Fitting [lorses for Show and Sale 351 
trained to hold its head erect in a stylish manner. Play- 
ing with the bit and chain is not allowed. 
BRAIDING AND TRIMMING 
With light horses very little trimming is used in the 
show ring, as it interferes with the general appearance 
and quality in the horse. With the draft horses the cus- 
tom is different. The decoration in common use on the 
manes is known as the Aberdeen plait. The diamond 
roll is used also but not extensively, as it is more difficult 
to put in, and is not liked as well by many show-men. 
There are three common methods of fixing the tail — the 
French tie and two braided ties. 
In the Aberdeen plait colored yarns are used. Two 
skeins are employed, having colors that will harmonize 
with each other. Each skein should be straightened out 
and cut once. These skeins furnish sufficient yarn for 
one horse. A bit of yarn is given three or four wraps 
around the two colors and tied. This puts the ends in 
attractive condition. The yarn will be four or four-and- 
one-half feet long. The mane should be clean and well 
brushed out and combed to one side, usually the right. 
Small benches thirty inches high and four or five feet 
long are provided to stand on. The horse’s head is held 
or tied up in show position. The worker should stand 
on the bench close up beside the neck, supposing the 
mane to be combed to the right, and facing the same way 
that the horse does. The braiding is begun two inches 
back of the ears. From the top of the mane a strand 
about as large as the fore-finger should be separated from 
the remainder of the mane and held up. Place this 
strand of hair between the two strands of yarn and draw 
the yarn down until the knot rests firmly against the 
