| If you show your horse on a regular basis, you will | | | | have made, forming a knot. Now, take the second |
| already know the expense of hiring someone to braid | | | | strand of wool and do the same thing in the opposite |
| your horse for you. While elastic braids are well and | | | | direction. Finally, take both strands and tie them off a |
| good, there is nothing quite as nice as a set of tightly | | | | final time together. These three knots make your |
| sewn wool braids on a show horse. | | | | braid's end secure, and will hold up remarkably well. If |
| Fortunately, as with elastic braids, it is possible for | | | | you have not succeeded in making the knot tight |
| nearly anyone to learn how to braid with wool. If you | | | | enough, either rebraid, or take an elastic and snug the |
| are not already familiar with braiding techniques, please | | | | end with it to keep the braid secure. Continue this |
| read about braiding with elastics before attempting to | | | | process until all of the braids are complete, leaving the |
| braid with wool. Wool braids require more dexterity | | | | excess wool dangling down the neck like a mane. |
| than elastic braids, and without a solid foundation in | | | | Next take a "pull-through" to pull up the braids. A |
| braiding, you will likely become frustrated and give up | | | | pull-through is actually a rug hook that you can find at |
| before you have a chance to succeed. | | | | any fabric or craft store. It is simply a hook with a |
| Start out by choosing wool that is similar in color to | | | | small flap that closes the end so that it can't catch and |
| your horse's mane. If you can't find the right color, | | | | pull any hairs as you pull the wool through the braid. |
| choose one that is slightly darker. Synthetic wool is just | | | | Stick your pull-through into the top of the braid from |
| as good as real wool, and lasts longer. Some braiders | | | | the outside, as close to the center as you can. Slip the |
| prefer cord, but that tends to be more expensive, so | | | | excess wool into the hook from behind the braid, and |
| you might prefer to stick with wool while you are | | | | pull it through the top of the braid to the outside; let the |
| learning. | | | | ends hang over the far side of the horse's neck. Make |
| Pinching the end of the wool in your fingers, wrap the | | | | sure the resulting folded braid lies flat without any |
| wool around your elbow, then back up to your hand, | | | | twists. Continue pulling all of the braids through. |
| making a long loop. Continue this several times until you | | | | Next it is time to tie off the braids. Take the wool and |
| have 20-30 loops of wool. Cut these loops at your | | | | separate the two ends. Making sure that the braid is |
| hand, making 20-30 strands of wool ready for braiding. | | | | tightly pulled up, tie a knot directly under the braid. Now |
| Starting as you would for elastic braids, separate a | | | | loosely form a knot on top of the braid, tightening it just |
| section of mane about 1" in width. If the mane is a bit | | | | enough that it lies on the surface of the braid. Gently |
| on the longer side (closer to 6") you might want to | | | | squish the braid so that there is a small bump of braid |
| take a slightly wider section. Select one strand of wool | | | | above the knot, with the majority of the braid below |
| and fold it in half. Hold it in your teeth as you separate | | | | the knot. Tighten the knot and tie it two more times to |
| the hair into three sections. | | | | make it secure. |
| Flip the center section of hair up, so that the other two | | | | The finished braid should lie flat on the neck with a |
| sections are lying flat against the horse's neck. Lay the | | | | small bump at the top that may be seen from the far |
| wool over the two sections so that one half runs along | | | | side. Continue down the neck, making certain to keep |
| each section of hair. Pull down the middle section over | | | | the "bumps" even. When all the braids are complete, |
| the wool, and begin to braid. | | | | cut the excess wool, leaving about ¼" of |
| It is essential to keep your braid tight when braiding | | | | excess at each knot. |
| with wool. Because you are not using an elastic to | | | | To undo the braids, lift them to one side and snip one |
| fasten the end, the braid must be firm so that it will | | | | strand of wool from the edge. Pull the braid straight, |
| stay together when tied. | | | | then slide your seam-ripper or scissors under the wool |
| When you reach the end of your braid it is time to tie it | | | | in the direction of the hair and cut the knot at the |
| off. Take one strand of wool and wrap it around the | | | | bottom. The wool will fall out as your pull out the braids. |
| end of the braid. Pull the end through the loop you | | | | |