Ran out of tape ? You can tie up a tail as well.
By Tom Goodspeed
Have to admit that when braiding a tail, taping the end, folding up the tail and then a few more pieces of you favorite colored electrical tape is pretty darn easy, but for those of you that would like to learn how to put up a tail minus the tape, this article is for you.
The secret behind a tail without the tape is pulling out a small section of tail (we’ll call it the tie piece) from below the base of the tail bone. The tie piece should be a small fraction of one of the three pieces you divide the tail into for braiding. If you pick out the tie piece from too high, the tail will tend to unravel.
Run your fingers down the tailbone until you come to the end, and then grab a bundle of long strands of hair and pull it out and leave it to the side. This is your tie piece. Braid the remaining tail into three sections, ideally, one larger section and two smaller sections that when combined together will equal the larger section of the three(well…four if you count the tie piece).
Begin to braid the three pieces (being careful to leave your tie piece out), outside right to center, outside left to center and so on. Pull the braids tight. You should only have to braid 4-6 times at the most. Then put the two smaller sections together so that you now have two equal pieces and your tie section.
Pull the two sections up and wrap them around the tail, just above where you started braiding, towards the horse, around the back of the tail, and then back to the front. Twist the two pieces together for several twists and then fold that piece over in half. If you had a really long tail, you might go artound twice, as you never want anymore than 4-5 actual braids.
Now comes the tricky part. If all of the preceding instructions have been difficult for you, put the tail down and pick up some more electrical tape on your way home.
If you are still with me, take the tie piece in your right hand and lay it over the twisted section, slide that tie piece up and catch the end of the tie section between your left thumb and the tail. Then make a few wraps out to what I refer to as the head of the twisted piece, and then begin to wrap back towards the tail, while twisting the twisted section a bit more, as you wrap. Then as you start to run out of the tie section, you will notice, or should notice a hump that has developed at the base of the twisted section. Slide your last wrap of your tie section over that hump to “lock” the tail from coming undone.
Kathy Linfoot taught me this method some years back. I have never had a tail come down, even during fly season. Well …..never may not be entirely accurate, but in my own mind, it seems like never. Lets agree to go with hardly ever.
Ok, for you visual learners like me, close your mouth and refer to the pictures. I hope they do better for you than I just did trying to explain this. And remember, electrical tape is just a home depot stop away. Happy tails to you.
Read More Tips …
More about Tom’s Polo Basics DVD Series
Buy the Polo Basics DVD Series
Buy the Horse Basics DVD Series
DVD Testimonials
About Tom Goodspeed