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Post by solomon on Jul 17, 2010 17:13:30 GMT
Yikes Sunday is looming large, thing is I am gonna do it! One thing worrying me is I have a blue tweed jacket, is it better to get a black show jacket I have realized on e bay etc, they are only about £35. If so what make, there are Dublin Shires allsorts. What do people have recommend? Thanks folks.
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Post by fleabitten on Jul 17, 2010 18:10:05 GMT
I wouldn't spend any more money on a jacket. A tweed jacket will be perfectly acceptable for unaffiliated competitions in all disciplines.
Generally, yes, most people would wear a black or navy jacket for dressage (i have seen mostly navy though).
Good luck for tomorrow (?) sol - you will be fine. Remember to smile and to take pics!
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Post by kitcat on Jul 18, 2010 9:51:39 GMT
Good luck Sol, I'm sure it will all go well for you.
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Post by Blonde Donkey on Jul 18, 2010 10:30:11 GMT
Good luck Sol. You can do it!!  |
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Post by fimacg on Jul 18, 2010 13:52:35 GMT
the jacket will be fine and best of luck
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Post by solomon on Jul 18, 2010 14:00:36 GMT
Nope, bought a black one today! Want to blend in with the rest. Have another lesson on Thursday and it's the big day on Sunday. Tips on plaiting?
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Post by fleabitten on Jul 18, 2010 18:16:47 GMT
Wash his mane and tail maybe Wednesday or thereabouts, give it a good scrub. Don't put any detangler/conditioner in it after that because it will be too slippy and squeaky to plait. Brush them out daily with a soft brush.
Comb mane out with a comb. Get a step or bucket or something to stand on. Get a bowl or small bucket with a little water in and a clean brush. Put the right colour of plaiting bands into your pocket and have your comb on hand. Some clips are handy for keeping the mane out of the road (you know those ones that hairdressers have?).
Firstly, use the water brush to wet a section of mane - you can start at the top or the bottom of the mane, i usually start at the top, gets it out of the road and as your arms get tired then you wont have to lift them as high lol! also i think there is some logic where the sections even out better if you start at the top?
Then use the comb to section chunks of mane - try and get the mane in a straight line across the crest and not diagonal. Each section should be approximately 3/4 of the width of your comb. Continue down the mane, fastening each section with a rubber band.
Check to make sure you are satisfied with each section, then start again at the top.
Take the band out, wet the section again, then plait down to the end of the mane. Its important for the plait to be tight otherwise when you roll/fold it up it bunches out and falls out all over the place. Secure at the bottom with a rubber band. Continue down the mane.
This part can either be done the evening before or on the morning - its sometimes handier to do it the evening before and then if they rub their mane its only a matter of fixing a couple of them (hopefully lol!) and then rolling them up and finishing it off. Plus its perhaps not as tight on their neck as a rolled up one would be.
Then you go back to the top again and roll the plaits up. You can either fold the plaits in two or roll them - make sure you fold/roll underneath and fasten so the plait is sitting sort of on the side of his neck - plaits along the top look very silly.
The forelock can either be done like the mane or you can do it as a french plait, depending on the thickness of the forelock - if its really thick and longish a french plait would look better to prevent a big golf ball sitting between the ears! lol!
The tail should be combed out with a mane comb and then wetted with the brush. I cant really explain how to french plait but thats how you plait the tail - dont plait too far down and dont stop too far up - its vital that the plait is as tight as you can make it to prevent it falling out.
Once you have plaited the french plait part and the hair gets too long you just take the long bits and plait normally down the centre of the tail to the end of the tail and then fasten with a rubber band. Again make sure that this is tight too. You can then either loop the end of the plait up under and fasten it just under the french plait, or leave it hanging.
To help keep the plaits in, spray some hairspray on it. (outdoors lol!)
When travelling, the tail plait might hold better if you put a tail bandage on underneath a tail guard. When you get there, unravel it very carefully.
Hope this helps!
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Post by solomon on Jul 18, 2010 20:30:15 GMT
Thank you lots of good tips. Not going to other with his tail. Mane will be enough to cope with!
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Post by fleabitten on Jul 19, 2010 12:11:02 GMT
If you can get a buddy you can work to your strengths. When Connie stayed with my auntie when the field was being re-sowed and we took the ponies to shows, i did the manes and my auntie did the tails. She hated doing manes and i couldnt do tails so it worked well!
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Post by scattymare on Jul 19, 2010 16:05:01 GMT
How'd you get on Sol?
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