How To Braid a Horse's Mane

Step 1

Pull the mane. This should be done on another day, not right before braiding, so that the horse isn't expected to stand for an extended period of time.

Step 2

Tie the horse. Braiding will take a while, so you might want to offer a haynet in order to encourage the horse to stand still.

Step 3

Position yourself on the side of the neck that the mane grows on. That is the direction you will braid in, unless you wish to train the main to fall on the other side.

Step 4

Brush the mane gently with a soft body brush to remove all tangles. Also, brush the forelock.

Step 5

Divide the mane into equal sections using the mane comb. Start at the top and work your way down. As you get further down the mane, the hair gets thinner, so your sections will need to be wider in order to ensure evenly sized braids. Secure each section with an elastic band.

Step 6

Braid each section tightly down to the bottom of the braid. Start at the top and remove the band before braiding, then secure it with a band at the end. You may find it helpful to dampen the section with water, egg white, or hair gel before braiding.

Braiding with Bands

Fold the braid twice and secure tightly with an elastic band at the base. If the mane is not long enough, you may only be able to fold once.
Repeat down the length of the neck. Make sure it is done neatly.
Put some hair gel in your hands and put a small amount of gel on each braid to create some hold. This is optional.

Sewing the Braids

Sew up through the bottom of the braid. Make two turns around and through the braid to secure.
Lift the braid and sew the needle through the base.
Pull the thread so that it folds the braid in half.
Fold the braid in half twice more, this time with your fingers, until it is tightly wound against the neck in a knob.
Bring the needle around the right side of the braid and, while holding the knob tightly, sew up through the center.
Repeat, this time bringing the string around the left side of the braid.
Repeat once more on the right side, then the left.
Thread the needle down the center, toward you.
Loop the thread around one of your previous stitches, but don't pull it all the way tight. Leave a small loop.
Thread through the loop and tighten to create a knot close to the base of the braid.
Cut the thread.

Tips

For the forelock, do a French braid down the toward the nose and then fold and sew/band the braid as described above.
Wash the mane and let it dry before you braid it so it is clean and easier to manage. It is not a good idea to wash the mane the same day you must braid regardless of whether conditioner is used. If you must wash it, do so a day or two before you braid.
If your horse is tall, get a stool or a bucket to stand on so that the top braids are neat.
Lots of braids make a short neck look longer. Fewer make a longer neck look shorter.
If you braid the mane the day before a show, protect it by laying nylon stocking over the mane and securing a band over each braid. Put a hood over the top.
For hunting and cross-country, you can leave the forelock unbraided until you have put the bridle on and then secure the braid over the crown of the bridle. This will help stop the bridle from coming off in case of a fall.

Warnings

DO NOT condition the mane before you braid it. It will make the mane slippery.
Make sure that the braids aren’t too tight close to the neck. If they are, they will tighten further when the horse arches his neck and cause discomfort.
Make sure your horse is not allergic to hair gel. It is possible!
Don't continually tug the horses mane, or it will become annoyed.

Things You'll Need

Mane comb
Soft body brush
Small elastic bands in the color closest to the colour of the horse's mane. (If you are doing training braids, it is fun to use other colors, like blue, pink, etc.)
Plaiting thread in the same colour as the mane.
Needle
Scissors

Via wikihow