HOME | DD

Description
The Basic Styles
Natural: When the mane is left to grow natural with little to no styling. Pulled: Also known as thinned, when hairs are pulled from the underside of the neck until the mane is 3 -5 inches long and can lay flat against the neck. Braided: Braided either in strands or designs. Banded: The mane is divided into many small sections with a small rubber band placed around each section. Roached: Also known as hogged, when the mane and forelock are shaven off.
Style According to Discipline
Pleasure Riding: Natural, pulled, whatever the rider chooses. Hunt Seat: The mane is pulled to about 4 inches. For higher-level competitions, the mane is braided into Hunter Braids, usually on the right side of the neck. If the mane is braided, the forelock must be braided as well. Show Jumping: The mane may be braided with a button braid or pulled to 3.5 - 5 inches. If the mane is braided, the forelock does not have to be- it's up to the rider. Dressage: The mane must be pulled to 3.5 - 5 inches and braided for all levels of competition. It doesn't matter which side the braids are on. Forelocks can be left udbraided. Baroque breeds may have a french braid. Cross Country: Usually left unbraided. For higher-level competitions, it may be braided. Western Pleasure: Pulled to 2 - 3 inches for stock breeds. It may be left natural for all other breeds. Reining & Cutting: Usually natural, though the forelock may be braided. Saddle Seat: Natural. For gaited horses, one or two braids in the mane and a braided forelock with the use of a ribbon that matches the rider's clothing is accepted. 3-Gaited Saddlebreds have a roached mane and 5-Gaited Saddlebreds have a long mane with a long bridle path. Fox Hunting: Pulled to about 4 inches and braided on the right side of the horse's neck. Combined Driving: Styled according to breed standards. Sport-horses have pulled and braided manes. Polo: Roached. Flat Racing & Steeplechase: Pulled or braided. Endurance Racing: Usually left natural, though some breeds vary. Harness Racing: May be pulled or natural. Saddlebreds often have a long bridle path.
Style According to Breed
Baroque: Kept natural and as long as possible. Some shows allow them to be french braided. Saddlebred: Usually left long and natural. 5-Gaited and pleasure horses usually have braiding in the forelock and first one or two locks of the mane. 3-Gaited horses are roached. National Show Horse: Kept long and natural with a 6 - 8 inch bridle path. Arabian/Part-Arabian: Kept long and unbraided with a 6 - 8 inch bridle path. If the animal competes in multiple disciplines that require a long mane, it may be french braided for dressage. If the animal competes only in hunt seat, jumping or dressage, the mane may be pulled and braided. Connemara: Pulled to 3.5 - 4 inches. May be pulled at rider's will. Morgan: Kept long and natural. Only braided in dressage and hunt seat classes. Usually given a 6 - 8 inch bridle path. Stock Horse: Mane pulled to 3.5 - 4.5 inches. Banded for western pleasure and halter. Braided for hunter competitions. Usually kept long and natural for reining and cutting. In rodeos it is often kept long for speed events, but roached for roping events. Warmblood: Pulled to 3.5 - 5 inches with a 1 - 2 inch bridle path. Thoroughbred: Pulled to 3.5 - 4.5 inches. Given a 1 - 2 inch bridle path. May be braided depending on discipline. Shetland Pony: Kept long with a 4 - 6 inch bridle path, and may have a lock of the mane braided. Icelandic Horse: Kept long and untrimmed. Bridle paths are considered inappropriate. Norwegian Fjord: Roached farther from the neck in a way that flatters the neck line. The outer white hairs are often trimmed away in a line at the top to reveal the black hairs, sometimes in a pattern.