Shiny Happy Horses

LEARN to Braid Like a Pro- SPRING SPECIAL

Do you want to learn a streamline formula for laying down consistently gorgeous braids, made quickly and comfortably? I teach..

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Tying Up & Yarn Matters For Braiding

 

The visual rhythm of uniform braids comes from a physical rhythm. So, normally I do one stage of the process at a time. That is: braid the ‪‎mane‬ down, pull it all up, finesse the bottomline then tie- lock ’em down. Doing one stage at a time lets you get a good rhythm and feel. Plus, it is easier to get the bottomline perfectly straight, which is the most important part of the ‪‎braid‬ job.

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Emiliano WINS

Emiliano just set horse Anton Radio Formula & rider Jaime Azcarraga up to WIN $1,000,000 at HITS. The groom once sold w/ legendary jumper Jet Run...

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Clinic Report: Learning to Connect

Chronicle of the Horse blogger Lily Foregger shares lessons from Ruthann's first in the Essentials of Sound Horsemanship Clinic Series...

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The Painted-On Look

Amanda Steege's Top Turnout

We call this the PAINTED-ON LOOK. People talk about numbers of braids. A great braider knows what's REALLY important is that the:

• Bottomline of the mane is perfectly straight.
• Mane braids are sized so they sit well on the neck.
• Cheat the angle so braids are longer toward the poll than the withers, and the neck looks rounder.
• Maintain a really uniform and/or gradual visual rhythm to the braids and they carry your eye down the neck.
• Braids are comfortable and sturdy. Braids that look painted-on won’t jiggle to distract the eye, nor go askew with scrubbing crest releases.

This is a topnotch braid job by Jeff Claxton, is yet another way Amanda Steege distinguishes herself and Ashmeadow Farm for *EXCELLENCE IN HORSEMANSHIP.* Consider this another Top Turnout Salute!

Braid like a pro

If you want to braid like this, lots of tips are posted in the Grooming Resource of this site.  Get the formula down and your manes can look like this every time.  I suspect this took about 35 minutes. Here's how to learn to braid like a pro.

Enjoy,
Ruthann

*This grey is SHINING IN THE DARK for Lucky Braids All-In-One Shampoo.

Grand Prix Riders' Braiding Advantage

“Horsewomen are always several notches above riders....”

                                                                            – Judy Richter 

Why braiding is important

Special Mention

Photo credit and THANKS to: Linda Umla. — with Norfield Stables LLC at the New Albany Classic

Welcome!

 

Our new website is a library of SOUND HORSEMANSHIP, as well as a celebration of excellence in horse husbandry. Use it as a reliable source for best practices, including: grooming, braiding, handling, safety and stable management. The tips will help you save time and money every day in the barn, while keeping horses healthy and happy.

Keen horsemen know handling and care very much mandate performance. They set the groundwork, establishing a horse’s worldview, while keeping its body able. Preparation may include the process of braiding, which can send horses to the ring relaxed and focused, ready to win. Those are considered “lucky braids.” While this site is the most comprehensive educational resource for braiding, that's just one aspect of what you can learn.

Since 1974, I have been working with top international competitors across disciplines. Many of the years were spent atop a ladder, twist’n manes and tails. It was the perfect perch from which to study systems and synthesize knowledge.

Lucky Braids products for Top Turnout are fruits of that labor. Attempting to manage horses’ hair and skin, day and night, I kept thinking: there must be a better way. With plenty of time "in hand," I figured out solutions for the most pervasive grooming problems. Turns out, my international groom/pro braider mindset is worlds away from that of chemists with marketing dollars. Great grooms don’t want to a lot of products and to be treating problems. Hence, the paradigm shift: the highest quality care CAN be easiest and most cost-effective. Different game.

My mission is to raise the bar of horsemanship. Education on this site is designed to close gap between practices standard among elite horsemen, and those of the masses. Equestrians over the ages learned plenty the hard way. Maybe now you won’t need to.

The horses come first. When I visit friends, many of whom take care of or ride grand prix horses, they are always generous with their wisdom. I take it in, aiming to pass it on to you. Hopefully, at the end of the day, your equines’ needs will be best served.

So, please explore the site. Freely comment and question. If I don’t have the answer, I know who does. Some issues require in-depth tutorials. Many are underway, just needing time... and a little patience.

I also invite you to join my e-publication and blog. The quarterly newsletter will offer special  insights, invites and promotions, while the blog shares handy tips frequently.

Thanks so much for your interest and support!

Enjoy all,
Ruthann