| You may have seen it at a show, a lovely horse | | | | is particularly important if you have a mare. It is unfair |
| trotting around the ring sporting a fancy red ribbon in | | | | to a stallion's rider to ride your mare too close to a |
| his tail. Sure it is pretty, but did you know that it also | | | | stallion in the ring, especially if she is in season. The |
| has a meaning? Surprisingly, many riders do not. | | | | stallion can be the best behaved boy out there, but |
| The tradition started many years ago. Riders would | | | | having an in season mare close by will distract him. In |
| place a ribbon in their horse's tail when riding in the hunt | | | | the worst case scenario, you could cause a serious |
| to warn other riders of things they might not have the | | | | accident by bringing your mare too close to a stallion. |
| time to tell them before the ride. When there are a lot | | | | Caution is always sensible when seeing a horse with a |
| of horses working in a group, it can be hard to know | | | | blue ribbon in his tail. |
| which horse is which, and a ribbon makes it clear when | | | | White ribbons signify that a horse is for sale. Because |
| there is a something that needs to be considered | | | | it can be difficult to successfully advertise at a show, |
| before approaching. | | | | using a white ribbon is an excellent way to show that |
| Understanding the Color of a Ribbon | | | | your horse is for sale. That way prospective buyers |
| There are four colors of ribbon that you might see on | | | | can see him perform in the ring, and know that they |
| a horse's tail: red, green, blue and white. Each color has | | | | can approach you after the class if they are |
| its own meaning. | | | | interested. |
| Red ribbons signify that a horse is a kicker. This | | | | Common Practice |
| means that any other riders should be careful not to | | | | Not many people use ribbons in their horses' tails |
| crowd the horse, especially from behind. This is the | | | | anymore. This is a pity as many accidents could be |
| most common color of tail ribbon and thus is the best | | | | prevented through their use. Often there is a fear that |
| understood. Often people choose to use a red ribbon if | | | | a judge might mark a horse more severely for having |
| a horse is green or inexperienced because other riders | | | | a kicking ribbon or a green ribbon in their tail. |
| are more likely to understand the meaning. | | | | If more coaches and riders began using colored |
| A green ribbon means that a horse is inexperienced | | | | ribbons, it could become common practice again. The |
| and likely to misbehave. This is suitable for young | | | | results would be beneficial to everyone involved. At |
| horses or for horses who are particularly spooky in | | | | the very least, riders at the schooling level should be |
| nature. If you see a horse with a green ribbon in his tail, | | | | taught what red and green ribbons mean, and horse |
| approach him with caution. Give him space when riding | | | | shows should encourage their use, even supplying |
| near him, and be sure to keep an eye on him when in | | | | appropriate colors of yarn at their registration tables. |
| the ring. A green horse may spook or otherwise | | | | An ounce of warning can make all the difference |
| misbehave in unexpected ways. | | | | between a safe ride and a dangerous accident. If all |
| A blue ribbon says that this horse is a stallion. Because | | | | kickers wore red ribbons, all green horses wore green |
| stallions should only be handled by adults, and can be | | | | ribbons and all stallions wore blue ribbons, everyone |
| unpredictable at times, stallion owners will sometimes | | | | would know which horses to be careful of at the |
| use a blue ribbon in his tail to warn off other riders. This | | | | show. |