Bracelets!

I've been working on another project - nameplate bracelets! These are hand stamped with my friends' horses' names. They're not perfect by any means, but I think that just adds to their charm. These little guys are destined to be Christmas presents. I think they're just as cool as the leather ones you can get through a tack catalog but they have a bit more personality and making a gift is far more thoughtful than buying one, in my humble opinion.

I'll post detailed instructions in the next couple days!

Updates

I haven't done any new projects lately so I'll just update on some old discussion stuff.

DIY Stall Snack - Desi LOVED his licky thing! I hung it in his stall while he was turned out so I didn't get to watch him discover it. But I did come out the next morning and find that he had sticky molasses all over his face and even behind his ears :) With the pelleted feed it's taken him a week to go through it. Next time I'm going to try grinding all the dry ingredients (oats, pellets, etc.) into a powder so it licks off easily without losing pieces on the ground.

Myler Bits - This was a topic I discussed a long time ago but I've since done some new research. My old conclusion that you could not buy a knock-off myler bit was incorrect. With a small caveat - you can really only get a knock off level 1 mouthpiece, or at least a bit with similar features and style, and most of them are 5" mouthpieces. Desi is a 4.5" (which is pony sized and so weird for a 16.1hh horse!) so I really haven't had much success with finding a knock off for him with d-rings (why buy another loose ring if I already have one?). But, if you want a myler level 1 5" mouthpiece, there is no reason to spend the $80 on a real Myler. Unless of course you have a thing for brand names and don't care how much you spend.... Anyways, here is a short list of other sources, I'll be updating it if I find any others!

• FES Bits from Schneider's Saddlery - $32.99 Great value, seem to be of good quality. Schneiders also carries a few curb-style varieties like the level 2 or 3 mouthpieces. Only available in the 5" mouthpiece.

• Heritage Saddlery Bits - $46.92 Made in England with great reviews. A little bit more pricey and will have to have them shipped to the U.S. but they carry more sizes, like 4.5"!!

DIY Hand Warmers

I just finished making these as part of my Christmas gift to my trainer - re-usable hand warmers! Super simple using supplies you probably already have laying around the house. If your barn has a microwave handy, then these are amazing! The finished hand warmers can be tossed in the microwave for 20-30 seconds to activate.

Things you will need:

• Fabric
• Scissors
• Dry, uncooked rice
• needle and thread

Step 1). Cut fabric into squares. Most people do 4"x4" but I made them a little smaller and did a 3.5" square.

Step 2.) With right sides together sew edges, leaving an un-stitched portion about 3/4" long.

edges are serged which is faster but a regular machine or even hand stitching would work too

Step 3). Turn fabric right side out. You can use a chopstick or other small pointy thing to push out the corners.

Step 4.) Fill bags a little over 3/4 way with rice and sew shut. You can hand-sew the opening or use a straight stitch on a machine like I did.

That's it! I made 4 sets (8 total) of these in about 20 minutes. I cheated a little because I have access to a serger :)

To mix it up a bit, you can add dry herbs or even essential oils to make them smell great! And the fabric can be cut to any shape, squares are just the fastest.

Ideas

I'm trying to be a better blogger, really I am. So far I think I'm doing a pretty good job actually. It's been over a month now and I've blogged at least once a week. And I haven't quit yet! That's a plus. I'm still not sure if anyone reads this thing - according to blogger I've had a couple page views that weren't internet robots but I'm skeptical. Who on earth wants to read my crazy blog? I haven't even told my real friends what it's called... Or about... Or that I even have a blog... Maybe that's what is keeping me going. I have a place to rant on about horsey things and I don't have to worry about boring my friends to death.

I know I've mentioned a couple times that I have a project that I'll work on over the holidays. But it's that time now and what have I posted of these mystery projects? Nothing really. So to hold myself to actually do these projects, I figured I'd post a list of my ideas. Maybe those internet robots will hold me accountable...

Nameplate Bracelets - Christmas presents for my horsey friends hand stamped with their ponies' names!
Another Beaded Browband!
A new Western Showmanship Jacket? (this one might get postponed, its a pretty time-consuming project)
Possibly a couple of tack bags?
Bit warmers, hand warmers

Geez. I know I had more ideas than that. I  guess some of them will just have to be a surprise when (and if) I actually get around to doing them.

