Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
![]() Endurance braids [Quick edit ... the link to the braiding video has been fixed. Sorry about that!] This was my first attempt at braiding a short mane. No, not this photo. The braiding with bands are down below. This photo shows how we braid for endurance. Not quite show braids, are they? And that's Vetwrap, not yarn. Since Arabians typically have long manes, it is acceptable for me to do a running, or French braid when I show him dressage. I don't know if Sydney's mane has been pulled, or if it is just naturally thin. Let's hope it's just thin as there is NO WAY I'm pulling it. OUCH and t-e-d-i-o-u-s. I'll keep it short, but if it's thick ... oh, well. I am sure the purists are freaking out, but remember my roots. It took me 45 minutes to set up my supplies and do 14 braids. The first four took the longest. Once I figured out how the bands worked, I got a lot quicker. I braided a section, put a rubber band at the end, and then folded the braid in half (like the hunters would do), but then I folded it in half again. I pinched it all together tightly and wrapped the double-folded braid with another rubber brand. I watched a bunch of YouTube Videos to see it being done, and one in particular was very helpful (see it down below). The woman braiding wore the rubber bands on her pinkie so that they were easier to access. That was definitely a helpful tip! Next time I'll try it with the yarn ... Here's a slide show of the process. Click the play button in the top left corner (do a mouse hover to see it), or click and scroll through the thumbnails. Watch the YouTube video here.
Val
8/3/2011 11:06:20 pm
The braids look great! Do you leave the first rubber band in or were they just to divide up the mane?
Karen Sweaney
8/4/2011 10:07:52 am
Val, as I got to each sectioned piece, I pulled the band and added it to my pinky and then braided that section returning the band to the bottom to hold the braid. I folded the braid in half and then in half again and pulled a second band from my pinky to secure the braided "button." I think they turned out pretty nice and tidy. If Sydney makes it to a show this summer or fall, I have one braiding option ready to go! Comments are closed.
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About the Writer and RiderI am a lifelong rider.
I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010. Welcome to my dressage journey. About Speedy GSpeedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
About IzzyIzzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
National Rider AwardsState Rider Awards
State Horse Awards
Working Towards:
CDS Sapphire Rider Award Third Level: 63.514% Third Level: 62.105% Fourth Level: Fourth Level: 2023 Show Season
Show Rating (***) CDS/USDF/USEF (*) CDS (s) Schooling (c) Clinic (r) Ride-a-Test Clinic 2023 Show Schedule
TBD 2023 Completed … Pending 2023 Qualifying Scores
Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) Qualifying Training Level 3 Scores/2 Judges/60%: Score 1: Score 2: Score 3: Archives
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