How to Braid a Horse's Mane for Show

Horse shows are a tradition for many families throughout the year. Young and old alike enjoy the thrill of powering a 1,200-pound animal through a variety of movements. Speeding around a barrel course, navigating a series of jumps and cutting a cow from the herd are just samplings of the joys that can be found on horseback. Many horse events, however, are extremely structured and require a poised, well-groomed pairing of horse and rider. Braiding a horse’s mane for a class gives a polished appearance and is the standard for classes such as dressage.

Things You'll Need

  • Comb
  • Hair clip
  • Small rubber bands
  • Spray bottle
  • Hair gel
  • Scissors
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Instructions

  1. How to Braid a Horse's Mane for Show

    • 1

      Tie your horse to a secure post or tie ring. Braiding will be much easier if your horse is standing still.

    • 2

      Trim your horse’s mane to approximately 5 inches in length. An evenly trimmed mane is easier to work with and produces a neater braid than one that has not been trimmed.

    • 3

      Divide the hair into small sections, securing each with a hair clip. Braiding in small batches allows you to work slowly and achieve an even braid.

    • 4

      Start at the top of the neck, closest to the ears. Work down from the top, dampening the hair with the spray bottle as you go. You can also apply a thin layer of gel to the hair to make sure it lies flat.

    • 5

      Separate the hair in your sections into smaller pieces, approximately half an inch wide. You can use thicker sections if your horse has a thin neck or thinner sections if you horse’s neck is very thick.

    • 6

      Begin your braid at the top of the hair, taking care to pull the braid tight. You want a braid that is as secure and flat as possible for a good appearance.

    • 7

      Braid all the way down to the end of the hair, securing the bottom with a small rubber band. Be sure that you get the band on tightly so that the hair does not come loose.

    • 8

      Fold the braided section of hair in half, tucking the end up underneath the braid itself. Wrap another rubber band securely around the top of the folded section, taking care to keep the braid folded under.

    • 9

      Continue braiding and folding each section of hair until you have completed the entire mane. Make sure that each section is similar in size to the rest to ensure an even look when the mane is completed.

    • 10

      Apply gel to the top of the braids to secure any stray hairs. Use additional rubber bands if necessary to make sure that your freshly braided mane stays intact during your performance.