And an update: I never actually got around to clipping Desi. There's too many "natural" horse people (and no, I'm not talking natural horsemanship - I'm talking the kind of people who won't use fly spray because it has chemicals) at my barn and I know I'd get crap for impairing my horse's natural heat regulation system. Plus I'm having a hard enough time keeping weight on him so I'll just be a little more careful about working him hard enough to sweat too much. I may eventually clip him but for now he'll stay fuzzy.


And because posts are so much more interesting with pictures, here's a funny horse picture. Not my photo, I pulled it off of google :)

Mission Impossible

I'm torn. My hunt seat saddle does not really fit either of my horses. Definitely too wide for the paint, but a little too narrow and the cantle sits way too low on Desi. It's up for sale but that means that if I want to show Desi again in the spring, I'll have to get a new saddle. I spent hours this weekend looking at used saddles online and I'm frustrated. In a perfect world, I'd get something with an adjustable gullet and adjustable panels since I'm leasing and may need my saddle to fit a different horse in the future. But at the same time, the paint has a saddle that fits (even if it's a funky color and I don't have a matching bridle...) and nothing short of custom flocked will fit Desi properly without LOTS of shimming and padding. Pads do not make a saddle "fit" if it does not fit without the pads. To make this much more interesting, I'm working within a budget of $800. I'm beginning to think that this is Mission Impossible.

The Heritage Saddlery Yin-Yang Competetion Event Saddle

If I owned Desi I'd save my money for a few more months and go the custom route. Which I know would cost upwards of $2000. Think again! Depending on the model you want, Heritage Saddlery will make a saddle custom fit for both you and your horse for around $1000. If I buy Desi in the future, this will probably be the route I go. I was a little wary of the quality of a custom saddle for the price of a middle-range off-the-rack saddle, but the reviews are all great. http://www.heritagesaddlery.co.uk/


If I cave in the meantime and need a saddle that I can make "fit" more than one horse, I'll probably go for something like the Bates Caprilli with the easy change gullet system and cair panels, although those have some seriously scathing reviews. Sigh. After spending all morning online researching saddles and saddle fit, I have no hope for the horse community. It seems like it is impossible for a saddle to truly fit a horse and rider. What one person swears by, another hates. Sometimes I feel like I should just give up on conventional saddles with their fitting issues and go treeless. I can't really show in a treeless saddle though...

For now I think I'll use the Dressage saddle on Desi and the weirdly colored saddle on the paint.

DIY Stall Snacks!

I bought a stall snack holder in April for Desi and it came with an apple-flavored stall snack. Well Mr. Desi with his "refined palate" wouldn't touch it. Spoiled pony... It has been sitting in my garage for months now. Since I'll be out of town again for a week in December and the hyper horse won't be getting as much exercise, I thought I'd try to revive the stall snack holder to keep him occupied when he's not turned out.

To make the thing more enjoyable, I thought it would be fun to make him a stall snack that I know he'll devour - one with alfalfa pellets and molasses. It's basically my take on an Ancle Jimmy's Licky Thing. It wasn't too hard to make (cleaning up the mess on the other hand...) and only took about 15 minutes for the actual cooking process. I think it will keep him occupied for several days, assuming that he doesn't pin it against a wall.

What you'll need:
1 cup corn syrup
1/4 cup molasses*
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 cup alfalfa pellets**
1 cup ground oats**

The existing stall snack with the can I used as a mold for the new one

*This recipe makes a treat similar to the Mojo Molasses flavor, for another flavor, simply omit the molasses and substitute another flavor of choice. You could try crushed peppermint, carrots, etc.
**I chose to use these grains for my stall snack but it could easily be adapted to any type of grain. Sweet feed, oats, bran, and other pelleted feeds will work well too!

You will also need:
Silicone Spatula
Medium saucepan (holds at least 5 cups)
Candy Thermometer 
Can or other shaped container
Greased dowel or stall snack stick

I chose to grind up my oats in a food processor so they acted like a binding ingredient but this step is optional.

In a medium saucepan, combine corn syrup, sugar, and molasses (if substituting something other than molasses, add with grain instead). Cover and cook over low heat for 10 minutes. Remove lid and bring up to 300 degrees F, stirring periodically.





When mixture reaches desired temperature, turn off heat and promptly add grains. Stir thoroughly, mixture will be thick and begin to harden.







