growing out bridle paths?!?

[terryallenf]

i was just at the sussex county horse show and i saw that ALOT of people were growing out there horses bridle paths. any reason for it? is it a new trend?
just wonderingg? any thoughts? what do you think about it? :confused:

[Coppers mom]

Do you mean that the bridle path was longer than normal, and part of it was growing out? Or that it was a normal length bridle path that was just long?

If it's the first, well, it may have just been a slip of the clippers and now the bridle path has to look goofy for a little while. If they're normal bridle paths that are just aren't touched up, I think it's just that the horse is unkempt, not a trend.

[meupatdoes]

None of my horses have bridle paths.

It is easy enough to braid flat (just make the forelock braid longer) and it adds to an adorably full forelock when that part gets nice and long again.

Additionally it prevents the "Whoops, horsie moved!" bridle path that has you looking like you thought you'd go to an Arab show, and personally I suspect that it just cannot be comfortable to have stubble sticking into your crownpiece.

[LovesHorses]

I know a trainer that doesn't put bridle paths on her horses. Makes for more braids and the neck appear longer.

[Go Fish]

My trainer likes to trim the bridle path about 1"...the width of the crown piece on a bridle. A lot of horses come into the barn with much longer bridle paths so he grows them out, resulting in the mohawk look for a while. A good braider can somehow work the growth hair into a braid.

What really freaks him out is people who clip too far down the forelock. While I think it makes the neck look longer, clipping too far down the forelock makes it look weird when it's braided.

[magicteetango]

My mare's quite sensitive about her bridle path, if it's not clipped she can be tough to bridle. Don't ask me why, I don't get it, but the minute it's clipped she is back to normal. My other horses I hadn't done one.

[*Liz*]

I think bridle paths are becoming a thing of the past in the h/j world.

I quit putting bridle paths on my horses at least 5 years ago. As others have said, I like that it gives my horses a fuller forelock, and a nice uniform look when braided. Both my WBs have nice thick manes and I have have no issue with the halter or bridle - though I do keep their manes pulled nice and short.

[lauriep]

I always do bridle paths, and always will. I like the cleaner look, and the definition between forelock and mane.

[mortebella]

I think doing whatever works best for each horse is the way to go. If you like the look of bridle path-less, cool. But a lot of horses have manes that want to flop over on the other side towards the ears, even if you thin it and pull, because you need to do that from underneath and that's not really the part that's wanting to flop, and retraining it to lay right is a long process, a pain, and just not always successful. Braids on mane that's determined to go the other way...meh. Buzzing it off and being done is a fine option. Just me. I'll take an "arab-y" looking bridle path over a mane that flops. :)

[joiedevie99]

I went sans bridle paths for a while, and have since re-clipped them all. That extra long forelock french braid creates a pressure point right on top of the head and defeats the purpose of the padded crown bridles that are supposed to distribute pressure.