Braiding Manes and Tails: A Visual Guide to 30 Basic Braids Spiral-bound – February 20, 2008

I have been struggling for a couple years now to do the traditional Dutch Braid in my horse's tail for competitions. I usually get someone else to do it. They try to teach me but i just find it impossible, even though I am just fine at normal plaiting. I live in New Zealand and was browsing for a good plaiting book to help when I stumbled across this one. Not only is it cheaper to get this from Amazon.com in the US than from anywhere in Australasia, it is the best buy of a how-to book I've found.Within twenty minutes of opening the book to the Dutch Braid page and reading through the step-by-step diagrams and photos, all in large print text and beautifully laid out numbered lists, I was Dutch Braiding my horse's tail for the first time! The first few times were messy of course, but within a couple of days, with practice, it had neatened up and my fingers had memorized the pattern. Keep in mind I had never been able to master the braid in two years of actual PEOPLE trying to show me and teach me. The book allowed me to go at my own pace, think it through and watch where my fingers were going. Of course it helps if you have a patient horse (give him some hay to munch) and find a good place to tie him where you can also put the book up for easy reading while your hands are full of horse hair :o) Another good thing about this book is that it folds back on itself so even if you have a fence, you can hang it over the rail or wire and still be able to read it.I absolutely recommend this to people who fumble about with any kind of braids or forelock plaits (another I could never master until now) and really want to do it on their own. Lots of pretty braids and plaits to try - from easy to hard. It even lists some of the tools and utensils you will find helpful with braiding and tips for getting perfect plaits. The pictures are big and beautiful, the diagrams are all professionally hand-drawn and illustrated and the text is nice and big so that if you do prop it up somewhere you can still read it from a small distance.

im a first time braider and it has clear and basic pictures to help. it can still be confusing but its great to learn. i even was able to braid on a toy horse so its well done!

If you don’t know how to braid at all, then this is a good book for you. The only thing I really learned from it is how to tie the braids off with yarn (which I probably won’t ever do). What I found frustrating was that there were a couple pictures in the book that I would’ve liked to know how to do but they didn’t have instructions. They just used the pictures to introduce a chapter. If you want to know how to French braid, make buns, do the “braid” on the front cover, or different ways to tie up braids, this will definitely teach you. I personally should’ve saved my money and watched some videos online instead.

Our 7yr old granddaughter has learned to do a basic braid but wanted to do more styles on her horse Snickers. She's having fun learning. FYI- buy LOTS of small rubber bands. You'll need them.

I can't wait to try these out! I have a mustang whose mane knots with the wind, so I wanted to learn to braid it but I wanted variety. I'll definitely be trying all of these on her for the fun of it :D (also, the braid on the front IS in the book. It's called a diamond braid but has a second name. I only glanced at it but on my iPhone kindle app it's 65% through). I like that it has various disciplines in here, too.

Lovely book format and images and the book itself is great - but the content is a very generic overview and nowhere near the complete directions and tips as what you can find free online. If you don’t have a clue how to braid, you still won’t know with this book.

For the aesthetically inclined book lover, this is a must. It is spiral bound and beautifully composed with rich color, clear photographs and diagrams, and an easy to read format. My only criticism of the book was that there were no really intricate uncommon braids included. Growing up in the horse world, I have learned many braids, all of which are in this book. Unfortunately, there were no new braids for me to learn which seriously bummed me out. I'm not unhappy with my purchase though, as this is a clear and concise guide to braiding that I can use to teach students and friends.

Easy to follow step by step instructions

lovely book with clear pictures and instructions

Great fun and very descriptive in show how to do plaits etc. Book in designed so you can hang it up whilst working on your horse so you can follow instructions easily, keeping both hands free.

I could plait my horse but it never looked as good as it could be now I can plait many different Plaits and they all look great. So this book works. Your horses will look very smart!

Great book giving you some super ideas for tarting up your horse. Clever format with some fab pictures. I would recommend this book.

Great book. Lots of ideas and clearly written. Highly recommended