page_title: Mane (horse)
section_title: Discipline
hierarchical_section_title: Mane (horse) / Grooming / Discipline
caption_attribution_description: The mane of a Quarter Horse that has been "banded" for show
context_page_description: On horses, the mane is the hair that grows from the top of the neck of a horse or other equine, reaching from the poll to the withers, and includes the forelock or foretop. It is thicker and coarser than the rest of the horse's coat, and naturally grows to roughly cover the neck. Heredity plays a role, giving some horses a longer, thicker mane, and others a shorter, thinner one.
  Some horses, such as those used in circuses or in mounted displays such as Cavalia, have manes allowed to grow down to their knees. Others have their manes deliberately shaved completely off for style or practical purposes. When ungroomed, however, the mane usually grows no longer than the width of the horse's neck, as natural wear and tear limit its potential length.
  The mane is thought to keep the neck warm, and possibly to help water run off the neck if the animal cannot obtain shelter from the rain. It also provides some fly protection to the front of the horse, although the tail is usually the first defense against flies.
  These are not the original purposes. The longer mane is a specifically bred gene defect in order to optimise the visual part for humans.
context_section_description: Pleasure riding: usually the mane is kept natural or pulled, as preferred by the rider.
  Hunt seat: the mane is pulled to about 3.5 to 5 inches (89 to 127 mm), and braided with "hunter braids" for all important competition (usually on the right side). When the mane is braided, the forelock should also be braided.
  Show jumping: the mane may be braided (usually with "button braids", although a nicely pulled mane is acceptable. The forelock may or may not be braided.
  Dressage: the mane is usually pulled and braided for all recognized competition, braiding is seen on either side of the neck. The forelock is sometimes left unbraided, especially in the case of stallions. Baroque breeds or other horses with long manes may compete in dressage with the mane "French Braided" in a long, continuous braid which follows the curve of the neck.
  Eventing: pulled. Braided for dressage with "knob" or "button braids" (although not always at the lower levels). Usually left unbraided for cross-country, as the rider may need to grab it. May be braided for stadium (usually at the higher levels).
  Western pleasure: usually pulled, usually a bit shorter than for English disciplines, and "banded" (rubber bands placed around small sections of mane) for stock breeds such as the American Quarter Horse, left unpulled and natural for other breeds
  Reining and cutting: usually natural, forelock may be braided.
  Stock seat equitation:  Same as western pleasure.
  Saddle seat: Natural, although a few long braids (usually forelock and 1 or 2 in the mane) are permitted on gaited breeds and on American Saddlebreds, usually with a colorful ribbon attached that complements the rider's clothing. Three-gaited Saddlebreds have roached manes; in five-gaited Saddlebreds the mane is left long, with a long bridle path.
  Fox hunting: pulled and braided, usually on the right side.
  Combined driving: Usually styled according to breed. Pulled and braided for sport horses.
  Polo: roached, to keep it out of the way of the mallet.
  Flat racing or steeplechase: pulled, sometimes braided.
  Harness racing: pulled or natural, Standardbreds often with a long bridle path.
  Endurance riding: usually left natural, although it varies according to breed.
caption: A banded mane.  Note that mane also has been pulled and thinned prior to banding
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