Fluffy Braids

So Tuesday night, I'm wide awake at a wee hour of the morning, so I parooze Facebook (because you know, that will help me fall back asleep), and I come across this video from Horsegroom Denmark.

It instantly reminded me of Austen's braids. Something I attempted when she posted her tutorial, but wasn't all that successful for me because I pull Penn's mane and keep it pretty short.

Penn's mane is currently a long mane disaster- too long, too thick. It needs to be pulled. I decided to give these braids another whirl since I didn't feel like cleaning up Penn's mane in time for our show in a week and a half, because lazy. I love my tight little braids, but I'll admit, when I want to make them exceptionally perfect, they take me at least 45 min to put in, which means I usually braid the night before to ensure I'm not rushing on show day.

Courtesy of High Time Photography.

So I got to the barn Tuesday night and killed some time. I did them the way Horsegroom Denmark did, but I think I'm going to try them again Austen's way- I used waxed thread because that's what I had on hand. The nubs looked a little funny since the thread pulls tight- Austen uses yarn to avoid that. But the methods aren't all that different, except Austen's are much fluffier!

7 not-so-wee fluffies made in 15 min with practically zero effort.
This might be dangerous.

The only one I really oopsed on is the very middle. When I got to the bottom, I realized I didn't have a rubber band on my finger and tried tying it up with the thread... it didn't tie well and didn't wrap well.

Braids in action. My double lunging and picture taking skills have been severely lacking lately.

I was happy with how they looked when Penn worked- His neck just shrinks away and they at least sit on top and add some fluff to his neck.

Penn was not cooperating with standing and not looking like a giraffe, so you get blurred lines haha.

Of course the night deteriorated into "get some good pictures of the braids for the blog" and I took so many pictures. Penn was not cooperating. One of the few gentlemen who ride at our barn came out to see his horse and was like, "Why so many pictures tonight? Are you selling him or something?" I laughed and said no, I just braided him for shits and giggles and wanted a nice pic of the braids.

I can dress him up but just can't take him anywhere, lol.

Even the All Ears Selfie app didn't help much. It did get all of the horses riled up though- they were waiting for dinner and the neighing in the app made them all start talking. Though, that did jazz Penn up a little bit, so maybe it helped in a different way?

Trying to be artsy with my pictures.

I ended up getting a handful of cookies and throwing them up in the air in front of Penn to catch his ears. I may have lost some, and may have hit that gentleman in the back... *facepalm*

And I don't know how many hundreds of pictures later, I have a decent headshot.

I'm going to give these braids a whirl in two weekends, but I'm going to try to make the parts in the mane more on a diagonal like Austen's rather than straight like Horsegroom Denmark's. I'll probably practice braid again before the show, because these were kind of fun!