World Class Braiding: Manes & Tails

A handy quick-reference with step-by-step color photos and easy-to-follow instructions from two top professional grooms.

Braiding a horse’s mane kind of comes with the territory—who can resist playing with all that hair? While it may begin as a downtime activity on a rainy afternoon or fun with friends after riding lessons, braiding takes on a life of its own when it comes to competition. Professional grooms and others who braid on the show circuit can make a living doing just that when they have the skills to do it fast and do it well.

Professional grooms Cat Hill and Emma Ford, co-authors of the bestselling World-Class Grooming for Horses, have braided thousands of horses for a variety of disciplines over the course of their esteemed careers in the equestrian industry. Now they’ve highlighted those skills in a book conceived to be a helpful barn companion—one you can take with you and keep in your tack trunk, providing a go-to reference whenever you need it. Chock full of full-color photographs that illustrate every step of the process, readers learn techniques for:

• Braiding down—a nice, tight, smooth braid is the key to a sophisticated finish.
• Using thread, yarn, or rubber bands.
• Properly finishing and removing braids to avoid hair damage.
• Button braids two ways.
• Hunter braids.
• Running braids.
• Unpulled manes and long manes.
• Braiding forelocks.

With their expertise, top-tier standards, and trademark clarity as professionals who have made teaching their trade an integral part of their lives, Hill and Ford provide everything you need to know to turn a horse out with professional polish, ready to impress the judges and wow the crowds.