354 Western Lwve-stock Management 
A tail braid which is often used in sale stables and also in 
the show rings is made by tying a loop in a stout cord and 
then tossing the cord over the horse’s croup and drawing 
the loop end down over the tail. Draw it far enough so 
that the loop hangs below the end of the tail bone. Braid 
an ordinary underhand three strand braid over this cord 
and tail by selecting small bunches of hair from the out- 
side. This braid binds in and conceals the cord and most 
of the tail. After the operator has braided down to the 
end of the tail bone, all the hair is braided in, care being 
taken to leave the loose string out of the braid. When 
about six inches of tail remains to be braided, a small 
stout piece of the cord about eighteen inches long is 
braided in, and when the end is reached the cord is used 
to put a hitch on the braid. This braid is then tied back 
to the loop string, and the cord is pulled out, pulling the 
large braid up underneath the braid surrounding the 
tail where it is tied in position so that the ends will not 
work loose. This is often used in shipping horses, and 
the tail is covered with muslin so that it will not rub out 
and be unfit for show or sale purposes. For show pur- 
poses it is decorated with yarn and made into an attrac- 
tive braid. For long-tailed horses in show, it is not cus- 
tomary to braid in the entire tail, but braid about eight 
inches, drawing the portion back and decorating, leaving 
the larger portion of the tail flowing and natural. 
Another method that is often used in the show ring is 
that of fixing the tail with rye straw. Tough, clean straw 
about eighteen or twenty inches long is needed. Twenty 
or thirty individual straws are selected and placed side 
by side and the ends trimmed. The straws should be 
damp and very tough. Tie a plain knot in the band 
of the straw, leaving one end about five inches long and 
