How To Running Braid & French Braid your horse for schooling - FULL TUTORIAL

This is a basic tutorial on how to execute a Running Braid vs. a French braid, the differences between them, and the different uses.
There are MANY many variables to consider when determining which braid to use and why, but the basics are as follows:
First, both of these braids are intended for breeds whose standards require long, natural manes. I highly suggest shortening your horse's mane and using rosette ("button") or hunter braids if the breed does not specifically require or show long standing tradition of displaying a long, natural mane.
The RUNNING braid is the easier braid to execute. If you are inexperienced, start with this one. It also looks better and holds better integrity in thicker manes such as those of Fresians and other draft breeds. It is ideal for super long thick manes, and lays lower and looser on the horse, so consider this braid for horses who are more sensitive.
The FRENCH braid is more attractive, but requires more skill to execute well. This braid is lovely for show (although, be sure to FINISH it for show, with yarn, as opposed to with bands as in this tutorial), for clinics, or for schooling/lessons. If your horse has a long mane that might not be quite as thick, such as some Iberian horses, quarter horses, or even some less fortunate Fresians, the running braid is the way to go. It is tighter to the mane, but moves with the neck very well.
If you have an specific questions, suggestions, or, God forbid, challenges, feel free to comment or e-mail me! I'm always happy to help a fellow Equestrian understand how to better turn out their horse, OR, justify my methods to anyone who doesn't understand them, as well as learn from someone else who has even more excellent ideas!

[@terezipyrope5992]

Thank you for this. I was having problems getting a french braid done on my quarter horse's mane. You explained it a lot better then the other tutorials out there.

[@grandcarriage1]

Nicely explained. I have a saddlebred stud I'm planning using for dressage, and I don't want to lose his glorious mane. I've always done a running braid, but now I'll have to try a French braid as well.

[@miniluv249]

Thank you, my minis have incredibly thick manes and this keeps them cool in the summer.

[@blondilox4137]

Heavy Metal I keep seeing you throwing your unwanted opinion on everyones comments. How old are you? 12? We get it, you’re a little miss/mr know it all. Clearly nobody knows more about horses than you, right? I mean... you seem pretty flashy with all your knowledge there buddy. Just a little news flash for ya; everyone has their own vision and techniques on how they deal with THEIR horses, you would know that if you attended events and pony clubs. Which in sure you’ve done all of that, right? keep out of it and respect people’s ways. You don’t know everything

[@jaydaleopard5776]

I’m so glad I found this video I’ve been trying to do the French braid I had no idea you did it every single time bc no other video say that❤️Thank you

[@londynsilvers522]

This I perfect my horses mane goes past her shoulder and are pasture fencing is made out of barb wire and I'm so afraid she will rip it out on it and now I can do this and she has not ripped it out once love your vid and you new horse

[@tresheureuse]

Clearest video and accompanying explanation I’ve found - thank you so much!

[@madisonpontes4492]

I tried the running braid today and it came out wonderful!!! Thank you!

[@baileyclaassen5049]

Wow this is great thanks! I have a gelding with a long but thin mane, we are now entering some English flat classes and I didn't want to have to chop it short. We will defiantly be trying the French braid for this weekends show.

[@alexandra1560]

Thank you so much I am going to a show in a week and I wanted to try a different type of braid because all of the pony's have bobles and I find their boring.

[@sophiesmith7689]

I love this tutorial, so much clearer than others.

[@annmariekenny8933]

Tx so much I tried it on my horse and she loved it

[@zoecarter4759]

Loved it thank you so much I will be able to practise these on my pony Millie now... I feel like I could actually do them now, before I thought they were so difficult and I couldn't do it but watching your video made it so much more simple

[@blombaful]

wow, I always thought the running braid was called a French braid... gonna try the French braid on my friesian mare!

[@PhoenixPyres222]

Brilliant, thanks so much. Will be perfect for my Anda-loosa gelding. He's got a thick mane but a patch which rubbed out from his rug in winter so I'm going to give the french plait a go asap :)

[@sarat3661]

Thank you so much for this, my gelding has a long mane and I've been trying to find another braid to do with it and this looks perfect.

[@equusequitationhealth8840]

Thank you for this tutorial! Very much appreciated.

