Horses appearance in dressage

[Sexy Sietske]

Are all tails pulled for dressage?? I was thinking about it when i was watching it on tele and thought it look realy smart. Do pulled tails suit every horse? I personally don't think the suit cobs but what about a horse with a realy thin tail and is there a nicer way of doing it :o Also what it the purpose of doing it?

I also see that the mane is plaited for smartness obviously, but do they use any quarter markings, hoof polish, coat shine ect. ect is it all needed??

Also in top level dressage they wear tail jackets, at what level do you start wearing these or is it ust the very top levels??

[Herbie's mummy]

Me personally i only do uff. dressage, PC stuff and at ODE'S so not at a high level.:)
Not all tails are pulled, no, this bit is just down to personal opinion, my ponies tail is pulled along with his mane.
My mums cob is hogged etc and she has hertail pulled:)
The purpose of it is just to look neater, so you don't have a huge bushy tail at the top.
Hoof polish etc is all there just for show and it looks nice and makes the over all apparence of the horse look neat and tidy and has shown that the owner hasmade the effort.
I were my tweed jacket, since i only do uaff. and in no way do i look out of place:D

[Iron Maiden]

The only affiliated stuff I do is eventing, but I've always plaited because the dressage judge does like to see the horse's topline. With my old cob, who had a full mane, I would plait it over the night before then take the plaits out just before the test - it stayed on the correct side, looked very gorgeous (I was jealous of him anyway!) & gave the judge a good view of his topline (if only on one rein). I've never bothered with tails at all, there's certainly nothing in the rule book about them!

I asked my RI, who events & does dressage at quite a high level, about this & she said good turnout for dressage is basically a 'first impressions last' thing. The judge shouldn't mark you down because of poor turnout, but the whole marking thing is so subjective that anything you can do to make a favourable impression is worth a go - so if you want to go for the markings & polish, why not!

I think the top hat & tails is only for very high level stuff!

[Herbie's mummy]

I have worn a top hat but not in dressage!

[Lgd]

It is actually more usual to see full tails in dressage and mostly unplaited even at the highest levels. Plaited manes, but forelocks are often left loose.

The reason for unplaited tails and forelocks is that it irritates some horses.

Both of mine have full tails, Peri has her forelock left loose. Tavia has a full mane which is lattice braided - Orlovs have full manes/tails.

Top hat can now be worn at any level (I personally think it looks naff with an ordinary show jacket) but tailcoats are restricted to Advanced or higher (PSG/Inter I/Inter II/GP) classes.

[Skyhuntress]

It is actually more usual to see full tails in dressage and mostly unplaited even at the highest levels. Plaited manes, but forelocks are often left loose.

The reason for unplaited tails and forelocks is that it irritates some horses.

Both of mine have full tails, Peri has her forelock left loose. Tavia has a full mane which is lattice braided - Orlovs have full manes/tails.

Top hat can now be worn at any level (I personally think it looks naff with an ordinary show jacket) but tailcoats are restricted to Advanced or higher (PSG/Inter I/Inter II/GP) classes.


Hehe, that's interseting, because here, 99% of the time, forelocks are always braided. Tails aren;t, but forelocks usually are. Most tails are banged though.

As for top hats, you'd be made fun of if you wore it below 3rd level (uinless you were showing multiple levels the same day). There is no rule against it, but usually only the trainers or truly experienced wear them

[tillynz]

Lol, yes I think there is an element of fashion trends in dressage. The craze here at the moment is to not plait the forelock but I always do, i think it just looks smart.

I always have my horse plaited and I trim the sides of the tail (she strongl objects to any kind of pulling and I'm not keen on it), it makes her bum look really muscled!!!!

I don't do quarter marks but you can do. I usually do the hooves.

You can't be marked down for it, but impressions do count. I try to look like I have made an effort. I think it is also respectful to the judges to present yourself and your horse to be judged in a tidy and professtional manner.

As for my personal dress, Jacket and velvet helmet. In NZ top hat and tails aren't required till above Open Medium. I also wear a tie or a stock.
My horse has a plain square white saddle cloth, that is standard in NZ not sure about over there but it looks smart and doesn't distract from the image of the horse.

Hope I have helped.

[Stella2]

It is actually more usual to see full tails in dressage and mostly unplaited even at the highest levels. Plaited manes, but forelocks are often left loose.

The reason for unplaited tails and forelocks is that it irritates some horses.

Both of mine have full tails, Peri has her forelock left loose. Tavia has a full mane which is lattice braided - Orlovs have full manes/tails.

Top hat can now be worn at any level (I personally think it looks naff with an ordinary show jacket) but tailcoats are restricted to Advanced or higher (PSG/Inter I/Inter II/GP) classes. I didn't know that about tails left unpulled in dressage. I have been pulling Flora's tail because someone (who has competed for years in eventing and dressage) told me that that horses with tails left au naturale look scruffy and unkempt :eek: My ego would then not allow me to leave it alone (sad but true). However, if its good enough for affiliated dressage (and Peri and Tavia), then its good enough for us :) I do like to see a nicely plaited mane though when the neck is developed well. Interesting about the top knot!

[Lgd]

If you follow the link and then click on the dressage clip I'm pretty sure Sunrise has a full tail

http://www.olympiahorseshow.com/today/clips.asp

[emlybob]

It is a real trend in dressage not to plait or pull tails and actually leave them quite long. I personally prefere the tail to be pulled as it looks smarter and shows the horses bottom off better, however it is more common in showing to pull the tail. My grey boy never has his forelock plaited but i will always plait his mane as it looks smarter and also out of respect for the judge.

Top hat and tails are allowed from advanced onwards. However it it not compulsory. All international riders wear them but it is up to the individual (and whether u can afford to buy them)!!!

[jackbruv]

well, betty is hogged so no worries with plaiting mane, plus the neck is very muscluar to get away with a hogged mane......i dont plait the tail for the simple reason that i dont have to....it is pulled.:)

also i wouldnt ever dream of wearing a top hat and normal showjacket, cz it would look total rubbish!!!!:eek: !!!! and i would feel a fool!!! lol imagine turning up for an elementary wearing a top hat lol!!!!:) :rolleyes:

[Lil_Wig]

I always plait for Dressage

I razor Wig's tail, instead of pulling it (looks the same as a pulled tail)

And I dampen his tail slightly and put a lil bit of hair-gel on before bandaging it as that makes the hair lie lovely and flat

x

[Daffy Dilly]

I wouldn't plait or pull, but I would gel his mane and tail down a little so they were au natural and not au scruffbag. :p