If you want to give your horse a beauty treatment consider braiding the mane and tail. Here are a few tips and instructions to help you along.
When braiding manes and tails of a horse it's necessary to take precautions to keep from getting kicked. You know your horse better than anyone else so you know how the horse reacts if someone stands behind him. It's best to put the horse in his stall and hang the tail over the gate. This will prevent the horse from kicking but won't insure that he'll stand still for the grooming. If the horse is well adapted to normal grooming this might be the time to do the braiding.
Some people sit atop the horse while braiding the mane whereas some simply stand on a stool or ladder. To get the braid straight the horse must keep his head straight forward if you're sitting on him or turned if you're using a stool. Putting on the horse's feed bag is sometimes helpful during the braiding time.
Braiding a horse's mane is a lot like braiding a person's hair except that it's much thicker. After the horse mane and tale have been shampooed use conditioner to make it more manageable. Most people find it easiest to braid the mane and tail while they are still wet. Brush the mane out well and start by taking a section of the mane, near the top of the horse's head, and separating it into three equal segments. Hold one section in the right hand with the last two fingers, one section with the last two fingers on the left hand and the middle section with the thumb and first two fingers of one hand or the other. Braid once by putting the hair from the right hand into the center and then the hair from the left hand into the center. Pull tightly but not so tight that it's uncomfortable for the horse. Now pick up a strand that's still hanging and add it to the strand in the right hand. Pick up a piece that's hanging and add it to the middle section of the braid. Then pick up a section of hanging hair and add it to the left part of the braid. Braid one more complete turn by placing the right section in the center and then the left portion in the center. Continue this pattern braiding once, picking up three more sections to add to the previous sections, then braid once again. After the braiding is finished tie with ribbon, rubber band or barrette. You can use hair spray to keep the hair in place but be careful not to spray towards the horse's face.
The tail is braided slightly different than the mane. Section the tail hair into three long, equal sections. Begin braiding with the normal platting technique of placing the right side into the center and then the left side into the center. Continue this pattern all the way down and tie off with ribbon or band.
You can further decorate the braids by adding bobby pins with sparkly flowers, decorative barrettes, silk flowers and other hair adornments.
