We never touch the top of our tails with scissors or anything because we can’t think of anything prettier than a tail plait, and pulling is a bit like hogging; you do it once and you have to keep doing it because it never really grows out. If you like a hogged mane and pulled tail then that's absolutely fine, but it’s just not for us, and anything you do to neaten the top of the tail will make it harder to plait.
1. Start by dampening the tail, particularly at the top where you're going to begin your plait, and brush out any knots.
2. Like the forelock, the tail is also a French plait, so you're going to start by taking a small section from either side of the tail at the top and crossing them over each other in the middle. Then, take even sections from each side of the tail alternately and work them into the plait, gathering as you go.
It's crucial to get the start of the plait right and make sure you are taking very even sections from either side as you work your way down. Keep pulling the plait nice and tight as you go.
3. Keep working sections into your French plait until you have plaited all the way down the dock. How long you make your plait is ultimately based on your own personal preference; we like to have ours plaited down to a couple of inches under the point of the horse's bum, but you can judge yours visually as you're doing it.
4. Once you get to a length you're happy with, you can stop taking sections in from the sides and simply continue to plait the top section down so it sits in the centre of the tail. Make sure you plait this section as far down as you can and secure the end with a band.
5. Take the end of your tail plait and tuck it up and under, and then secure it in place with a couple of bands around that section of the tail.
12 сен 2024
