[twotrudoc]

I'm posting this here in Off Course because it pertains to both dressage and eventing

I think I am going through a fad or something with braids. No worries, this is not about my wish to conquer the horse show world with a blinged-out Arab

So, I would like your thoughts. I can always do both kinds of braids but from a rider/trainer/judge standpoint what are the pros and cons of each kind?

Usually I do this sort of dressage braid, they are banded and generally need to be taken out daily. I like the flair to them and on horses with skinny necks they add a nice definition. The subtle white bands accent a horse who is lovely and steady in the bridle. I use bands that match the mane for the more unsteady or more traditional owners. I *love* them on sone of my hooky necked Arabs, the two mares here are Half Arab half Hanoverian and stunning. The gelding is a Hisani baby (my smooch-mooch)--

http://i910.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMAG0925.jpg

http://i910.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMAG1011.jpg

http://i910.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMAG1165.jpg

http://i910.photobucket.com/albums/a...27981251_n.jpg

But lately, as in this past weekend really, I ended up with some folks requesting buttons that are sewn in. I usually don't *like* these for some reason but now I am kinda changing my mind. I have been mulling it over a lot (which is why I am posting this to hear you musings and mullings LOL!).

I snapped these quickly but you can get the gist--

http://i910.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMAG1179.jpg

http://i910.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMAG1176.jpg

http://i910.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMAG1162.jpg

I am just loving the buttons. Which is weird as I used to think they were bulky and fugly? Or old and out of date? Thoughts??

[CHT]

I think what looks better depends in part on the horse's neck. I like the buttons on a horse with a thick/round neck so the neck doesn't look thicker/bigger.

[phoebetrainer]

If you pull the mane a little bit more, the buttons ones will be even less bulky. Waaaay nicer than the stand up ones. If your horse has a poor neck, push the braid away from you as you braid so it sits more on top of the crest - makes the crest look bigger. For fat crested horses and ponies, pull the mane really well and make the braids narrower (a bit like some of the hunter braids) and then roll to make the button.

[SnicklefritzG]

I do button braids on my horse because her mane is very thick. I find that the buttons looks better than small braids for that reason.

[twotrudoc]

I agree, I think on a thick necked horse the buttons will be more flattering?

I actually really like the size of the buttons I did this morning, both the chestnut and bay. Of course, I adjust braid sizes to best fit the horse so it can vary some.

I do not like buttons that are pushed up, they look awkward. Also, if I want more than 20 nice tiny braids I do hunter braids

[Calvincrowe]

I dislike the "stick up white band" braids, for some reason they look amateurish and distracting to me. Buttons are more subtle, and I like color on color same as the mane.

[Twisted River]

I definitely prefer the look of button braids. How many and how thick depends on horse, but I personally prefer the button style.

This is perhaps my favorite braiding job I've seen. They're braided to create a scallop effect. I've heard them referred to as rosette braids, stallion braids, or cobra braids.

http://lifeandhorses.com/1947/subscribe/totilas

[Wellspotted]

I personally don't like the stand-up ones in the photo, but being the traditionalist I am when it comes to some horse stuff, if they are correct for the particular discipline then I would approve of them. With horse stuff, just because something is old doesn't mean it is out of date.

I do like hunter braids. I miss seeing braided tails at the shows here. But then, looking at a recent book on hunting in the UK and Ireland, I was disappointed that almost none of the horses were braided, and surprised that many of them wore flash straps!

This isn't perfect but it's close to what I like:
http://www.horsegroomingsupplies.com...ns-406509.html

I do NOT like this sort of braid for dressage (one rider at a local show braided her draft-cross this way and also two of the other horses at her barn as a "favor" to their owners--I hoped the judges did not count off for the braids)--

http://www.raspberryridge.com/Kids-Mane%20Care.htm

I don't think "anything goes" when it comes to braiding for shows.

I hate this,which is not actually braiding at all:
http://www.horseulcer.com.au/continental-braid/

Anything goes if you're just doing it for fun and have time, but for shows I think there should be standards.

[twotrudoc]

I love those too! I tried something on a smaller scale (smaller Spanish bred horse) a few weeks ago.

http://i910.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMAG1044.jpg

I only seem to like them on chunky man stallions though?

[twotrudoc]

You and me both Wellspotted!! Blech!!

