money and time into showing. We all need to respect that by showing up looking our best.

Good luck!

 

[Amir]

A thick mane that short won't hold a running braid. I tried it on a friends standy for a show last year and it fell out as soon as he moved his head.
Just pull it to make it look neat and then you can leave it.

 

[Ponies4Paige]

well ok i wont braid it does seem alot easier, but when anebel said "if you are not intent on braiding then please make sure you pull that mane and it is clean and tidy" well there is a problem with that 1st of all it sure does take alot of work 2nd i ride western to so he would look kinda funny (in my opinion) but i really dont wanna braid so i guess i should get to work at pullin the mane

 

[Void]

If you are doing big shows, like Classics, or Medals - then I'd say Button Braid.

Majority don't even braid for most Jumper shows, you rarely see braids unless it is GP or Medals or the Classic.

NOOOOOOO on button braids for Medals or Classics its just wrong. Button braids anywhere on the A or AA circuit is a no no. Do a Hunter braids. (sorry, no button braids and hunter braids aren't synonymous)

 

[Horsel02]

When I was showing my Half arab in hunters I did a running braid because I had kept his mane long. If was short I would have probably braided. I know at one show I was showing at and this was a small open hunter show I was commented by the judge because I was the only one to braid and she really appreciated it.

 

[masatisan]

I saw a lady at a show who was in the same situation, too long for hunter/button too short for a full running braid. She did, I think, about six small running braids about four inches each all down her horses neck and tucked the ends up. It looked really snazzy. (wish I had a pic)

There's also scalloped braids, but they seem kind of of complicated. For some reason I can't find a good picture.

 

[ariielise]

scallop braids are fairly simple. Braid out into your individual braids as you would for hunter braids, and loop yarn on the ends. Tie the end of the first into the base of the third, the second to the 4th, so on. Let me try to find pictures...


ETA: I found a drawing that shows how
http://www.horsegroomingsupplies.co...238-different-horse-braids-scallop-braids.jpg

 

[White Foot]

In my opinion (unless the horse has a really long mane and the person is a good at doing the running braid) they always look messy. I would go for for not braiding or the traditional hunter braid.

 

[CharliGirl]

Yeah, running braids will fall out if the mane isn't long enough--10 inches is about the shortest the mane can be for the braid to stay in.

 

[Ponies4Paige]

well ya see um my horses mane is scraggly at the ends, almost like when we get split ends..... i thought about cutting it but was afraid i would mess his mane up also it is soooo uncontrolable...almost to the point where i was about to go inside and get my flat iron! its wavy is some places straight in others and oddly curly in another ugh! i was wondering if it would be possible to straighten your horses mane without fryin it ( don't wory about him spookin at it....after his bath he always gets blow-dried cuz mom wont let me use a towel)

 

[Nature2horses]

No that wouldn't look very good in the jumping ring, you have to make it a little shorter and plait it.

 

[Quixotic]

I'm with MIE & eventerdrew - I don't ever braid, I like having that mane loose for emergency grabbing as well. The judge won't care either way.