mud knots

[clompclomp]

I've qualified for a local medal final and the horse I'm going to ride has the skimpiest tail. His tail looks silly braided because he has so little of it. Is a mud knot an appropriate alternative?

[BearWithMe]

no.
braid it anyway or leave it unbraided and just do the mane

[spmoonie]

Just braid anyways. Or if it is really skimpy, dont do anything to it.

[anothersomeone]

I think that a mud knot would be a much better alternative to a braided tail with a few wisps hanging down. (that just accentuates a wimpy tail) Is there any possibility that you can borrow a fake tail that would match for the day? Don't stress too much - try to turn out your horse as best you can and remember a medal is judged on you, not the fullness of your horse's tail. Good luck and have fun!

[Jumper221]

Mud knot is an alternative, one of Missy Clark's horses had an awful tail and used to show in a mud knot at all the big shows and finals (Lando I think). A normally braided tail is preferable, using a fake to dress it up, but if that's not an option and you want it braided use a mud knot.

[EAY]

When I was a kid mud knots were in style for certain horses. They can really show off a nice hind end. I had never really thought about it but maybe they were also being used to hide wispy tails, back in the days before fake tails got to be so popular.

I say go for it as long as it complements the horse's conformation.

[LittleGray]

I personally love the look of mud knots. I think it would look more appealing than a whispy tail.

[M. O'Connor]

A mud knot is INDEED a fabulously proper choice.

Do it well, and prepare to stand out (in a good way)

[cricket1978]

Mud knots are great when it complements the horse/pony, although I very rarely see them on non rainy days - but go for it.

[111]

I had a horse showing in the hunters when the Metropolitan show was in New York City. The horse had a very whispy tail & if we put a fake tail in it pissed her off & all she did was swish it! I asked a number of "R" judges what they thought of a mud knot. All said it would be fine & one told me "you will always be MUD KNOT on the judges card!"

We showed with the mud knot & it was fine. This horse has since been to many finals & always wears the mud knot; our braider calls her "Miss Mud Knot!"

I have an app pony who went to zone finals last year, he is a fat, rolle polle, he has an OK tail but I always have the braider do him in a mud knot; he just looks so damn cute in one!

Both horse & pony have gotten ribbons in big classes with the mud knot, don't let anyone tell you they're not OK to use.

[luvs2ridewbs]

Does anyone have pictures of a well done mud knot?

[gottagrey]

Is it a local - nonrated show or local rated show? If nonrated you can leave the tail alone; if rated you might want to put up in a mud knot.

Best of Luck with your Medals class. Let us know how it turns out

[lauriep]

Another vote for it being just fine, and perfectly appropriate, if it suits the horse AND you can put in a nice one (or the braider can). I'd love to see these, and scalloped manes, put in much more than they are. I dare any of the pro braiders to bring back scallops!

[Ride2Dreams]

I did a search and came up with these:

http://www.ferraraphoto.com/2008Youth/0301/08yn-01729.htm
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a43/_phyxius_/setadow.jpg

Rest I found are the polo type tails

[ADD526]

Another vote for it being just fine, and perfectly appropriate, if it suits the horse AND you can put in a nice one (or the braider can). I'd love to see these, and scalloped manes, put in much more than they are. I dare any of the pro braiders to bring back scallops!
what are scallops?

[lauriep]

Scallops - braid down as normal, but instead of pulling each braid up into itself, you pull it up to the braid one over (skip one in between) from it and tie. Do this all the way down the neck and you have a scalloped line of braids. Very pretty! I'll see if I can find some clear pictures.

[Whisper]

These scallop braids (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/1236701065050182103CVVoKa) are very neat, while these scallop braids (http://www.horsegroomingsupplies.com/pictures/gphoto-g19401.html) are a little looser, but it's a closeup so you can see better..

[SaturdayNightLive]

I've seen mud knots at THE medal finals, so I think you're safe. :yes:

[TheOrangeOne]

http://www.peggyjsmith.com/23xU08album/slides/U08F-12356.html

We won the hack class at that show- I have rarely not done well with my mud knot. I think it's memorable.

[BlueWhisper]

I showed my mare occasionally with a mud knot. Never seemed to affect our placings, and she looked cute with it :)

Saratoga:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Bluwhisp/Smudge/SaratogaButt.jpg

[hideyourheart03]

Here's a picture of Lando winning one of THE Finals with Julie Welles. Lando ALWAYS sports a mud knot. I even saw him at Lake Placid this year, still sporting the mud knot.

http://www.chronofhorse.com/Images/InTheTackroomJulieWelles.jpg

[Gry2Yng]

I love mud knots. Wish I could remember how to do one.

[JenEM]

The scallops are very pretty! When doing those, do you do fewer individual braids than when braiding normally?

On another hot day like today, I think I may decide not to ride and just play beauty parlor with my mare! These are some interesting ideas to try out. After reading the article on quarter marks in this week's COTH, I want to try those out, too.

[clompclomp]

Thank you everyone for your thoughts...much appreciated!

[angrychinchillas]

Pro braiders will bring back scallops when YOU, the owners, ask them to.

Most pro braiders I know, though they won't admit it out loud, live in a sort of terror that they're going to be criticized by their clients, or that they'll do something that makes the client or trainer unhappy. Which is why no one ever deviates from the norm.

On topic, I would absolutely go with the mud knot. It'll look far, far better than a few wimpy scraggly strands . . . And if there's that little hair, there probably isn't enough to even tie a fake tail to anyway. Also, I think mud knots look fantastic. :)