Different Ways to Do Your Horse's Mane for English Classes

Proper grooming is a key part of showing a horse. How you prepare your horse's mane for the English or hunt seat show ring depends on its breed. The general rule is to keep the mane neat and on the right-hand side of the horse's neck in a way that will not interfere with your contact on the reins.

  1. Pulled

    • Most English-style horses have their manes pulled. To pull a mane is to shorten it by pulling out the longest pieces of hair. To do this, you select a small section of mane, hold onto the longest pieces at the very bottom, push the shorter pieces up and away, and then pull out the remaining long hair. You do this until the entire mane length is the width of your hand, plus an inch. The process is usually pain-free and more of a nuisance than anything else. At most hunt seat shows that are rated B or below, simply having your horse's mane pulled and over on the right-hand side is sufficient.

    Hunter Braids

    • At A-rated hunter/jumper shows, your horse's mane must be braided. At most shows, there are professional braiders who will braid your horse's mane for you starting at $50. The braids are sections of hair a half-inch to an inch wide that incorporate yarn and are tucked up neatly underneath themselves. There are usually 25 to 40 braids down a horse's neck, and they should be no more than a quarter-inch thick by one inch long.

    Running Braid

    • The running braid is used on breeds that keep their manes long, such as the Morgans and Arabians, yet still perform in the English discipline. The running braid is a french braid that starts from the top of the mane near the horse's ears and collects the mane into a braid all the way down the neck to the withers. It is used to keep the reins, hands and mane from becoming tangled. This braid comes out easily and should be done right before going into the show arena.

    Western Style

    • When Western breeds such as quarter horses and paints participate in English shows, their manes may be pulled to be thin and short. Another option is to band the mane. Banding is similar to braiding: You take small sections of hair and place a rubber band at the top near the neck to make the hair lie down on the neck.