tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post1117375364973307467..comments2023-05-27T11:53:06.487-04:00Comments on Memoirs of a Horse Girl: The Mane DilemmaValhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-3391609140918044622011-10-21T15:59:53.243-04:002011-10-21T15:59:53.243-04:00Carol- Are you tempting me to leave his forelock l...Carol- Are you tempting me to leave his forelock loose? Hmmmm. I like the way that looks, too. Do you think I should leave the forelock tucked under the browband?<br /><br />smaz- I totally agree. If I had an Arab, the mane would never be cut. On the quarter horse, a neat, short mane really does look nice. I guess my horse is mirroring me. I "strongly dislike" getting my own hair cut. ;)Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-617180367625742912011-10-21T12:06:30.703-04:002011-10-21T12:06:30.703-04:00Personally I like to keep my Quarter's manes s...Personally I like to keep my Quarter's manes shortish. Coriander has a really thick mane that would make handling the reins difficult, plus I like the look. I only trim once a year though, in the fall, I let them grow out so they'll have more protection from the flies in the summer.<br /><br />Now if I had an arabian I wouldn't trim the mane at all- that just doesn't fit with my aesthetics of how they should look.smazourekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03029180368325070266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-17933798316913962512011-10-20T23:13:39.033-04:002011-10-20T23:13:39.033-04:00Harley is so gorgeous! I think a running braid loo...Harley is so gorgeous! I think a running braid looks great on him. Even though he's a quarter horse, he has enough of a baroque look to carry it off beautifully. I've seen warm bloods at international events with a loose forelock, if it's a nice think one like Harley's. I think he'd be stunning with his forelock free, and the rest in a running braid. I like shows because they 'crystalize' where I am in my training, high light training needs and give me goals, with a date to work towards. I always end up having fun, but show nerves are a down side. I think schooling shows a couple of times a year would be perfect. Good for you guys. I'm looking forward to your show report :)Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17207626703988850059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-72208735770989435702011-10-20T21:32:00.091-04:002011-10-20T21:32:00.091-04:00Mary- Thanks, Mary. I do like the running braid q...Mary- Thanks, Mary. I do like the running braid quite a lot, too. He has never been in a step-up before. He followed me on, but you should have seen his face when he stepped backward off the trailer. Where did the world go?<br /><br />Now That's A Trot- Wow! You had some great suggestions. The scallops are really beautiful. I have never seen them done with the little button at the top. That one might be fun to try. I also like the western banding. If I bought black bands that could be really neat, too. Willie's braid looks amazing! The braid was so neat and even that it really does look like his mane is short and lying flat. Thanks for the photos!<br /><br />Annette- I like riding in the warm up with nice folks who do not mind talking a little and helping each other out. I would not be happy at a big, serious-faced competition. I admire a neat, short mane, too. I think that I am just not diligent enough to keep up with it. You get to have it both ways with Jackson and Flash!<br /><br />SprinklerBandit- His mane does get tangled in the reins sometimes. I need to cut the section near his withers, because some hairs get pulled out under the saddle pad. The rub actually makes a nice place for the reins to lay, so maybe I should be careful what I wish for!<br /><br />All that mane is good for deterring flies. He seems to purposely flop mane on either side of his neck to deter flies in the summer. The forelock also makes a nice "fly bonnet".<br /><br />Ruffles- Thanks for the well wishes. I will do my best. Poppy's mane IS gorgeous!Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-89804873480819245012011-10-20T20:18:52.419-04:002011-10-20T20:18:52.419-04:00Good luck at the show. !!
I have just grown out Po...Good luck at the show. !!<br />I have just grown out Poppy's mane and it looks so gorgeous. in November we have a show and I need to plait her. I'm not going to cut it. <br /><br />I'd just plait it the best you can and that will be fine.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03285687707142504098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-51471200492659287092011-10-20T11:02:50.306-04:002011-10-20T11:02:50.306-04:00Kudos to you for being able to ride with a long ma...Kudos to you for being able to ride with a long mane. Izzy had one for a while, and it was forever tangled up in my hands, the reins, the saddle pad, and anything else I could find. Especially since we gallop and jump, a long mane is actually more of a hazard than anything. <br /><br />That is a very impressive mane rub. Yikes. Glad you have it sorted out.SprinklerBandithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-61670705034448213762011-10-20T00:11:31.854-04:002011-10-20T00:11:31.854-04:00I'm with you on shows. We usually stick to sc...I'm with you on shows. We usually stick to schooling shows since you get a judge's feedback without all the hoopla of a big event.<br />Jackson's mane is thin so it looks best short. Flash has a beautiful long mane and tail. We used to try keeping his mane short but, like you, stopped. He looks so handsome with his long mane - French braids all the way.Oak Creek Ranchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02875705582058188289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-60745501761295236102011-10-19T23:33:41.863-04:002011-10-19T23:33:41.863-04:00When I first started showing Willie, he still had ...When I first started showing Willie, he still had a long mane from his harness racing days. I didn't want to cut it so I used a running braid, but <a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Ai6M-0defo8/SCTrPapUHSI/AAAAAAAACiU/VV-wHrwvqk0/s640/nc06_trot1.JPG" rel="nofollow">from far away</a> you couldn't even tell! <br /><br />At a schooling show, all that matters is neat. If it's too much mane for regular hunter/button braids, you could try <a href="http://www.horsewyse.com.au/plaiting.html" rel="nofollow">scallops</a>. You could also get away with a continental/lattice braid, or if he doesn't have quite enough hair for that, you could try this western crossover (with black bands, so as not to pop so much!): <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28429325@N03/3881862153/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/28429325@N03/3881862153/</a>. <br /><br />A friend of mine toned it down a bit: <a href="http://www.bigsorrelgelding.com/4lj/rockwood1.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://www.bigsorrelgelding.com/4lj/rockwood1.jpg</a>. It's a bit western-y, but should be just fine for a schooling show, and done neatly, would present a better picture than a completely loose mane that flops around everywhere.<br /><br /><br />Good luck! And like Speedy said, make sure you have fun! :)Now Thats A Trot!https://www.blogger.com/profile/04520915591652905807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-18336817717129140182011-10-19T22:56:24.314-04:002011-10-19T22:56:24.314-04:00I like the looks of the running braid. If you have...I like the looks of the running braid. If you have to do it, I guess that would be my choice. Like Speey G said. If you don't mind what little deduction that might entail, I wouldn't sweat it too much. IMO. I personally like the Fabio look :-O Good luck getting everyting together. Don't worry about the trailer until you have too. I am excited for you.Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04068684611506771719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-73952122271132404222011-10-19T22:27:15.256-04:002011-10-19T22:27:15.256-04:00Thanks for the vote of confidence. We will defini...Thanks for the vote of confidence. We will definitely try to have some fun!Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-79102808571012613632011-10-19T22:02:48.746-04:002011-10-19T22:02:48.746-04:00If you're not going to show very often, muddle...If you're not going to show very often, muddle through with a running braid. When I do Speedy's, I take the long length that's left over and tuck it under the running braid and use yarn to tie it up. If you're just doing a schooling show, don't worry about what kind of braid it is. I think judges understand that schooling shows are for, well, schooling. It's just for practice. In my experience, they know you're out there for experience for either you or your horse.<br /><br />Braid it up the best you can, let us know how you do, but most of all, go out and have fun! :0)Bakersfield Dressagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05571487914424695283noreply@blogger.com