Tail Styling Across Disciplines: Dressage, Eventing, and Showing
In the world of competitive riding, tail styling is more than just a grooming task; it's an art that enhances your horse's natural beauty and performance. Whether your horse belongs in the dressage arena, flying over eventing courses, or making an impression in the show ring, how you style your horse's tail will impact the overall presentation. Let’s dive into the preferred tail styles across different disciplines, taking into account the unique conformation and gait of each horse.
Dressage tails
"Dressage horses traditionally sport tails around fetlock length, creating an elongated, elegant image," shares ambassador Aiyana Yuill, a dressage rider. This tradition offers a visual extension of the horse’s hindquarters, emphasising strength, and grace. However, she adds that "keeping tails about 5cm above the fetlock helps avoid interference with movement." This is particularly important for horses with very thick tails that get caught in the legs when they are going.
A dressage tail on the left and an example of a tail that is too long – and getting caught in hind legs.
Eventing tails
Eventers follow most of the same principles as traditional dressage, however the tail length sits at mid-cannon bone length. Laura Wallace, our Eventing ambassador, says, "We plait to the bottom of the dock, in line with the hamstring curve, and add a false tail for a clean finish." Pro tip: Use The Hairy Pony Braiding Mouse to keep your tail braids from getting flyaways!
Showing tails
The show ring demands precision and perfection. "For the show ring, the standard is around the base of the hock," Olivia Palfreyman explains, "Unless you have a picture-perfect thick tail, false tails are a must." This length allows for a clear display of the horse's hind leg conformation and action, critical for impressing the judges. For the show ring, “tails are usually either clipped, pulled or braided to create a neat, voluminous outline that shows off the horse’s hindquarters”, is the best practice according to Ambassador Sally Bond.
Conformation and gait considerations
Tail styling isn't just about conforming to your discipline’s standards; it's also about complementing your horse's natural conformation and gait. "A mid-length, fuller tail can help 'lift' the image of a horse with sloping or weaker hindquarters," suggests Palfreyman. For horses with less than ideal hind leg conformation or blemishes, "I trim the tail just below these faults," says Palfreyman, using strategic styling to draw the eye away from imperfections. It is essential to use sharp scissors when trimming tails – or you end up with jagged and uneven lines – this is never a good look for any discipline. We recommend the Hairy Pony Tail Trimming Scissors to cut through even the thickest of tails.
Ambassador Zoe Boyce, emphasises tail carriage, "For horses that carry their tail higher, always lift up the tail before trimming to simulate the actual carriage in work." This ensures the tail length is appropriate when the horse is in motion, to keep a balanced and harmonious appearance.
In Summary
Tail styling is a critical aspect of a horse’s presentation, requiring thoughtful consideration of the discipline, the horse's conformation, and its natural gait. Correctly grooming a horse's tail also involves prioritising the horse's comfort. A tail should be sufficiently long to fend off flies, especially during bug-heavy summer months. Conversely, a tail that is too long poses a risk of being stepped on, leading to hair loss and pain. In any modification to our horse's appearance, their quality of life and potential side effects must always be the top concern.
By following these guidelines and insights from our ambassadors, you can enhance your horse's appearance, highlighting its strengths and masking any imperfections, whilst making sure they are comfortable. Remember, the goal is to achieve a balanced, beautiful look that complements your horse's natural elegance and athleticism.