Oh Calvin, I should mention that the banded braids were something I learned from where I used to groom, Summervale Farm, and the trainer there learned that style of braiding from Steffen Peters when she rides with him during the SoCal circuit Also, Gwen Blake...so not exactly the amateur ring, KWIM???

http://www.eurodressage.com/equestri...orse-year-2009

[Twisted River]

I do NOT like this sort of braid for dressage (one rider at a local show braided her draft-cross this way and also two of the other horses at her barn as a "favor" to their owners--I hoped the judges did not count off for the braids)--

http://www.raspberryridge.com/Kids-Mane%20Care.htm

(I think you mixed your 2 "dislike" links up)

AGREE!!! AGREE!!! AGREE!!! It looks like crap, even when done well, which this particular example wasn't. A long mane looks better just brushed and left out then put in that dumb band design! And did you read the caption - "It must have taken his owner a long time" - No, no I don't think it did.

[twotrudoc]

My issue with those two that Well linked and also the awful, horrible makes me bang my head on a wall scallop braids (why is there always the one yahoo who says "Oooohhhh I like scaaaalop braids they are so pretty" GAG!), not the pretty braids linked earlier of totials but these nasty things--

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl...9,r:1,s:0,i:79


They all move when you ride. It makes your horse look unsteady. *rant over, sorry but I really dislike those*

[Twisted River]

Oh Calvin, I should mention that the banded braids were something I learned from where I used to groom, Summervale Farm, and the trainer there learned that style of braiding from Steffen Peters when she rides with him during the SoCal circuit Also, Gwen Blake...so not exactly the amateur ring, KWIM???

http://www.eurodressage.com/equestri...orse-year-2009

I think even Steffen Peters is a victim to fashion. That pic is from 2010. In his 2012 pics his braids have gotten much chunkier. In the picture you posted (and the one's I've looked at) his braids go out to the side, not the top.

There's a good braid picture if you scroll to the image of him in a white hat holding a braided horse. I think the picture is from 2008 Olympics maybe? I bet his braids will be a touch chunkier in London http://www.spetersdressage.com/gallery.html

[twotrudoc]

Oh, I'm pretty on top of the trends. I wonder if this is why all of a sudden I'm liking buttons? I don't like the way that pic sticks out, I prefer them to be straight up.

I still like the banded ones, no one here seems to but I also take in mind what people on the rail say and when, for instance, the last bay mare who is a smashingly lovely 4th level horse goes by and people comment so nicely on her braids I know they look good. Most people at dressage and H/J shows don't know what I look like or who I am since I usually creep around at night LOL!! It's good for hearing what the railbirds think, being incognito.

[Twisted River]

Oh, I'm pretty on top of the trends. I wonder if this is why all of a sudden I'm liking buttons? I don't like the way that pic sticks out, I prefer them to be straight up.

I still like the banded ones, no one here seems to but I also take in mind what people on the rail say and when, for instance, the last bay mare who is a smashingly lovely 4th level horse goes by and people comment so nicely on her braids I know they look good. Most people at dressage and H/J shows don't know what I look like or who I am since I usually creep around at night LOL!! It's good for hearing what the railbirds think, being incognito.

In the pictures you posted, all of your braids looks superb! I would expect you to receive several compliments on any style of braid you do, all of which are well deserved.

[twotrudoc]

Thanks

So, I think the fashion/ trend thing is right on. I seem to heading into buttons being the thing...and those chunky yummy braids that are on Totilas.

On a side note, I have been googling and looking at various braids and I came across a web site with some pics of braids -- these exact pics also happened to be on a Flyer at the show I'm at this weekend. I thought they looked familiar!! Lousy form, filching pics of other's work and trying to pass it as your own.

[Calvincrowe]

Two- I meant that I think they look that way, but I come from Hunterland and feel that braids should not stick out--you get yelled at by your trainer if you produce that type of braid! I'm sure that Steffen's braider is totally on top of what's what in the dressage ring.

I guess the "sticky up" braid thing as bad comes to me from helping at a 4-H show! Add some white tape and Dippity Do and you get the picture

I think braids should complement the neck and horse's conformation, not draw attention, that's why the white tape look has never appealed to me.

Your braids are beautiful, regardless of my preference!

[twotrudoc]

Oh no, I totally understood your post LOL! When Jen first told me to braid with bands and then make them stick up I almost fainted. I had concerns LOL! But its funny to think of her, Peters, Blake, etc., as ammy-ish

Coming from H/J land myself, upon seeing those Bates dressage saddles with a strap that holds down the flaps, I asked why on Earth one would need a bucking strap on a dressage saddle!!

[TheJenners]

You should do a FE/braid fun day Cough cough. Just sayin'.

Now that I'm working days (this is my last night shift for two months, whoop), I'm bringing my Grooming to Win book to the barn and having a braid day. I've done buttons before (back when we still stopped and saluted at the beginning of tests...), but I want to learn those tiny little hunter braids!

[supaflyskye]

I prefer buttons that stick up a little bit ...like the ones on the OP's chestnut.
Of course, I can't braid to save my life, but I'm told they're a bit easier to do as well.