Make Money on Manes

Become a horse show braider or bander to help fund your equine goals!

- BY JESSICA O'CONNOR

Having a neat set of braids or bands is the icing on the cake that makes up perfect horse show turnout, but not everyone wants to do the job themselves.

Many horse owners are willing to pay someone else to take on the task for them.

If you find yourself getting compliments when you groom your own horse's mane for the show ring, banding and braiding for other horse lovers at shows might be a good business to get into. Of course, you must get a parent's permission first.

Since we are constantly being asked by readers how they can make money for their horse hobby, this can be a great solution for those of you who ride at a show barn, travel the circuit, or live near a showgrounds.

GETTING STARTED

The first step toward becoming a braider or bander for hire is to nail down your technique.

Veteran bander Kristin Roman and 15-year-old braider Delia Frenzel (see “Meet Our Mane Masters,” pg. 35) agree that practice—and a lot of it—is the key to learning how to create consistently beautiful results on a variety of horses.

If you're new to braiding and banding, check with someone who offers these services at your barn or the horse shows you attend to see if you can observe them while they work. Some may even be willing to mentor you and give you hands-on instruction.

In the absence of real-life teaching, search YouTube for tutorials on the different mane grooming techniques. Other great resources are the books Grooming to Win: How to Groom, Trim, Braid and Prepare for Your Show by Susan E. Harris and World-Class Braiding: Manes & Tails by Cat Hill and Emma Ford. You can keep a book or two in your grooming bag for quick reference, no internet connection required!