Everything You Need To Know About Braiding Your Horse’s Tail

No fly-away hairs here.

Unlike their mane counterparts, horsetail braids are not required in the show ring at all levels and disciplines. However, entering the ring turned out in a polished manner never goes out of style. Whether you braid your horse’s tail in order to keep it healthy and prevent breakage, or if you are practicing for the ring, read on for all you need to know about braiding your horse’s tail.

For starters, invest in quality tools in order to braid your horse’s tail. This means a quality pulling comb, though you may use it only to carefully divide hairpieces. Yarn or waxed thread in your horse’s hue is essential for finishing your tail. A knitting or crochet needle with a blunt tip – preferably in a few sizes, just so you have. Short, sharp scissors are a must, and a sturdy seam ripper never hurts. Lastly, an aid to help secure the hair in place, like Quicbraid, a horsey hairspray, or a spray bottle filled with a mix of one part water to one part of this super-serious hairspray.

Some riders prefer to put together their own braiding kits with specific tools they favor. Here are our must-have essentials:

• Braiding Aid Comb Tool, $2, statelinetack.com Perfect for both branding and braiding, you’ll never have to guesstimate how to evenly portion mane hair when using this tool
• Crochet hooks, $8, amazon.com 
• Colored yarn made especially for mane and horse tail braids, $16, amazon.com
• A pulling comb, $3, statelinetack.com to thin your horse’s mane or tail
• A sturdy comb, $5, statelinetack.com
• The best horse tail brush money can buy, $15, statelinetack.com or Amazon.com
• Mane ’n Tail Spray ’n Braid, $11, statelinetack.com, a  spray-on professional grooming grip for tighter braids and neater banding

First thing is first: do not wash your horse’s tail before you braid it. Just like human hair, sometimes it’s better on the second or third day after washing. For hunter-jumpers, a classic french braid is preferred, but on occasion, you’ll see a Dutch-style braid. The key difference between french braiding your horse’s tail and your own hair is that you’ll want to take thin selections of hair from the back of your horse’s tail, and carefully intertwine the pieces, keeping the majority of your horse’s tail inside the braid.

Looking for other great resources for horsetail braids and show grooming? Check out our ultimate guide to grooming kits to choose one that is best for you.

For a play-by-play look at how to do the perfect braid for the hunter/jumper ring, see below:

What to do with the end of the tail? Some still prefer to end in a pinwheel, while others will thread the end of the tail underneath the braid itself.

Braiding a Dutch braid is exactly the reverse, as seen here:

While the show ring requires a precise horse tail braid, really sometimes we all just want to have a bit of fun. The next time you and your mount are in a costume contest, parade, or just want to have some fun in the barn, here are some exquisite horsetail braids to inspire you.

Sometimes you just need to show the world how much you do love your horse, even if you’ve already made it abundantly clear.

Because you can’t take your horse to Coachella, this bohemian look will have to do. This is a standard tail braid wrapped around the full breadth of the tail, with daisies added for a lighthearted look.

A fishtail braid is wrapped around a horse’s tail, as a way to keep the tail neat while out to pasture.

Here’s a winner for those who don’t feel that braiding their horse’s tail is one of their great talents. Banding pieces of the horse tail in a geometric pattern makes for one eye-catching tail.

Another unique horse tail swishes by in the stable.