 Promptly pour mixture into greased or lined container and gently tamp down with spatula. Insert dowel into center of container and allow to cool. Turn dowel every 20 minutes to ensure it does not stick.



Stall snack should be mostly set in about 3-4 hours but for best results, let stand overnight.

I loved how this turned out! It fits into my existing holder perfectly and is hard like the store-bought ones! Like a horsey lollipop!

Horse Juggling

Here's a fun fact about Desi that I don't think I've mentioned yet - he doesn't load. Its a really serious problem that even professional trainers have been unable to remedy. I had a trainer who specialized in trailer loading problems work with him for a month unsuccessfully and tell me that Desi is the worst case he's seen in 40 years. He was loading fine last spring and then one day he just stopped. And has pretty much refused to get in the trailer again. Long story short, I've started leasing a second horse because I can't say goodbye to Desi but I still want to show. My new lease is a paint gelding that lives at a different barn.

Well, here's where this post title comes into play. I now have to juggle the needs and schedules of two horses that live thirty minutes apart. My trainer (the paint's owner) wants me to work with him 2-3 days per week. Desi needs to be ridden 4-5 days per week with his Saddlebred energy level. So in my new balancing act, I've already discovered a few bits of advice that may prove to be very helpful for those of you considering taking on more than one horse.

• MAKE A SCHEDULE!! And stick to it! It is possible to accomplish everything in a week if you plan it out beforehand. But nothing will make your life more crazy than diverting from your carefully planned schedule. For example, I ride Desi on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The paint gets worked with on Mondays and Wednesdays with the occasional Saturday. I give myself Saturdays off most weeks because I'm only human. My body needs a rest and I have other things that need to get accomplished. 
• Have a separate tack collection and grooming kit for each horse. Not only will this reduce the risk of transferring "gunk" (bacteria, illness, fungus, etc.) between the ponies, but switching between bits on your only bridle every day is not only annoying, but a waste of your time. You can get a cheap schooling bridle at a tack sale or eBay and make your daily life easier.
• Remember that every horse is different. They will have different "feels" to them and will respond differently to training methods. Be prepared to be patient and flexible.

That's it for now. There's probably a lot more but I don't want to write a book about it :) Hope you guys have a great holiday season and get plenty of time with your furry ponies!

Quick Tip #5

Do you braid your horse's mane or tail in the winter to keep it protected and clean? If so, you probably use braiding bands to secure it. The ends of the hair are the most fragile and tight bands can easily break off them off. Instead, braid in a 1' section of soft ribbon and use this to secure the ends. It will be much better for the hair. You might even notice that your manes/tails seem to grow faster now that the fragile ends are better protected against breakage!

Delays.

I was planning to clip Desi today but my new clipper blades are late. Tomorrow is thanksgiving and after that, I'll be gone all weekend. So maybe I can do it next Tuesday. Maybe. I'm thinking that I'll start with a bib clip, see how that goes, then do the trace clip if he's handling everything well. Not much else to say, Thanksgiving isn't much of a horsey holiday.

Furry Beasts!

My horse looks like a Sasquatch. And let me tell you, a fine boned Saddlebred  with, um, interesting conformation does NOT look good with this much hair. Plus with his work level, he's getting really sweaty during our rides and he takes forever to cool out and dry. His hair also gets wavy when it is getting wet and drying that way, and I selfishly think it looks really silly. So I've decided to alleviate some of this problem by doing a partial body clip. A rational person would hire someone to clip their horse if they've never done it before. Not me. I can't justify spending that money (which in my area is over $100) to have someone else do it. Theoretically my clippers, Wahl Arco Se's, are strong enough to do a trace clip. Well, either way I'm going to try - probably next Tuesday or Wednesday. I'll let you know how it goes, if small clippers and my limited experience with clipping produce an acceptable result... Or more likely curly hair will be nothing compared to the "masterpiece" I produce. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

DIY Rope Halters??

So I've been toying around with the idea of making a rope halter for awhile now. My only concern is that I don't really know where to buy the rope. Yes, you can get rope anywhere, but if I'm going to take the time and money to make one, I want to use the high quality yachting rope that all the clinicians seem to love. I've borrowed a Clinton Anderson halter from a friend before, and I do agree that they have a lovely "feel" for ground work, especially when paired with the yachting rope lead.

