Plaiting your horse for dressage: a step-by-step tutorial

Materials you'll need

Good preparation starts with the right tools. Get everything ready in advance so you're not searching around the stable on competition morning. For standard dressage plaits, allow an average of 30 to 45 minutes for a horse with a medium-length mane.

• Plaiting needle and strong thread or elastics in a mane-matching colour
• Fine-toothed comb and water spray or plaiting water
• Hair nets (optional but handy for fine or thin manes)
• Pulling pliers to pull thread tight
• Small scissors for any corrections

Preparing the mane: 3 steps

A great end result stands or falls with a clean, even mane. Pull the mane at least 2 weeks before the competition to the desired length — the ideal mane length for dressage plaits is around 10 to 12 centimetres. Wash the mane the evening before the competition, but do not use conditioner: it makes the hair slippery and difficult to plait. On the day itself, lightly dampen the mane with a spray.

• Comb the mane completely free of tangles and straw
• Divide the mane into equal sections — for a Warmblood, 9 to 13 sections is standard
• Mark the divisions with small hair clips before you start

Step-by-step: making a button plait

The button plait (also known as a rosette) is the standard for dressage competitions. Plait each section tightly and evenly downwards, then roll the plait up into a firm button and sew or secure it with elastic. Make sure all buttons are the same size and sit at an equal height — uneven buttons immediately catch the eye. Practise this at home at least 3 times before your first competition.

• Plait the section in a tight three-strand braid as far down as possible
• Sew the end closed with thread so it doesn't come undone
• Roll the plait tightly up towards the mane and sew or elastic the button in place
• Check that the button lies flat against the neck and does not bulge outwards
• Repeat for each section and make the buttons equal in size

Plaiting the tail for dressage

A plaited tail is not compulsory in all dressage classes, but gives a polished appearance at Medium level and above. For the tail, use a flat braid along the top of the dock. Begin just below the tail bandage, incorporating small side sections with each pass, and work approximately 15 to 20 centimetres downwards. Plaiting in colder months is trickier because the hair is drier — use a little more water or plaiting spray in that case. Only secure the tail when your horse is standing still, never while it is moving.

• Begin at the top of the dock with three small, equal sections
• With each pass, take a thin section from both sides
• Stop adding sections after 15–20 cm and continue as a simple three-strand braid
• Tuck the end under the plait and sew or elastic it in place

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Mane washed with conditioner: use shampoo only, no conditioner
• Plait too loose: always maintain tension on the hair while plaiting
• Uneven button size: divide the mane into equal sections of exactly the same width
• Plaits coming loose too soon: use thread instead of elastics alone for fine manes
• Tail button hanging loose: always check that the end is properly secured before leaving the stable

Tracking and planning with EquiSight

Save your competition schedule, plaiting notes and preferred materials in your horse's profile in EquiSight. That way, at every competition you can quickly look up which section size worked best for your horse. Use the calendar to schedule your grooming day well in advance, so you never forget to pull the mane in time. Based on your competition date, EquiCoach can also remind you when you need to start your preparations at the latest.