I braid horses manes and tails for shows. When you braid a horse’s mane, you’re participating in a tradition that started hundreds of years ago. Our relationship with horses has been a key partnership that positively impacted everything from transportation, to food production, and even military battles. As braiding evolved, a braided horse mane became synonymous with excellence. So braided manes were used to identify exceptional horses. It was the significance of a braided horse mane that eventually led to manes being braided for equestrian competitions. And the tradition of mane braiding continues today at prominent shows.