Prepare the mane before show day
Good plaits are decided days before the show. The mane should be clean, combed through and trained to lie on one side — the off side by convention — and pulled or trimmed to an even length and thickness in advance, never the night before, when a freshly pulled mane stands up in protest. A mane that is too thick gives fat, lumpy plaits; one that is too thin will not roll into buttons with any substance. Do a full practice run at home at least once: time yourself, check the plaits stay in under saddle, and discover whether your horse tolerates the standing and fussing before it matters.
Section the crest evenly
On the day, brush the mane through, dampen it lightly with a water brush so the hair grips, and divide it into sections along the crest. Use your fingers or a mane comb to make each section the same width — uneven sections are the most common cause of plaits that vary in size down the neck. Choose the number to flatter the neck: more, smaller plaits make a short neck look longer, while fewer, larger buttons suit a long, well-shaped neck. Secure each waiting section loosely with a band so the divisions survive while you work along.
Plait down, then roll up
Take one section at a time, divide it into three strands, and plait downward keeping the tension firm and even — a loose plait will flop and unravel, while hauling on each strand makes the horse flinch and the plait lean. Keep your hands close to the crest so the plait sits tight against the neck rather than sagging away from it. Secure the end, then roll the plait up toward the crest, or fold it under twice, to form a compact round button sitting on top of the neck. Fix it with a plaiting band wound tight, or needle and thread if you want the most secure, polished finish and have the skill to sew them in and — just as important — unpick them later.
The running braid alternative
For a long mane you do not want to shorten — on a native breed, a Friesian type, or a horse shown in a class that rewards a flowing mane — use a single running braid instead. Start at the top behind the ears, plait down the crest taking in a new strand of mane at each cross, exactly as in a French braid, and keep the braid lying flat against the neck. It is quicker than buttons, kinder to a full mane, and neater than loose hair, though it will loosen over a long day and rarely looks as formal as button plaits in a traditional class.
After the class: plaits come out
Whatever style you choose, plaits are for the ring, not for the night. A horse turned out or stabled in tight plaits will rub them against anything available, breaking hairs and leaving the mane thinner and more uneven for next time. Take them down as part of the post-show routine, snip bands rather than dragging them through hair, comb the mane out gently, and check the crest for rubs. Put both halves of the job — plaiting in the morning, unplaiting before home — on the show-day list in KinsLe's Care Teams, assigned and timestamped, and the buttons will look as good in the last class as in the first.