Horse Hair Braids: A Guide to Mane and Tail Braiding
Braiding a horse’s mane and tail can be to celebrate the breed, for a horse show, to keep their mane/tail clean, or just to do something fun with your horse. Because there are so many reasons to braid a horse's mane and tail there are a ton of different braids you can do there are a lot of different techniques you can learn (and trust me as a person who has tried to braid their horse's mane and tail many times it is often a lot harder than it looks). So be prepared to watch a lot of videos and spend a lot of time practicing.
Also please note that some people refer to braiding a mane as plaiting a mane. These terms can usually be used interchangeably.
Why Braid a Horse’s Mane and Tail?
As previously mentioned there are many reasons why a horse's mane and tail might be braided. There are many instances where the braiding the mane and tail of a horse was done for safety. In foxhunting, which is the basis for the US hunter discipline, horse's had their manes braided so they wouldn't get tangled. For the polo discipline horses manes are roached (shaved down) and their tails are braided and wrapped up for safety as this prevents their hair from getting caught on tack, mallets, etc.
On the flip side there are many instances where horse's manes and tails are braided to keep them long. In many saddle seat and western disciplines and certain horse breed standards a longer horse mane and tail is favorable so owners will keep their horse's manes and tails braided as much as possible to prevent damage and breakage. Then of course there is braiding for fun and personal preference. Some people think their horse looks better with a long mane, long tail, or combination and some people may just enjoy braiding their horse's tail and mane. Of course, no matter the reason you are braiding your horse's mane and/or tail there are different braids for different purposes and different tools/supplies you will need for what you are attempting.
Types of Horse Mane Braids
There are many types of mane braids you can do on your horse including button braids, rosette braids, running braids, diamond braids, banding, scallop braids, and double running braids. Really there are tons of horse braids out there and you can always experiment with creating your own new braids. Since there are so many I will cover just a few of the more common ones more in depth.
hunter braids
- Small, tight braids usually 30-45 braids on a horse's mane.
- The forelock is braided along with the horse's mane.
- Traditional in hunter/jumper shows.
- Uses yarn or thread to secure each braid.
- Many people will braid their horse's tail along with their mane.
Button Braids
- Larger, round “button-like” braids spaced evenly.
- Common in dressage, eventing, and showjumping.
- Secured with yarn, bands, or sewing techniques.
- Typically 10-20 braids and not usually accompanied by a braided tail.
- The forelock usually isn't braided, but it can be.
running braid
- Similar to a French braid, woven along the crest of the neck.
- Popular for breeds with long, flowing manes (like Arabians, draft horses, Saddlebreds, etc).
- Usually just secured with an elastic at the end of braid.
- The forelock is usually not braided when doing a running braid.
banding
Image from Horse Illustrated- Evenly spaced sections tied with either colorful rubber bands or bands matching your horse's mane.
- Used in certain western riding classes such as western pleasure.
- The forelock is banded as well as the mane.
- Usually 40-60 sections throughout the mane.
- There is usually nothing done with the horse's tail.
- How to here
Regular braid (3 strand braid)
types of horse tail braids
So what about braiding a horse's tail? While not as common for shows many people do braid their horse's tails to put them in tail bags and therefore keep them clean and protected. Or course some people do braid their horse's tails for fun. So while there aren't as many tail braids you can always experiment.
Regular Braid (3 strand braid)
- Similar to a the mane this is the most common braid.
- Usually done to so the tail can be put in a tail bag and be kept clean and protected.
- Usually just done with elastic bands to tie off the end of the braid.
- Usually done the entire length of the tail (from dock to end of tail), but can be done for just a part of the tail.
Hunter braid (partial French braid)
- A french braid can be done for the entire length of a horse's tail just for fun or for a hunter/jumper show.
- When doing a french braid for a hunter/jumper show the braid only goes to the end of the dock of the tail.
- Braids for shows are tied off either using a pinwheel or wrap design.
- For shows these braids are usually done with yearn or thread, but informally you can use elastic bands.
spiral braid (running braid)
Image from a YouTube video from Roany Pony Farm- A pretty braid for fun events, photos, parades, etc.
- A type of running braid that wraps around the horse's tail.
- Usually tied off with an elastic.
- Tutorial here.
continental braid (Diamond braid)
Tail picture is from ridiculouslygorgeousequines.tumblr.com that Wanda Lindsoe appears to have shared- Also known as a diamond braid.
- Usually done with elastics.
- A fun pretty pattern for shows, parades, costumes, and other fun events.
Getting Started: Tools & Tips
Image from Stateline Tack of braiding kit you can buy.- A mane comb and tail brush
- Braiding bands, yarn, or waxed thread
- Spray bottle (water or braiding spray) or a bucket and sponge if you just want to use water
- Needle (if you are sewing your braids)
- Scissors
- Something to hold your supplies
- Clips or elastic bandages to hold parts of the mane out of the way
- Latch hook tool
- Seam ripper
- Razor comb (I personally no longer believe in pulling horses manes so I use a razor comb to shorten then and keep a natural look and to thin them when needed)
- Step stool
You can also get the kit pictured above here on Stateline Tack.
Tips for Beginners:
- Practice on a calm horse that is use to being braided
- Don't feel like you have to do a full mane/tail just practice the technique
- Try to watch professional braiders and get tips from them when you can
- While you usually want supplies that match your horse's mane/tail color when practicing a color that stands out well can be better so you can see what you are doing easier
Horse Hair Braiding resources
While I have braided my horse's mane and tail in a bunch of styles a bunch of times over the years I definitely don't feel like an expert so I collected resources from the experts to share with you. There of a course a ton of resources out there but hopefully these can provide a great start to you mane braiding and tail braiding journey.
braidsecrets
Image from BraidSecretsIf there is only one resource you use to learn about horse hair braids I really recommend the website braidsecrets. There is so much great information, tips, freebies, and even a mane braiding workshop. Plus this website was started by, and is ran by, Mary Rohaly who is a professional braider who helps people learn to braid/level up their braiding skills so you know the advice is practical.
Price: Free and paid resources
Band a western mane
Image from the Greenhawkinc YouTube channel videoIf you are looking for a great tutorial on how to band a horse's mane this is a great video (Greenhawkinc also has additional videos on braiding a horses mane and tail in different styles if you like their content). They do a good job of taking you through the process step by step from supplies you need to how to create that final polished look. And most importantly they do all of this at an easy to follow pace (because as everyone who has watched the how to braid a horses mane and tail videos knows some of them do it at the speed of light which doesn't usually work for us beginners). The only thing they don't show is banding the forelock although it is pretty easy especially if you know how to band a mane.
Price: Free
Hunter braids
Image from a AQHA YouTube channel videoThis hunter braids tutorial from the AQHA is definitely on the older side but it has so much great information I definitely think it is worth watching. The pace is really good and Stacy takes the time to really walk you through it and give helpful tips. She also shows how to braid the forelock which is great since the braiding technique is different from how you would braid the rest of the mane.
*Just remember when you are practicing it can be helpful to use a color of yarn that doesn't match your horses mane/tail that way you can follow what you are doing more closely.
Price: Free
Hunter tail braid
Image from a video on the Real Rider Reviews YouTube channelReal Rider Reviews has a great hunter tail braid tutorial. It is a good pace to follow along with and takes you through the different steps. The only thing I think it is missing lightly are some of the tips and tricks to better braids, but it really is a good starting video to get you going on your hunter tail braiding adventure. It is worth noting that this video ends the braid in a wrap around style so if you want to do a simple pull through or pinwheel you will have to look up additional videos.
Price: Free
Button Braids
Image from a video on the Royale Equestrian Centre YouTube channelButton braids are super common, which is great because it means there are a ton of tutorials out there so you can find the one that makes the most sense to you. Personally I think this button braid tutorial from Royale Equestrian Center is really great. The video is pretty short and takes you through doing an individual braid so if you want you can just keep it on replay as you braid your horse's entire mane - which can be very helpful.
Price: Free
running braid
Image from video on ShadeTreeStables YouTube channelRunning braids are super common for horses with long manes. A running braid is pretty simple and keeps the mane pulled back making it a nice, quick braid when you need to keep the mane off the horse's neck for a while. You can do this with any thickness of mane but the mane has to be long so keep that in mind.
This is another type of horse mane braid that has a lot of tutorials out there so you can definitely find a different video if this video from ShadeTreeStables doesn't suite you, but I think this one is really nice and easy to follow.
