My personal preference:

I love native ponies, but (PPM, promise to still be my friend...!) I just can't do the long mane thing. I just can't. I'M SO SORRY NATIVE PONY PEOPLE!

whew. That felt good to get off of my chest.

Actually, I have one more confession... I like to bang the tail. BUT I don't cut it too short! 5" below the hock. Also, I could never shave the top of the tail.

However, I loooove feathers. I will happily leave feathers. I call them "my little pony hairs".

So, pulled mane, banged tail, and lots of pony feathers. I'd braid a mane for 'real' dressage or upper level eventing and combined training. Fortunately, i don't have to worry about that right now... pulled manes are fine at the moment!

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