What To Do

[amattox3]

I need to know if anyone knows what to do with a horses mane for show. I show western, so any help that you guys could give me would be great, thanks!

[Cool Rider]

http://www.westernriding.co.za/Images/showing/Youth1_72.jpg

here is a pic of a nice mane i dont know whats been done thought?

[Grace O'Malley]

As far as I know manes and tails are always brushed out and groomed with show sheen or the the like for western--and left loose, not braided.

Maybe you could ask for this to be moved to the Western Forum below? More of the actively-showing-western folks might see it there.

Grace

[chev]

Will move this to Western for you now. :)

[galadriel]

I just saw a thread (elsewhere) about Western showing and manes. The poster was asking: "My horse has such a beautiful full mane and tail. Do I really have to pull and band it to show?" She was talking about thinning and shortening it--very like English riders do to make manes easy to braid--and then putting the mane into little even "ponytails." The mane is divided into lots of little bitty sections, again like for English braiding--but then is simply put into a single band. The horse ends up with a long row of little ponytails along his mane.

Most of the people who responded said that banding is the appropriate way to do a Western horse's mane for shows.

A couple of people said that they have shown with thick long manes and it didn't hurt their chances of placing too much.

A couple of people said that they had used "running braids" with some success. That's a single french braid right next to the neck that runs from the poll to the withers.

[Sterling]

Depends entirely on the breed though-if I saw an Arabian western horse with a banded mane, then I know that horse wouldn't place(as they have to be shown with a natural mane and tail). In some breeds(most, actually) its illegal to braid for western too. But it depends on the level of competition as well.

[buffy_vampire]

Of all the horse shows ive been too (which is many hee hee) most western horses tail and mane are groomed and left alone.. i dont think ive actually seen one that was braided... ill ask someone and let you know! :) She is really good in western and probably knows the rules better than i do so ill let you know! :)

[Zip_n_Prin]

AQHA and APHA the manes have to be about 3-5 inches long, and neatly on one side. BANDED is accaptable, but BRAIDING is not, for western atleast. Hunte Under Saddle is totally different. But back to western, it does all depend on the breed on how long the mane and bridle path should be. For Halter/Pleasure I have never seen a horse at AQHA and APHA shows (or in pictures) that didnt have their manes atleast banded. When it comes to western EVENTS such as reining, barrels, poles, cutting, roping, ect. you can leave the mane as long as you want! (atleast for AQHA and APHA that is) I know with the gaited horses, the manes must be long and natural, as well as for arabians, national show horses, and the list goes on. It also depends on if you are showing locally, regionally or nationally! Hope I didnt confuse you too much!