[@shaylynneswanberg5101]

This is great! He's also a very handsome horse!

[@LeeBertgess]

omijeez THANK YOU for the great detailed video and clear instruction on that French Braid! I could do a running braid, but the one close to the crest mystified me.

[@elizabethbrown1775]

Thank you I'm going to practice this for my next show :).

[@KATHIYAVADIHORSELOVER143]

Thank you so much you explained very well I tried this on my mare she looks very pretty 👍🥰😍

[@leahwoodham8112]

Very helpful. I will have to try the french braid for this upcoming show season.

[@danielnovak1326]

I love the second one!

[@katkasmirill1970]

Great video 😁 and OMG your horse is so beautiful 😍

[@amira1698]

Thank you this helped me a lot

[@itsbevinallison]

The start was slow but as it went on I was thankful for all the info. It was detailed and explained very well. Thank! Now I think I finally understand this brain cause mjne always just fall out, lol!

[@bennymshudulu6941]

I like it and I would like to apply it on my horse.

[@sarahrucker4309]

Thanks this helped alot!

[@cowgirlflower3344]

Regardless the quality of the video ,i think its fantastic, very wel explained, can`t wait to go and try this tomorrow.Thank you for the effort!!!

[@rideinrain]

Good Demo! Very Nice Job!

[@noctesrebellionem212]

I don't need a stool, would probably need retractable legs😂😂

[@MartLeach]

can any body tell me where i can find instructions on how to do a french braid on TOP of the mane?? TIA. Cara xx

[@anonanon9801]

I am getting the hang of this, but the bottom "line" underneath is really sloppy. Don't understand what I am doing wrong. ????

[@MissShadow25]

For the French running braid, Do I add hair from underneath besides adding hair on Top?

[@natasjakoorsen5017]

How many h is the horse and how tall are you? Thx 😊

[@the_crafter451]

love your horse

[@amiraeastwood6317]

Awesome video! The braid looks good when I do it, but by the time I've warmed up at a show, it has completely fallen out. Anyone know of any ways to make it stay in longer?

[@hunthevalley]

it might not be tight enough. Do not let the horse lower his head after braiding. Hair spray.

[@amiraeastwood6317]

+hunthevalley Ok, thanks! :)

[@jessicacvelbar9782]

I buy yarn that is the same color as my horses mane and then tie sections of the braid together at regular intervals. That has really helped keep her braid from falling out.

[@maisiejensseneventing4297]

Definately hair spray

[@carriebarker6293]

I have a halflinger and she has the thickest and longest mane i have ever seen

[@kaylaj4958]

Carrie Barker same with my Shetland pony and grey horse(like the one in the video)

[@arnablondal1871]

It's so hard to see how you do it :(

[@juanespinoza7737]

How long can the running braid last

[@kaylaj4958]

Juan EspinozA depends on your horse my horse hers lasted 2 day and on my Shetland pony it lasted a week

[@kaylaj4958]

Juan EspinozA but the French braid can last up to a month but don't recommend that because you need to keep the mane clean and it's hard to clean in a braid

[@meganfalconer2000]

I noticed you pulled your horses mane to the right, I was always taught and aware it went to the left. Does it actually matter which side?

[@torispray8638]

+Megan Falconer I don't ride english professionally but from what I've always understood (don't take my word for it) that it just matters which side the mane grows on.

[@meganfalconer2000]

Tori Spray​ yeah they always pulled it to left even thought I grew right. Thank you for reassuring me

[@beautifuldancingfreestyle2202]

Megan Falconer no it does not matter

[@maisiejensseneventing4297]

it does matter for shows you braid on the right

[@maisiejensseneventing4297]

they pulled the mane to the left tho!!?!

[@kennablack3295]

I really wanna do the french braid on my gelding Felix, but I think his mane is still too thin for it!

[@corliabotha7213]

I like your earbells it is like a horse-shoe

[@ellinlouisemillersnoxell7170]

Ha because my horse had such a thick smallish mane, i had to make 2 plaits but now his mane is really long after the winter rest im still not brushing it often but next year its going to be greay

[@wellstone1897]

14:29 He doesn't

[@megansmith3442]

I usually do a french braid but the result is always ending with my horse putting her head down and the the whole braid stretches out 😕 does anyone know what i can do to prevent it from happening??