I did find the type of rope that I'm looking for at a marine supply store near my house, but it was twice the price of online retailers. I was just going to buy it online (for a great price I might add) until I went to check out and found that shipping was almost three times the price of my rope. :( At the price of buying it at a marine store, it's almost more economical just to buy a pre-made one off the internet, but that takes all the fun out of it.
Search "yacht rope halter" on the internet and you'll find tons of places that make them by hand for $15-20. But I'm the type of person who would rather make them then buy them, even if the price is a little better.

I just need to find a reasonably priced way to buy 22' of 1/4" yachting rope and 14' of the 3/4" (or 1/2") rope (for the lead) that won't cost an arm and a leg for shipping.

If I get bored in the future I may just suck it up and go get enough for the lead rope to start out with. Desi's current lead is in pretty sorry shape anyways.

I'd also love to make a pair of western reins with the same type of rope. I think the weight and "feel" of the quality rope would be great when used as reins too. Hmmmm. This may have to go on my project list, but I don't ride western much right now so it's a little hard to justify. Lol maybe I could do a "dressage style" rope rein like these. Yes, I know its not even remotely proper for dressage but I'm pretty sure I've looked weirder when I'm too lazy to take the bit off of Desi's western bridle, use his dressage saddle, and ride with an all purpose pad. I don't think weird reins would surprise anybody, plus I like the feel of the rope reins better that the lightweight leather reins.

A similar pair to these was available on eBay for $25

It's funny how blogging about all these great ideas is making my bank account hurt already.

Gearing up for the crazy season... erhm, I mean the holidays!

I'm a crazy nut-job when it comes to the holiday season. I decorate EVERYTHING and my horse has no choice but to participate in my day-after-thanksgiving decoration frenzy. Last year I posted a photo of a saddle pad that I had trimmed with white fur. Well, to inspire some new creativity this year I thought I'd post the final product :)

Unfortunately, I hadn't added the trim to the pad yet so it's not the complete ensemble...

Note the glittery silver star on his butt, it's hard to see in the picture but it's there.

Poor Desi had to wear this getup every ride through the whole month of December. At least he became thoroughly de-spooked to wearing all kinds of hats and fluff.

To complete the look, I wore a red coat, glued a Santa hat to my spare helmet, and played Christmas music during every ride!

Believe I'm crazy yet? Just you wait and see what lovely "decorations" I have in store for this year (Insert evil laugh here).

DIY Beaded Browband

Yes! I know what you're thinking - less talking, more DIY!! So here's another project I made a few months ago. I think it turned out pretty well if I do say so myself...

And yes, this is the first published photo of the illustrious Desi...

The actual beading was itself pretty simple, I just strung my beads and crimped the strand with a tiny loop on each end. For my cob sized saddlebred, a 14" browband (Including the leather ends) was the perfect size. For a bigger horse, you will achieve the best results by measuring a browband that fits and making your beaded one to the same specifications.

The end pieces were made by buying 3/4" leather strips off the internet. These came with unfinished edges so I ended up buying Fiebing's Leather Dye in black and dying the edges with a q-tip. I drilled a hole in the ends using an electric screwdriver with small drill bit but a leather punch would have probably been easier...

I popped in a couple chicago screws that I had laying around and sandwiched the bead loops between the leather and put the screws through the middle.
Voila!

I also discovered that not every idea makes a great browband... Check out this fail

I bought some more accent beads at Michaels on sale last month so I'm looking forward to making some new browbands over the holidays!

Hope you are inspired! I've seen similar ideas done for one ear western headstalls too if you feel adventurous...

Perfectionist Polos (How to Make Your Own Polo Wraps)

In my boredom last month, I decided to attempt to make my own set of polos. The cheapest I can find them online is around $12/set + shipping, and the selection was a little boring. I couldn't justify $25 for the awesome Classic Equine patterned ones so it was off to the fabric store for me.

