braiding trend?

[lisal06377]

My daughter said she has seen photos from shows where the fourth or fifth braid is done in a contrasting color- maybe to match the shirt? I am stuck in the 70's and still adjusting to colored shirts. Does anyone know if this is a trend, or acceptable?

[MHM]

Some people do it.

I don't care for it, since I think it visually breaks up the horse's topline.

On the (very rare) occasions I've ever felt the urge to add some extra color, I've put it in the forelock for that reason. I used to do red, white, and blue in the forelock for shows on the 4th of July, but that was about it for me.

[JumpingBean]

Does anyone have a picture of this? Sounds interesting :)

[VA_Hunter_Aside]

I think that sounds a bit tacky, but I am a purist. I still believe in quarter marks.

[MHM]

I think that sounds a bit tacky, but I am a purist. I still believe in quarter marks.

Did you see all the pictures of the quarter marks in the 8/7 Chronicle? Some of those were pretty darn cool! :cool:

[VA_Hunter_Aside]

No I didn't! I'll have to check that out. I don't know why people stopped doing it. If I didn't own a light gray (read white body and tail and dark gray mane) I would do it even at the lesser rated shows. It just looks so polished. Almost makes me want to find a nice bay horse. Almost. :-)

[whitehorse17]

we do that on a middle braid with our barn colors. we call it our "lucky braid". they aren't very noticable, but we use yarn instead of ribbons

[Seven-up]

I remember the US riders doing a "lucky braid" in red white & blue. You still see it done occasionally.

When I was a groom, our braider sometimes used to do stable colors on the horse's last day showing, (just the one braid) and on St. Patty's day she put a tiny little sparkly green gem on one braid. Might sound :eek: but it was really cute.

[M. O'Connor]

This is pretty common--normally it's not done in a loudly contrasting color, but it's often done in barn colors.

It's the "crest' braid, or "lucky braid."

[Across Sicily]

In the Morgans/ASBs there is usually a "pink ribbon" class or night... usually a Ladies Hunter or Ladies English Pleasure class. It's fascinating to see what people do to incorporate pink into their or their horse's wardrobe. (Lots of pink shirts! But plenty of other things too.) Anyway, someone had braided their horse's forelock with light pink ribbon. It was really quite pretty and not at all distracting. I quite liked it!

[superpony123]

Seen it popping up a lot lately. It seems that its usually a barn color, or matching the shirt color. I don't really like it when it's smack-dab in the middle. I've seen it at the top near the bridle path too, which IMO looks best because it doesn't break up the line of the neck

my braider recently used a super-light baby blue yarn on my pony's white mane, (i really had to examine it to decide if it was white or blue) and it really looked nice--you could just barely see it, but it did make my pony's mane look even whiter overall :D

[Seven-up]

I have always wondered if there is a specific braid you're supposed to do. I've always seen them about 1/3rd down the neck from the ears. Is it like, the 10th braid or something? I've always been too afraid to do it, since it's called the "lucky braid" I sure don't want to do the wrong one! With my luck, the lucky braid is surrounded by an unlucky braid on both sides!

[lauriep]

It is hardly new. I never did it, but Michael Matz's horses always had a blud/gold braid for Erdenheim/Vintage, and many others would do r/w/b on the 4th of July, and thiings like that. 30 years ago...

[dauphine2]

Almost everybody in our barn, unless requested otherwise, has a navy blue lucky braid right where they should put their hands during a crest release. :D The barn colors are navy and silver.

[hunterjumper81]

I braid on the side to work off show fees. The kids love to pick out their colors and it is usually a bead or two in the mane. I have done some neat stuff with letter beads on my own horse at fun events and also just braided the whole mane in color. Here are some pictures. Enjoy!

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2364266710101819088KIIQOK?vhost=pets

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2678547520101819088bbAOUx?vhost=pets

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2731572380101819088npHDZF?vhost=pets

http://thumb8.webshots.net/t/55/555/6/17/4/2192617040101819088mnMiVl_th.jpg (sorry for the fuzziness-it was taken with a cell phone!)

[fourmares]

I agree with the people that say it breaks up the top line... ick. Do something different in the forlock, or do the whole mane in a color... but one braid? Ick.

[Summit Springs Farm]

I love it on the ponies, I would love to do one for good luck for me, but it seems like more of a kid thing than an adult thing and darn it I'm not a kid anymore!:cool:

[Oldenburg99]

I love it on the ponies, I would love to do one for good luck for me, but it seems like more of a kid thing than an adult thing and darn it I'm not a kid anymore!:cool:


I always thought people did to remind kids (and amateurs) where to put their hands for crest release.

