Fitting Horses for Show and Sale 353 
red. Place thumb on top of this, and draw the red yarn 
slightly to the right, and then throw over to the left, clear 
over the neck. Then draw the yellow toward the oper- 
ator, crossing the red yarn, and continue as before. 
Special care must be exercised to keep the strands of the 
mane of approximately the same size as the strands of 
the yarn. Fresh mane should be taken each time as 
the main strand is drawn in from the left and the plait 
is kept close in beside the top of the mane until well 
down toward the withers, where it should be gradually 
sloped down from the top, giving it a graceful curve. 
Hairs must be kept out of the yarn, as the beauty of the 
Aberdeen plait depends largely on the skill with which 
it is put in. Artificial roses may be used in this plait 
and it may be further decorated by the use of ribbon 
streamers. It is not customary to use the latter except 
in the larger shows, and when showing for championship, 
or other shows of similar nature. (See Plate XV.) 
The French tie, or as it is sometimes termed, mud tie, 
is a quick and easy way of tying the tail in muddy weather, 
and is often resorted to in sale horses. The tail is first 
combed out with a mane comb. The operator then 
catches hold at the end of the tail bone, and separates 
the long hair into three portions. The center portion 
is pushed forward, and the operator draws the portion 
in the right hand across that in the left, and proceeds with 
an ordinary three braid underhand. After braiding a 
few inches, he rolls the greater portion up on the tail 
bone, and wraps the end of the strands around the tail 
twice, then braids again and tucks the ends through the 
tail. This gives a neat secure tie. This may be further 
decorated by the use of yarn and roses and be made into 
an attractive tie. 
2a 
