How Do You Plait A Horses Tail?
• If plaiting for competition or sport, check to see if tail plaiting is both permitted and appropriate for your horse breed. For some events, like stadium jumping, hunting, and polo, tail plaiting is mandatory. On the other hand, for some breeds, such as mountain and moorland pony breeds, the ponies should not have their tails plaited for competition. • The tail should be thick (if the hair is too thin, keep the tail neatly pulled instead unless the horse dislikes this being done). • Hair at each side of the dock must be long enough. • Tie your horse up. This will ensure that the horse remains still while you plait his tail. Provide him with a haynet so that he doesn’t get bored. • Brush through his tail with a body brush and/or a tail brush. Hold the whole tail in one hand and gradually push the brush through small sections of tail at a time. • Comb the top of the tail and sides with a mane comb. • Dip a water brush in water and brush the tail with it to dampen it. Use a sponge, if p