[LH]

okay for jumpers and local schooling shows

anything else - tacky

[Tha Ridge]

We call it the "panic button," :lol: i.e. if you're cantering down to a jump and don't see a distance and are on a decent horse, grab the panic button and pray!

[see u at x]

We call it the "panic button," :lol: i.e. if you're cantering down to a jump and don't see a distance and are on a decent horse, grab the panic button and pray!

I love this!!! And I really think I need one! :eek: :lol:

[luvs2ridewbs]

When I was a junior, it was pretty popular to have a single bead on your tenth braid. It was extremely subtle and looked great. I agree its more of a kid/junior thing.

[Warmbloods]

I have heard all of the mentioned above: "lucky braid," "panic button," and the "note to self: put hands here!" Furthermore, I heard putting in an off color braid is a way for braiders to distinguish their 'work' from others. Sometimes braiders see it as a way of advertisment. Standing by the ring or warmup area you may notice horses with the (insert color here) braid are superb!!! Some people may ask who does their braiding or want to inquire with the braider for future jobs.

[lcw579]

It is hardly new. I never did it, but Michael Matz's horses always had a blud/gold braid for Erdenheim/Vintage, and many others would do r/w/b on the 4th of July, and thiings like that. 30 years ago...


Well, everything old is new again - or so it seems. ;) When I was a junior (ack! that was 30 years ago!) we'd put a lucky braid in. Usually, white, on the crest.

[chawley]

my braider recently used a super-light baby blue yarn on my pony's white mane, (i really had to examine it to decide if it was white or blue) and it really looked nice--you could just barely see it, but it did make my pony's mane look even whiter overall :D

We used to do this with my pony in the 80s! And you're right, it did make the mane look super white.

[JWB]

I wonder what George Morris thinks of that trend....

[Beezer]

Almost everybody in our barn, unless requested otherwise, has a navy blue lucky braid right where they should put their hands during a crest release. :D The barn colors are navy and silver.

Bingo. :) Although for us, sometimes the braider will use a little bead or match the shirt color or something like that. It's memory device, especially for the little kids and the old folks like me. :lol: My coach always knows when we've been good because that braid is rubbed.

[GreystoneKC]

I've also done this for many years. We call it the "lucky braid" and it's usually put on the kid's lucky number, but I have also seen it referred to as the place to grab, etc.

We have a cool black yarn with silvery-glitter in it that we use. I have used other colours in the past, but for the last few years, I've just used this "barn colour" type yarn for the little braid. I also prefer a darker/subtle shade because, while I do use the "lucky braid", I also agree that it can break up the look of a nice topline.

[TwoDreamRides]

Back in 2006, a young teenage rider at our barn passed away after being severely injured at a horse show in October. At the state finals in November, we all incorporated a "lucky braid" in memory of Macy. Pink Yarn with a silver "M" charm. The mother and sister of the girl [who both ride] really appreciated the show of team, and Macy's, spirit.

A close-up of a pony's mane.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30218768&l=1f64f49302&id=19801671

You can barely see it from far away on my own horse:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30218776&l=677f65492e&id=19801671

[sisu27]

Did it when I was a kid on my pony for schooling and stuff....never on my horse and never in a "real" show.

[bigyellowmoose]

Wow... I'd never heard of this :D Checking out the pics posted was interesting. I'd have just assumed that either the horse had something stuck in his mane that the rider and groom hadn't noticed, or if it looked like it was done deliberately, that the rider was so novice they needed a marker for their crest release. Neither are good things to be thought at a big show, lol!

[kookicat]

I think that it's cute :D

[BridalBridle]

My braiders have done it but I never requested it. Sometimes on holidays they do red white and blue but it really doesn' t matter.
I would just love it if THEY WOULD OUTLAW BRAIDING ALL TOGETHER AND SAVE EVERYONE THE MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sisu27]

My braiders have done it but I never requested it. Sometimes on holidays they do red white and blue but it really doesn' t matter.
I would just love it if THEY WOULD OUTLAW BRAIDING ALL TOGETHER AND SAVE EVERYONE THE MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OR....you can switch to eventing and get away with roaching ;) Saves time, money and aggravation plus my horse looks great!

[kookicat]

OR....you can switch to eventing and get away with roaching ;) Saves time, money and aggravation plus my horse looks great!

Or you could learn to do it yourself... Gasp, you could even be a rebel and show with a loose mane! :eek::winkgrin::lol: