I have a dressage competition on sunday.
Last time i did a dressage comp (about a year ago as have been concentrating on other things) i plaited him up in traditional plaits and non plaited but pulled tail. He was all trimmed up at the time with a mane pulled to about 4 inches and tail raked to look pulled so not a problem to do.
This year though i showed him as a native (going back to the working hunter look next year though) so his mane has grown and his tail if full again. His mane is about 8" long or so but not too thick so I 'could' still plait it normally but worry it may look a bit messy. I can plait his tail or leave it loose but bandage it so it's smoother.
Are 'arab' plaits (crest plaits or whatever other name they go by now!) ok for dressage? It would go into one of them no problems.
I have left it a bit late to start pulling it really, due to the amount that needs doing - also because i don't compete much in winter (after this show really) i'd like him to keep his mane etc until the start of next season if possible. Don't want to leave him with mane and tail 'down' as always think it looks better if a effort on presentation is made for dressage.
So what do you think?
I am doing Intro B and Prelim 4 as well if anyone has any pointers for them? Hoping the white boards and judges car don't eat ponies this year!!
Last time i did a dressage comp (about a year ago as have been concentrating on other things) i plaited him up in traditional plaits and non plaited but pulled tail. He was all trimmed up at the time with a mane pulled to about 4 inches and tail raked to look pulled so not a problem to do.
This year though i showed him as a native (going back to the working hunter look next year though) so his mane has grown and his tail if full again. His mane is about 8" long or so but not too thick so I 'could' still plait it normally but worry it may look a bit messy. I can plait his tail or leave it loose but bandage it so it's smoother.
Are 'arab' plaits (crest plaits or whatever other name they go by now!) ok for dressage? It would go into one of them no problems.
I have left it a bit late to start pulling it really, due to the amount that needs doing - also because i don't compete much in winter (after this show really) i'd like him to keep his mane etc until the start of next season if possible. Don't want to leave him with mane and tail 'down' as always think it looks better if a effort on presentation is made for dressage.
So what do you think?
I am doing Intro B and Prelim 4 as well if anyone has any pointers for them? Hoping the white boards and judges car don't eat ponies this year!!