Beautiful Braids: The History, Legends & Practice Of Plaiting Our Horses' Hair

With their long, flowing manes and tails, it’s no wonder that we would enjoy braiding horses’ hair. My own journey into braiding began with the amazing present of an equine braiding kit from one of my sisters. Learning the patterns and spending that quality time with my mares has been the gift that keeps on giving! And while I am far from an expert in the art, it has truly captured my attention and enthusiasm. Together, let’s explore this lovely part of the equestrian world.

The Facts And The Legends 

The history of braiding our horses' hair goes back centuries. Records show that the practice likely began in Ancient Greece, though some speculate that it was brought over from Asia. It began practically enough, simply used as a way to keep their steeds’ manes and tails from getting tangled in their tack and equipment. But over time, it evolved into an art form all to itself. Rising in popularity with the European cavalry in the early 1800’s, it quickly became a symbol of wealth and status among the upper class. Over time hundreds of different styles and patterns have spread across the world.

During this time, myths became attached to it. My favorite is the legend of the ‘Fairy Braid’, which refers to finding some twisted, braided-like strand just appearing in your horse’s mane. As the story goes, these were woven there by the fairies, to be used as reins and stirrups, so they can ride your horses by night on important magical missions. Of course, they will always return your horse by morning, both rested and fed. Fairies, as we know, would only pick out the best horses for their work, so finding a fairy braid tells you how special your horses are.

Though there are other myths on these naturally occurring ‘braids’ - such as that it’s a sign horse thieves use to mark which horses they’ll take, or that it’s a mark of ‘embedding doom’ - I rather enjoy the thought that my horses have been specially selected and blessed by fairy rides in the night. It brings a smile to my face every time I find a fairy braid in their manes.

Purpose And Uses Today

Braiding our horses’ manes and tails remains popular to this day. We see it all across the show circuit, though more widely seen in the English style of riding. The braids can range from simple to extremely ornate, and everything in between. Often, we do this just for fun, show, and beauty, but there are still practical uses for it everywhere we look. Just like in times past, we braid their hair to prevent tangles in equipment. Though not always necessary or best, this can be an important act of safety. Getting their hair caught and pulled in tack can not only be annoying, but painful and damaging, especially to the tailbone. It can also cause a horse to bolt or rear. But it is crucial that we do this braiding in the right way and don’t do it so tightly that we reduce circulation. Braiding can also be helpful to the rider, such as keeping the mane from flying in their eyes while jumping or racing. 

You can also do braids that are meant to be left in the horses’ manes and tails during turning out. The idea here is to keep their hair more neat and tangle-free,  while also protecting them from damage, breakage, and mud. Important to note that even braids meant to be left for longer periods of time should only be left in for a week, at the absolute longest. Otherwise, we risk them getting torn out or causing irritation to our horses.

Tools, Supplies & Safety

Good news, most things for braiding aren’t expensive or hard to find! Most can be ordered or found at your local equine store. Some you may even have in your home or barn. #1 is a lightweight stool. When doing horses’ manes, you’re going to often need a little extra height to take the pressure off your arms and be able to reach those high stops. Next is a good spray bottle of water and/or a detangler. I’ve found that children's detanglers work just fine! You may also need a sponge or cloth and a bucket of water, as it’d usually be easier to work with wet/dampened hair. And you’ll need small rubber bands that can easily be cut when needed; though some people prefer to use tape, like commercial braiding tape (others might even use electrical or athletic tape). 

Other tools are, but not limited to:

Strong hair clips - for holding hair out of the way or in portions

Ribbons, small or large - for braiding into hair or tying in at the end

Sharp scissors - for trimming hair evenly, cutting ribbons or tapes/rubber bands

Pull-through or hook, can be made from a metal coat hanger - used in mane knots  

Remember, not just any horse will be able to stand still for the time it takes to do their manes and tails. It can take some training to create a horse that is relaxed and comfortable with the braiding process. Note also that when braiding horses' tails, you might have to stand in the unsafe ‘kick zone’. I cannot stress enough, only do this with a very safe, very experienced horse. Even in fun and beauty, safety must always come first!

And keep in mind that braiding can be a lot of arm strain; you can only work with your arms raised and tensed for so long. Be sure to take breaks along the way! Over time, you’ll build muscles that make braiding go faster and easier each time you do it. And when you see your beautiful finished products, it’ll all be worth it!

Hope y’all have enjoyed this little peek into the art of braiding for horses. It can be a fun and rewarding activity for both you and your horse, which requires practice, strength, and time. But that will cultivate patience, skill, and, hopefully, a deeper connection with your horse!