Price: Free
Plaiting techniques
Image from Nags to Riches Pty Ltd YouTube channel videoThe Nags to Riches Pty Ltd YouTube channel has some great resources when it comes to plaiting a horses mane and tail. One of their resources that I think is super helpful is this video showing how different plaiting techniques affect your rosettes outcome. A lot of the time as a beginner I will be like I don't understand why does this braid look different from that one I don't think I did anything different. But watching this video really clears some of that confusion up and can help give you some insight next time you are practicing and just can't figure out why your braids aren't coming out like you want them to.
Price: Free
Double Mane Braid
Image from the Heather Bender YouTube channelA double mane braid is definitely more for horses with thick manes (you can try it on horses with thinner manes but it is just usually more challenging and doesn't have the same finished look). But if you have a horse or pony with a very thick mane this can be a really pretty mane braid option. This video from Heather Bender takes you through a great demonstration of the braid, giving you several clear camera angles throughout the video, making it pretty easy to follow along.
Price: Free
reverse Scallop Mane braid
Image from a video on the YouTube channel Centerline StyleThe reverse scallop braid is a really pretty mane braiding technique that is easier to do compared to traditional hunter braids (in my opinion). Another nice thing about this braiding technique is that it works for a wide range of mane types. There aren't a ton of tutorials on this but there are a fair number, one of the ones I like the best is from Centerline Style. This tutorial is very clear and I think goes at a good pace. The tutorial is on a mid-length mane so if your horse has a really long mane you may need a different tutorial.
Price: Free
diamond braid
Image of diamond braid horse mane comes from a video on the YouTube channel Roany Pony Farm. Tail picture is from ridiculouslygorgeousequines.tumblr.com that Wanda Lindsoe appears to have sharedDiamond braids are really fun and can add a cool look when taking pictures of your horse or entering a costume contest. The braid itself isn't super complicated but you do have to pay attention to what you are doing. It is also worth noting that is is a braid for horses with long manes/tails. The thickness of your horses' mane/tail isn't super important but it does need to be long.
Here is the tutorial for doing a diamond braid in your horses' mane: Roany Pony Farm (the creator of this video) has a ton of great mane braiding videos showing everything from button braids to waterfall braids.
There doesn't seem to be a tutorial for diamond braiding a horses tail but it would be a similar procedure.
my attempt at hunter braids
For a bit of a personal touch I thought I would show you my attempt at a hunter braid (with some instructions/advice I have gotten from braiders and videos). I only included a single braid because I couldn't get many done and they went downhill fast (I also didn't include my tail braid because it was very sad looking). But practice makes progress so I just need to keep practicing. Hopefully these photos will be useful and make you feel good about your own braiding attempts.
Step 1: Sectioning the mane
- Sections should be even
- Some will have to be uneven if the horse’s mane is thinner in places
Step 2: Initial braid
- Make sure you count your crossovers
- Make sure you are keeping the braid tight
- Make sure you braid straight down
- Don’t pull the braid towards yourself
Step 3: Adding in yarn
- Hold the middle of the yarn directly behind the braid
- Add the two long tail pieces into the the farthest outside pieces of the braid
- Count your crossovers until you add in yarn
- Make sure the braid stays tight
- Braid as far down as possible
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Step 4: Tie it off
- Pull the yarn tails to the left
- Take them around the back of the braid
- Slip them through the hole you created
- Pull down and to the left
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Step 5: Pull through
- Slide your pull through directly down through the top and middle of your braid
- Place the yarn in the pull through
- Pull it straight up
- The tie you created in the previous step should not be seen
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Step 6: Surgical knot
- Take both ends of the yarn and pretend like you are starting to tie your shoe
- Repeat this again
- Pull it tightly under the braid
- This helps keep the braid secure
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Step 7: Creating the bump
- Loop the yarn just like you did at the beginning of the previous step
- This time only loop it once
- Pull the loop down on top of the braid about half way down
- You may have to use your fingers to push the part of the braid above the yarn up a little
- Pull really tight
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Step 8: Securing the braid
- Do the double surgical knot under the braid again
- Just like step 6
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Step 9: Cut
- Cut off the excess yarn
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