Braiding the Tail

Step 1: Cut one piece of wool double the length of the ones you use for braiding the mane.

Step 2: Fold the wool in half and lie it across the horse's rump.

Step 3: Separate one strand of hair from the left side of the top of the tail, and two strands, one above the other, on the right side of the top of the tail.

Step 4: If doing an "upside-down" braid proceed as described in steps 5-8 of braiding the forelock.

If doing a regular braid proceed as follows:
 take the top right strand and cross it over the left strand
 take the bottom right strand and cross it under the left strand
 pick up the strand on the bottom (the one you just crossed under the left strand) and cross it over the top as you would in a normal braid
 gather a strand of hair from the left side of the tail and add it to the strand you just crossed
 cross the right strand over the top like a regular braid
 add some hair from the right side of the tail
 continue in this fashion down the tail

Step 5: Continue french braiding until you reach within four inches of the end of the dock (the bone in the horse's tail). If the horse has a long dock make the braid a bit shorter than the dock. If the horse has a short dock continue to the very end of the dock. Do not braid past the end of the dock.

Step 6: When you reach the end of the "french" part of your braid continue braiding in the normel fashion for about 4 inches.

Step 7: Add the wool to the braid in the same fashion as in the forelock.

Step 8: Continue the braid until it is between 8 and 10 inches past the end of the "french" part of the braid.

Step 9: Tie off the braid.

Step 10: Using the pull-through pull the wool through the bottom of the "french" part of the braid. The braid should fold smoothly in half.

Step 11: Get an assistant to hold the folded part of the braid and the remaining hair so that the fold is flat, and the remaining hair lie smooth and flat downwards from the braid.

Step 12: Tie the wool under the braid so that it holds the spare hair tight to the folded part of the braid. Secure tightly both under and on top of the braid.

Step 13: Slather the braid in extra hold gel, especially the upper thin hairs, so that it lies smooth and flat.

Step 14: Wrap the tail until shortly before your classes. This helps prevent the horse from rubbing and destroying the braid.

HINT: The smaller the segments that you use to form your braid the tighter and neater it will look.

Removing the Braids

To remove the braids at the end of the day, it sometimes helps to wet them. Lift the braid so that you can see the X of the wool underneath. Cut one strand of that X with the seam ripper. Straighten out the braid. You may also need to cut out the knot at the end. Do this by running the seam ripper down the tip of the braid and through the knot in the same direction as the hair. This way you don't end up cutting the mane.

Hopefully you have found these instruction clear and easy to follow. Keep practicing and eventually you will have beautiful braids of your very own! Good luck!