[@j_sottosanti3848]

how long can u leave either of these braids in at a time? hours? days?

[@even1642]

Horse girl 88 a few bourse, you don't want to leave it in for to long, the hair can get thinned and damage the mane

[@shanarama1965]

i think any braid should be taken out after up to two days, no more. if its a tight plait; thats iffy, because its so tightened it can damage the mane in the smallest amount if time. A running braid, or the braid in this video, i believe can stay as long as standard maintenance braids can. (2 days MAX)

[@hollypalmer95]

How do you keep the plait so close to his crest? I do this with my horse as the mane gets in the way when I ride and he gets sweaty underneath it in the summer, but by about halfway down the neck, the plait starts to slope down wards :s

[@musicmad23ful]

I have this exact problem!

[@jessicacvelbar9782]

If you keep your top hand (in her demo it would be the right hand) up and almost pull that piece of hair over the neck as you go along it is more likely to stay on top. Your arms get tired half way down and start to droop, which can lead to the braid drooping as well.

[@courtneylamb9169]

do you have to use the running braid fif drsseage

[@dressageandalusian555]

no. you can use any braid you like.

[@noctesrebellionem212]

Dressage Andalusian thats not true, either a running braid or the braids you fold up

[@douglasgriffiths3534]

You don't clip a bridle path?

[@weirdowithoutano962]

The audio was out of time to the video

[@riana8037]

your french braid is actually a dutch braid and your runnig braid is a french braid... i know this video is from a long time ago but i just needed to share that haha

[@jahcuba9681]

Hey P3zzy

[@elizabethhoeppner8881]

He wants to see who she is talking too.

[@alanroberts4060]

Bit brutal with the brush , caught his ear. :(

[@taisjulianasantana3573]

😀😀😍😍😍

[@elldriver73]

The audio on this video is awful

[@PinkBow0676]

the video is out of sync when she talks. I noticed that.

[@lolaking8623]

sorry but that horses mane isn't really that long 💚

[@bridgetwebber5873]

lola king it’s not *really* long but it’s long. It’s not short.

[@sweetscoto5849]

Lol really long mane

[@nikkib.5842]

what and ego lmao

[@evelynrocha8988]

That's so fucking stupid who tf would do that shit to a horse 😂😂

[@116troopers2]

Are you serious??? Some horses actually prefer braids, and you have to braid them for shows. I know that my horse loves it when hes braided. Why cant you just back off??? It may be your opinion, but its YOURS. NOT the worlds. Not everyone thinks the same things, so if you dont have anything good to say then dont say it at all!!! I actually found this quite helpful.

[@raybromley9252]

Are you a moron? Mane and tail grooming is crucial to horse care. All horses love the attention and my horse is almost asleep when I braid her mane. I do it for every ride, because it is practical and her long mane is not in my hands. People who do not give a shit about their horse would NOT do that shit to their horse.

[@carlybennett5636]

So I'm not gonna call you stupid, or insult you, (as you just did) but why would you watch this video if you don't like braided manes?

[@rubylover738]

WOW you wanna know what's stupider than rude comments? :-D PEOPLE WHO MAKE THEM!!!(burning like a boss! B-/

[@raybromley9252]

Ruby Lover You made the first rude comment quote:"That's so fucking stupid who tf would do that shit to a horse". So, 'you wanna know what's stupider than rude comments? :-D PEOPLE WHO MAKE THEM!!!'

[@girlviscus]

I was on a stool while i was braiding a lesson horses mane and she pushed me off with her nose :,)

[@celinelind1979]

My horse does that all the time, lol

[@londynsilvers522]

briinka girl same

[@babalina]

Anyone have any ideas how to keep the mane plaited neat over night when the horse is on pasture?

[@4BeatStudiosEquestrianChannel]

+babalina Double or triple band it! :)

[@meganbayliss5081]

+babalina hey u could use a snuggie xx

[@hunthevalley]

jammies might do it. Close to impossible because when the horse lowers his head the braid loosens.

[@annabellemoonfire8011]

Hair spray