Horse Braiding Tip # 7: Attaching fake tails

Fake tails are undeniably gaining popularity in the show ring. Nothing is as nice as the real thing, but despite your best wishes, some horses will never have a super thick tail.



We have had several of our readers inquire about how to put in a fake tail. Putting in a fake tail is easy and fairly straight forward. You need to take caution to secure it well so it doesn't fall out in the show ring (the "walk of shame" as it has been coined in Wellington). These instructions are how to tie in a fake tail with a loop.

If you choose to braid your horses tail, put the fake tail in after. If you are going unbraided, you can still use your fake tail, just hide it under the existing hair.





1. Divide the tail in half and clip the front half out of the way.


2. From the very tip of the horses tail bone, hold the fake tail up 1-3 inches up the bone, depending on the length of the fake tail.


3. Grab three sections of hair, to span about an inch to two inches wide and start the beginning of a french braid, much like you would a forlock. Braid approximately 4 cross overs.


4. Pull the middle section of the braid through the loop and continue braiding down.



5. Take a piece of the fake tail from the right side and cross it into your french braid. Now repeat with a piece of fake tail from the left side.

6. Continue the braid down past the end of the tail bone and secure with a rubber band. The entire french braid should run about 3-4 inches long.

*For extra security, take two peices of yarn and tie them in half around the tail loop. Braid the yarn in with the hair normally and tie off at the end of your braid.


To learn how to braid a horses tail, how to do a pinwheel or a wrap around braid, be sure to check out "One for the Money" an instructional horse braiding DVD. Email TopKnotHorseBraids@gmail.com to order for $35.