Horses are truly incredible creatures. Not only are they amazingly intelligent animals, but horses are highly sociable and know how to play well with other pets — like this adorable horse who beat his canine friend at a rousing game of “fetch.” And when I discovered the beautiful way equestrians were decorating their favorite horses? I was absolutely floored by the results. Horse mane “braiding” is a tradition that dates back hundreds of years, and has its roots in European folklore. When horses became the main source of transportation in both everyday life and military encounters, braiding became a way to prevent soldiers’ buttons or muskets from getting tangled up in their horses’ manes.
Today, braiding is a gorgeous way to maintain your horse’s hair health, as well as give them a polished, professional appearance. Scroll through below to see the fascinating history behind horse mane braiding, and the stunning variety of knots and locks available today. The idea behind horsehair braiding actually originates from the mythical practice of “elf knots.” According to ancient folklore, fairies would visit stables in the middle of the night and tie knots in a horse’s mane. Supposedly, once the horse’s hair was tangled, these wild creatures would use the knots as “stirrups” and ride the creatures at nightfall.
In reality, however, a horse mane will get knotted for a variety of reasons, including “necking” with another horse. Another ancient myth attributes horse braids to a “marked” animal. According to this theory, a thief would braid the mane of a horse he was looking to steal, marking it as a potential target. However, as time progressed, people realized that mane braids occurred for much simpler reasons. Though horses naturally have a protective layer of grease in their manes, a stable horse will be brushed down daily, ridding it of excess knots and dirt. A wild horse or one that’s kept outside, however, can easily form tangles due to the grease, wind, or frolicking with other horses.
And there is an endless variety of braids to choose from, depending on horse mane thickness and type. The popular “hunter” braid uses yarn that matches the color of the horse and harkens back to the tradition of plaiting a horse in preparation for a fox hunt. Of course, you can just be bold and experiment with different looks, textures, and embellishments yourself. As long as you have a calm horse, mane-braiding can be a relaxing activity for both you and your animal. Watch the video tutorial below to see just how you can braid a horse’s mane yourself.