Mane (horse)
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The mane is the hair that grows from the top of the animal's neck, reaching from the poll to the withers, and includes the forelock. It is often thicker and coarser than the rest of the horse's coat, and may grow very long. Some horses, such as those used in circuses or in mounted displays such as Cavalia, have manes down to their knees. In the wild, however, the mane usually does not get that long because it is broken or ripped out at different times.
The mane is thought to help water run off the neck should it rain. It is also possible that is provides some fly protection, although the tail is usually the first defense against flies.
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[edit] Grooming
The mane is groomed in various ways, depending on the riding style of the rider. There are four ways to keep the mane: natural, pulled, braided/plaited (English-style riding), or banded (Western-style riding). The groom may also roach/hog the mane (shave it off down to the neck). The length of the mane's bridle path is also dependent on the discipline or breed of the horse, and is important to consider when grooming a horse for competition.
[edit] Discipline
- Pleasure riding: usually the mane is kept natural or pulled, as preferred by the rider.
- Hunt seat: the mane is pulled to about 4 inches, and braided with "hunter braids" for all important competition (usually on the right side). When the mane is braided, the forelock should also be braided.
- Show jumping: the mane may be braided (usually with "button braids", although a nicely pulled mane is acceptable (about 3.5-5 inches in length). The forelock may or may not be braided.
- Dressage: the mane is pulled to 3.5-5 inches and braided for all recognized competition, braiding is seen on either side of the neck. The forlock is sometimes left unbraided.
- Eventing: pulled to about 3.5-5 inches. Braided for dressage with "knob" or "button braids" (although not always at the lower levels). Usually left unbraided for cross-country, as the rider may need to grab it. May be braided for stadium (usually at the higher levels).
- Western pleasure: banded
- Reining: usually natural, forelock may be braided.
- Stock seat Equitation: usually pulled to 3.5-4.5" and banded on the left side. May also be left natural.
- Saddle seat: Natural, although a few long braids are permitted, styling varies according to breed. Three-gaited saddlebreds have roached manes; in five-gaited saddlebreds the mane is left long, with a long bridle path.
- Fox hunting: pulled to about 4" and braided (usually on the right side)
- Combined driving: Usually styled according to breed. Pulled and braided for sport horses.
- Polo: roached, to keep it out of the way of the mallet.
- Flat racing or Steeplechase: either nicely pulled, or braided
- Harness Racing: pulled
- Endurance riding: usually left natural, although it varies according to breed
[edit] Breed
Certain breeds are often expected to have a specific styling to their manes.
- Baroque breeds (Andalusian, Lusitano, Friesian, ect): usually have their manes left natural, and as long as possible. In competition, the manes may be French braided down the crest of the neck.
- Saddlebred: Usually left long and natural, with braiding in the forelock and first lock of mane. Sometimes roached.
- National Show Horse: long and natural, with long (6-8") bridle path
- Arabian and part-Arabian: usually left long and natural, with a long (6-8") bridle path. May be French braided if the horse is ridden in dressage or hunt seat competition.
- Connemara: pulled 3.5-4" and may be braided
- Morgan: long and natural, braiding only in dressage and hunt seat classes. Usually has a long (6-8") bridle path
- Stock horse type (includes Quarter Horse, Paint horse, Appaloosa): 3.5-4.5" pulled mane, usually banded for Western pleasure and halter. May be left long and natural for reining competition.
- Warmbloods: 3.5-5" pulled mane, usually braided (either side). Bridle path 1-2" in length
- Thoroughbred: pulled 3.5-4.5" with short (1-2") bridle path. May be braided depending on what horse is used for.
- Shetland Pony: long mane with 4-6" bridle path, may have a lock of mane braided
[edit] Pulling
The mane is often pulled to shorten and thin it. It gives a much neater appearance than simply trimming it with scissors, which does not thin the mane enough to braid. Pulling also makes the mane more manageable, as a pulled mane is less likely to get tangled than a natural one.
Most horses do not object to mane pulling, and willingly stand for the process. To make it more comfortable for the horse, the groom should pull the mane out of the crest in an upwards direction, rather than sideways or down. It is also recommended that pulling is performed right after exercise, when it is thought that the mane comes out more easily becauce the pores are open.
In some cases, the horse is very sensitive and will constantly toss his head or try to bite if the groom attempts to pull it. In this case, only a few hairs should be taken out at a time, with the pulling process spanning over several weeks, and the groom should try to keep up with the process so that the horse will not have to endure a long session right before competition. An application of Orajel on the roots of the mane can help desensitize the area during the pulling process.
[edit] Roaching(US)/Hogging(UK)
Roaching/hogging is when the mane is completely shaven. This is usually done if the horse's mane is naturally ragged, or for certain disciplines such as polo or polocrosse, to keep the mane out of the way. Cobs can be shown with a roached mane and it is also common to roach the mane for certain breeds. In Spain, breeders commonly roach the mane of mares and foals. The same applies to the Swiss "Freiberger" horses.
If a mane is roached, it will take about 6-8 months for it to lay over onto the neck. If the horse has a ragged mane, it will grow in to look much neater and thicker.
[edit] Braiding(US)/Plaiting(UK)
Braiding was first used on Thoroughbreds used in the hunt field, to keep the blowing mane from getting tangled in the reins or rider's hands and to show off the horse's neck. Colder-blooded animals had their manes roached. Therefore, braiding came to be a sign of "blood" in the horse, and that he was a fine-quality animal.
Today, braiding is performed to show off the neck, accentuating the top line when the horse is moving or jumping. Braiding may be used to hide conformation faults of the neck (for example, a relatively short neck can be braided with a greater number of smaller braids, making it look longer). Braiding can be used to train the mane to lie on one side of the neck, if half falls on one side and half falls on the other.
Traditionally, the mane is braided on the right side of the neck. This is still the standard for show hunters in the United States and eventers, although dressage horses are commonly braided on either side. It was also traditional that male horses would have an odd number of braids, and even number for mares. However, this rule is rarely, if ever, followed by modern braiders.
[edit] Types of Braids
The most common braids are the button braids, which are round and usually larger (thus fewer in number) than the hunter/flat braids. Button braids are seen in dressage, show jumping, and eventing competition, as well as horse shows in the UK and Australia, and horses generally have 7-9 on a neck. They are more flattering to certain horses and certain breeds. They are also stronger than traditional yarn braids, and so are best for riders that may be tempted to grab the mane for security. Hunter braids are smaller with as many as 20-30 on a neck, and they are the only braid accepted in US hunt seat competition. They are usually not seen in other disciplines, although they are permissible for dressage.
Knob braids are a variation on hunter braids, involving pushing part of the braid up to create a "knob" at the top. They are usually only seen in dressage competition.
The French braid is braided along the crest of the neck. It is used on long-maned horses, and is usually seen when a baroque breed competes in dressage. The Continental braid is also useful for long-maned horses, and creates a "net" in the mane.
The scalloped mane is a uncommon form of braiding, where the braids are not pulled up in half under itself, but rather pulled up under the braid that is two down from it (toward the withers). It is seen most often in hunt seat, dressage, or in the jumpers, although it is not as popular as the other forms of braid.