Some of the awesome polos by Classic Equine

A couple notes about buying fabric for polos (compiled from hours of nearly unnecessary research):

• The thicker the fleece, the more like the store-bought versions. Most (good) polos are made of heavyweight fleece while the fabric you'll find at the store will most likely be medium and even lightweight. Lightweight fleece = less protection. Be careful with your choice, the cutest fabric may not make the best polos if the quality isn't there.
• You'll need three (3) continuous yards of your chosen fleece. This will make 3 sets (1 set = 4 polos, so three yards will make 12 total polos). You cannot simply buy 1 yard. It is not long enough. You will be cutting the fleece lengthwise (hotdog style in elementary school terms) so unless you are making polos for a Bryer, make sure your fabric is long enough.
• Most horse sized polos are 4" wide by 9' long. You can add 1-2 feet in length (which means you'll also have to purchase more than 3 yards of the fleece) for hind legs if you wish. Some cheaper polos may only be 2-3/4 yards long, so if you aren't sure what you need, measure a set you know fits your horse and make the new set to the same dimensions.
• If you have the choice, go for anti-pill fleece. This fabric will better endure repeated washing. However I've found that its hard to find thick AP fleece so you will just have to sort out your personal priorities.
• Some patterns won't look as good when made into polos. Keep in mind that when wrapped, many patterns may become unrecognizable. To test a pattern, use your hands to cover the fabric and open your fingers. If you can still recognize the pattern through the openings, it should be good for polos.

 You'll also need a rotary cutter with a sharp blade, cutting mat, scissors, and 2"velcro. You can omit the rotary cutter if you have a good pair of scissors and a LOT of patience, but it really makes life easier. Also, you may have trouble finding 2" velcro at your craft store or it may be really expensive. I got mine here for a really great price!

This is the fabric I chose to make my polos

First, lay your fabric out on the floor. It will most likely have some wrinkles and creases from the purchasing process. If possible, let it sit there and flatten for a few hours.

Next, cut off the ugly part (the white on the side that says the brand and color and stuff) and even out the edge. Having a straight line now will make your life SO much easier down the road.

Measure 4" in from the nice edge and cut one strip at a time. Make sure your cut is straight and even. Any funkiness will translate into pressure points on your horse's legs so be a perfectionist!!

When you have your strips cut out, it should look something like this:

Roll them up and admire your stack of polos.

To sew on the velcro, fold the corners in on one end to form a triangle.Pin your velcro on top of it like this:

this one has been sewn, but shows the concept :)

First sew across, then sew the top part. Your final seams should look something like this:

(Note - I didn't stitch an "X" in the box because lining up those seams would be a major pain. If your horse is tough on his wraps, add the extra stability.)

Sew the "loop" (soft) side of the velcro 6" below the start of the triangle.

I found that my fleece and velcro was slipping all over the place while I tried to sew, resulting in this ugly product -

To remedy this problem, I sprayed the corners with a sewing spray adhesive before folding and again on the back of the velcro before putting it down. Ta-dah! Everything stays in place and the finished product looks much better!

Have fun making your own wraps, some people get really creative and sew ribbon on top of the velcro. If I wasn't too clear on the steps, DIY Dressage has a super detailed tutorial here. I'm looking forward to making another set in Christmas fabric after black Friday sales next week!

5 Reasons Why I'm A Horrible Blogger

I'm going to let you in on a little secret... I am possibly the world's worst blogger. If you look at the date of this post, compared to the last one, it's been almost a year. It's not like I haven't had a TON of things to discuss, I'm just lazy sometimes. Actual horse time has taken priority over cyber-horse-stuff. As has a lot of other things... well to be honest, everything ;). My blog has been sad and neglected. So why, you might ask, am I such a terrible, lazy blogger? Well, here is my little list:

5.)  I've been super busy with life. I'm a poor college student who is taking a full load of classes and sometimes things come up. While I've been really dedicated to my horse, my blog has been ignored.

4.) I was working two jobs. Sleep was far more important to me than much else.

3.) My computer crashed right before finals. That induced a horrible data-crazy panic which involved many trips to the office store and hours on the phone with various customer service representatives and several adventures through the automated phone loop of hell! Not to mention I lost all of my pending posts and blog photos/ideas.

2.) I have great ideas but I'm a perfectionist. This is a problem because I struggle to blog when the lovely ideas in my head turn into garbage on the page. I can't seem to phrase things right. And I try to be sharp and humorous but sometimes I just end up sounding like a dork.

1.) I mentioned it already, but I'm super lazy. Sometimes the thought of walking to the other room and turning on my laptop just sounds like too much work. I'll do it tomorrow, or next week... or never...

So there was my list. It is by no means all-inclusive but it should give you an idea why I've been silent for almost a year. What I'd really like to know is why on earth I decided to start again...

Quick Tip #4

Rather than pulling a thin mane to shorten it, try using an old clipper blade or thinning shears. If you must use scissors, try cutting at an upward angle to give it a natural look.

