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Key Braiding Skill:
French Braiding The Long Mane
For those who show Arabians, Morgans, Andalusians, and other traditionally long-maned breeds, hunter and dressage classes can pose a major grooming challenge. Pulling the mane is an option only if you do not also show in classes where braiding is not appropriate. French braids are the usual compromise, but they tend to look like a compromise indeed, sagging down the neck and/ or falling out every time the horse stretches its head.
Although the short-comings of a French braid cannot entirely be overcome, there is a simple trick that will vastly improve both their appearance and lifespan. Follow closely, then grab your stepstool and your QuicBraid and practice, practice, practice.
Before you begin, the mane must be clean, soft, and free of tangles, mats, and foreign objects. I normally bathe Excalibur in Quic Silver before a show, followed by Quic Condition 1 on the mane and tail, and a very careful combing or picking out. Then we’re ready to braid.
The braid starts immediately behind the bridle path, if your horse has one, or with the first section of hair not combed foreword into the forelock if he’s like my horse Excalibur (the model here) and does not. Spray QuicBraid on the top three to four inches of mane just before you begin, to make the hair easier to hold and reduce flyaway.
Separate the hair into three sections each about ½” wide. The first two passes are the same as an ordinary braid—left over center, then right over center. With the second crossing of the left strand, add a new section about ½” wide to the existing strand. Tug gently on the hair to make the whole braid as tight as possible against the crest.
Each time the left side crosses over, add a new section of hair to the braid. Apply firm, steady pressure (don’t jerk!) to the braided portion to keep it snug. Apply more Quic Braid to the mane as needed.
Now, here’s the trick to making the braid last! As you braid on down the neck, keep your HANDS CLOSE TO THE CREST AND NO FARTHER DOWN THE NECK THAN THE POINT FROM WHICH YOU ARE DRAWING NEW HAIR. Yes, it really is that simple. This hand position builds enough slack into the braid that it can move with the horse and not pull out.
Notice here that I am actually pulling the braid (with my right hand) back up towards the horse’s ears—this is the thick part of his mane, where it takes more effort to keep the braid tight and to resist letting my hands move down and away from the crest. At this point the braid may ‘slouch’ or buckle slightly, this is okay as it is this slack that prevents the braid from pulling out.
Here I am ¾ of the way down the neck, in the thickest part of his mane. The braid has gotten fatter, but it’s still tight along the crest of the neck, and my hands are still even with the new hair being added to the braid.
A slightly different camera angle shows how the braid stays close to the crest all the way down.
Now I’ve reached the withers, and am adding the last hair to the braid. If your horse has short hairs at the withers, it is better to leave them out of the French braid, as they will pull out anyway. They can be tucked under the saddle pad, or put up in a single small braid of their own.
After you’ve added the last hairs to the braid, continue braiding what’s left into a ‘pigtail’.
Add a piece of yarn to the pigtail, following the directions in the Key Skill article, and continue braiding, stopping ½ to ¾” before the end of the hair (or when it gets too thin for a secure braid).
Tie off the end of the braided pigtail with the loop knot shown in the Key Skill article. Do NOT cut the ends of the string.
Fold the pigtail portion back and tuck it under the French braid. Pass one end of the string up through the braid, bring the other end below it, and tie off in a square knot.
Here I am pulling the square knot tight with a firm tug on the ends of the string. It never hurts to put an extra knot or two here for security.
Run additional pieces of yarn or string around the pigtail and the main braid every inch or two to prevent the pigtail from drooping. This braid was done in a hurry with only two extra ties, normally I’d use at least four. There’s no such thing as too many ties on this part of the braid.
After securing your knots, snip the ends of the strings close to the braid.
Spray wispy ends with QuicBraid and press or work them down into the braid for a tidy appearance.
Here’s the finished product of the braid job shown above—four hours and two divisions of working hunters after I put it in. If I had another class, I’d slick the loose hairs down with more Quic Braid.
Another example of a ‘used’ braid. The slight twisting and rippling is due to the slack built in by my hand position, and it has allowed the braid to stay tight and tidy through a lot of movement.
The French braid is easily removed by using a seam ripper to cut each piece of yarn or string, then gently unraveling the braid with your fingers.
