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| thick(er) sexy neck |
Noted: I wish I had something insightful to say about Lauren's situation. She is really one of the nicest people I've met through the blogging community and my heart is with her at this time.
I know I blogged earlier last fall about how I'm trying something new with Courage's mane--letting it be a little longer and thicker just to experiment with a new aesthetic. Honestly, I've been on the fence about it. I couldn't take the thickness, so I pulled it, but I couldn't get a really pretty pull job without going too short. I was about to just say screw it and go back to a thin, short little eventer mane, but it's hot and I'm lazy.
And then we had dressage braids practice day.
And I realized that the biggest hinderance to my pretty braids was a pulled mane.
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| scissored. he's really excited. |
Not gonna lie. It physically hurt me (and not because I caught myself with the scissors) (which I didn't, for the record). I've never been a scissors girl and I've definitely made fun of dressage divas with cut manes for being too lazy/useless to pull a mane properly.
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| like this |
That is how we make nice braids. And if we have to braid, dammit, they're going to be nice.
This is also my struggle. I feel that D's mane is either sticky-uppy-hunter-pony short if I pull it, or if I let it get long and thick he looks feral. So I either get a tidy loose mane that's good for hunter braids, or I get a wild Chincoteague pony mane that's good for dressage braids. I can't win.
ReplyDeleteIf you want a true life confession - as you know, I let Henry's mane grow out long for Texas Rose so I could do the dutch braids. I hated it, but it had to be done to get that look. When I took his braids out after stadium I "pulled" his mane so that it would be normal length for XC the next day, because I just COULDN'T handle having all that mane flopping around. My new MO is doing his mane at the show, after the braids come out, and then letting it grow back out in between shows.
ReplyDeleteI never pull, and always use scissors. Laziness FTW
ReplyDeleteI've got you all beat-Copper is roached. haha. Major lazy right here. Okay, he rubbed basically half of it out so he looked weird with partial fluffy-pony-mane, but the roach really shows off his neck and is likely his new look...you know, until my clippers die...
ReplyDeleteI love his braids! I want to try the fluffy dutch braids for a jumper show one of these days.
ReplyDeleteI love the braids!
ReplyDeleteI can't bring myself to have anything but a short, tidy mane, but I'll admit to being a little disappointed in my last set of button braids for how tiny and sad they turned out. I'm sticking with the short, but I'll let a little more poof stay next time.
ReplyDeleteThey have done a study showing that pulling manes is exceedingly painful for the horse. Courage thanks you for using the scissors.
ReplyDeleteNice braids! I hate pulling manes but it does help if you're gonna braid. Sexy man!
ReplyDeleteDid not know the dutch braids work better with a cut mane rather than pulled ... interesting. The hunter braiders would scream at anybody who did anything other than pulling a mane.
ReplyDeleteI disagree that you need to cut the mane to get nice button braids. JLE's working student used to pull Dandy's mane for me every five weeks or so and I got beautiful braids from that! That being said, I cut Gus' mane with the scissors last week because I hate pulling. :)
ReplyDeleteThis- I never cut houstons mane and think it still turned out pretty good. Can't bring myself to cut...
DeleteThis post is hilarious. I am a former dressage rider converted to hunter jumper so I am familiar with the scissor or pull debate. I personally was a puller but I know lots who just cut and some days it is tempting to do so. I don't know though mainly because my braider has threatened my life if I did.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note I have to commend you on the layout of your blog. I just started my own blog and I am having issues with the layout. I have never been great with technology and design but I am trying.
Ha! Thanks. I have years of practice now. ;-) It gets easier eventually.
DeleteI haven't pulled a mane in many, many years. Mainly because I 'm lazy, but also because I know it hurts. The horses may not do anything about it, but I don't deck the lady who waxes me at the salon, either, and that hurts! It's also easier to get the nice, fat cobra braids with a thick mane.
ReplyDeleteGuilty scissor and clipper blade user here! *raises hand*. I never pull manes anymore. I'm lazy. My braids pretty much suck regardless though haha
ReplyDeleteI'm letting Tucker's mane grow right now so I can do dutch braids and I thought I would absolutely hate it but it kind of suits him. His mane is thin at the top an bottom and thick at the top so I've always done a combo of pulling and using a clipper blade to shorten it. Never gotten the hang of scissors although I've seen it done well.
ReplyDeleteRico's mane was thin at the top near his poll and at the bottom near his withers, yet so thick right in the middle. So I'd pull the middle parts and then trim the sides to try to even out the thickness.
ReplyDeleteTC's mane is ridiculously thick so he is learning how to have it pulled right now (when he eats- I'm mean). I don't know how I'll ever get his mane thin enough to have normal looking braids. Luckily I have a little bit of time before we do a rated show!
anything for the braids, right?
ReplyDelete(meanwhile i'll just sit here staring sadly at my leased arab mare's long flowing locks that just boggle my mind, but that i'm powerless to change.... le sigh)
But the Arabian running braid is so gorgeous . . . :-)
Deletelol, I keep my manes jumper length (ABout 6-8 inches) and trimmed with scissors. Perfect for button braids, and nicer on the horses (pain free) ;) C Man looks super!!
ReplyDeleteI "pull" with old clipper blade so I think that puts me closer to scissor camp? But yes, longer manes to make for nicer braids I think, but you don't necessarily have to have a blunt scissor edge for best braids do you?
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize how long a mane needed to be for braids. Glad I didn't pull.
ReplyDeleteEven thinking of taking scissors to an Arabian's mane makes you guilty of treason, pretty much. A little pulling can be tolerated on a crazy thick mane if you don't make a big announcement of it or make it too obvious. Other than that, maintenance braids are your best friends. It's worth it for that gorgeous running braid, though . . . *dreamy sigh*
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