Quick Tip #3

To reduce static in your horse's tail for show or in the summer, try rubbing it with a dryer sheet.

Quick Tip #2

Old, empty tuna cans make great bridle hooks. Their curved shape mimics more expensive hangers and will keep the bridle from becoming creased and cracked over a nail.

Quick Tip #1

If you don't live near a tack store (or just like to save a little money), hair care products purchased from the ethnic hair section work well on manes and tails. Olive oil moisturizers are a great tail conditioner!

Bags, Wraps, and Braids

Note – This is not an article for or against putting a horse’s tail up, rather it is intended as a resource for those who do to explore other methods. I have found that some horses do quite well with a tail bag while others grow better when left alone. The decision to bag (or not to) should be made on a case by case basis based on the individual horse and its living situation. Thank you for respecting that.

Here I’ll be discussing some common ways you’ll see a horses tail put up. Most commonly the tail is bagged with the style of bag and material being the variable factor. However there are some other methods which have also be used with success. A couple I’ve made up and decided not to use for one reason or another but for someone else they might prove to be a viable alternative depending on the horse and living situation. For most of the bags listed, the horse’s fly swatting abilities are greatly reduced. In addition, many horses don’t like being slapped with a bag when they try to swish flies. Some will even try to rid themselves of the nuisance by rubbing their tails and breaking off the hairs you are trying to protect. Different horses may prefer certain styles so if your horse seems irritated with their current situation, try another. You may also be able to modify the bag for fly swatting by sewing fringe onto the bag to act as a pseudo-tail.

Lycra Tail Bag

 Standard Tail Bag

Lycra Bag - This is by far the type I see most commonly and would recommend to someone new to tail upkeep because of its price and ease of use. The tail is first braided then inserted into the bag and secured. The lightweight material is gentle on the hair and allows excess moisture to escape.  

Cotton Bag - A similar idea is a cheaper bag made of cotton type fabrics which still allow air circulation but are not as gentle on the hair as lycra. Still a good option though.

Nylon Bag - The idea behind this material choice is that it is usually waterproof which prevents the tail from getting urine, manure, or mud on it. In addition, the bag is very sturdy and durable. The downfall though is that dirt, manure, and urine can become trapped which makes it possible for bacteria to thrive if they are not changed and cleaned often.

3-Tube Braid Bag

 Braid

This is quite simply a long braid which starts below the tail bone and is secured at the end with a braiding band. I like this option because of simplicity and the horses tend not to mind as much when they swat themselves with it. Another option is to leave the last six inches unbraided so that the horse has even better swishing power. The downfall of this type is that the tail hair is exposed to the elements and the braid can become caught on a nail/fence which may rip the hair out.

3-tube braid bag

Lycra Bag – The tail is separated into three sections which are put into lycra tubes. The tubes containing the hair are then braided and secured. It looks like a colorful standard braid with the added benefit of protecting the tail from sun and dirt. The only con is that they can be tricky to put on the first time, especially if your horse’s tail is thick.

Fleece Bag –A variation which is made of polar fleece. Pretty much the same as the lycra version but in my opinion they are harder to put on and are unnecessarily heavy. Some people love them though, so it is up to personal preference. 

Tail Sock/Pouch

Vet Wrapped Tail (photo from horsechannel.com)

Sock

Very 

similar to a tail bag except smaller. Great for skimpy tails since less fabric is lighter and causes less damage to an already small tail. But it can be used on any horse. You can purchase one from a tack store/website but really it is just an old sock with the top few inches cut so that it can be tied on.

Vet Wrap

During the winter, this is my favorite method to use on Desi. The hair is braided then folded back onto itself and wrapped in a flexible bandage (only the braided section is wrapped below the dock – wrapping any higher can be dangerous as even a loosely wrapped bandage can cut off circulation). I use a product like 3M Vet wrap but you could try a cotton tail bandage if you wanted to be able to wash it and re-use it. As long as the tail is completely clean and dry before putting it up, it can be left like this for a week or more. I use duct tape around the end to prevent unraveling if I intend to leave it on for more than a couple days.

Multiple Braids

This is essentially the same as the regular braid but instead of one thick braid, you would divide the tail into sections and make multiple braids. Drawbacks are the same as with the regular braid (with the addition of possibly looking a little silly), however the horse will better be able to swish flies and if the braid becomes caught on something, only part of the tail is affected.