Plaiting?

[Stella2]

I am new to going out to competions. I plaited my mare up (new to that too) last weekend. Clearly my plaits could stand some improvement and I expect they will with practice. I was happy with the position of them though. I did them on the right, but standing up on the crest of her neck. Flora and I were enjoying the belief that she looked all gorgeous, when a member of staff of the yard saw them and nearly wet herself with mirth, exclaming "but you can see them on the other side" I then asked a number of people if they believed that plaits should be properly 'on the side', rather than higher on the crest. The consensus was that yes, they should be on the side

The thing is none of these people do dressage, so I thought I'd ask you guys, lest I fly in the face of convention any more!

[bitsnpieces]

It very much depends on the confirmation of the horse as to where the plaits look best (there is no rule) if they have a thick chunky neck then you would put them lower into the neck line so as to even out the size of the neck but if they had a skinny neck then you would stand them up a bit more to give the illusion of a larger neck. There is no requirement to plait at all for dressage but it does look smarter. Dont be disheartened by someone else, whatever the plaits looked like laughing was a little tactless!

[Showjumper]

Whatever looks best for the horse. I plaited a very cobby pony for a show on Saturday and to make him look finer, I did lots of small plaits that couldn't be seen from the left - it made him look beautiful. However the pony my friend normally rides needs thicker plaits higher up on her crest as she is very fine and lacking in topline and the plaits create an optical illusion making her look more in proportion.

[andreaB]

its quite common to see dressage horses with their plaits to the right but almost on top rather than to the side & then wrapped with white tape to give them a stand up type appearance

i wouldn't worry too much personally , your horses way of going is far more important than your plaits

[Stella2]

Thanks guys Sounds like the laugh was on her then for believing that there is only one way Andrea I wasn't worried until all the laughing I was just aiming for us both to look nice and like I'd made an effort, beyond that it was all about the test!

[ali cat]

yo stella2

you did look nice !!!
you and flora were verrrrrry verrry smart

the plaits weren't professionally done but they looked fine and dandy at least you had a go at doing them yourself-and they wil get better and better

if you had someone else do them you'd never get any practice

like i said--i've seen a lot worse

omg that womans hair was much much much worse!!

did you get your disc with the pikkies on--i like the one with the rainbow effect --you look so happy

and sorry they weren't nearer but i didna want to be hanging over the arena--not like some people--eh???

looking forward to next weekends day out

ali

[Stella2]

Ah thanks Ali I'd forgotten about the woman's hair (it was very wild and pink and she was literally hanging over the arena fence at E - interferring with out Free Walk )

I picked-up the disc today, but haven't had the chance to look at it yet. Will look tomorrow

I will practice my plaiting again next Sunday