Ruthann was said to braid luck into the manes of wining horses. However, it was really about her braiding process which got the horses to relax. Then, they’d go to the ring soft and confident, because big hearts win.
Braiders also celebrate special occasions and sometimes stables, with one colored braid. While many put it in the middle of the mane, that makes the neck look shorter. Ruthann prefers the lucky braid to be about 1/3 of the way down the neck.
Initially, Ruthann just wanted to teach braiding so she could move onto making cultural documentaries. In the process of scouting a braider to take her accounts, she realized that her own culture was dying: sound horsemanship. So, her mission expanded to educating, motivating and equipping people to embody top turnout.
When horses look and feel like winners, that’s top turnout. It represents excellence in horse care and cleanliness, combined with handling to instill quiet confidence. As a result, horses can have big hearts to win.
To raise the bar of horsemanship, by educating, motivating and equipping people to take better care of horses. Teaching clinics, it became painfully apparent that practices standard among elite horsemen were not being passed to the masses. Closing that gap in understanding and knowledge is our fundamental goal.
We work out of Wellington, Florida, USA. However, if you qualify to host a Top Turnout Clinic, Ruthann will come to you.
In addition to our online store LuckyBraids.com, stores and websites that carry our products are listed here: Locations.
Existing dealers are listed here: Locations. Most of our new dealers are rooted in customer demand. So, at your local tack shop, ask the buyer of grooming products to order ours. They can call us at: 781-665-5988. Thank you!
If you own a shop and would like to carry our products, please give us a call or email admin@luckybraids.com.
Yes, we ship anywhere. The shopping cart will calculate your postage.
Yes. If you are not completely satisfied, we’ll refund you. All we ask is that you contact the office to assure you are using it correctly: 781-665-5988.
Lucky Braids products are all manufactured in the United States.
There is no laboratory testing.
We would never knowingly cause discomfort to nor injure animals.
Yes. If you are not completely satisfied, we’ll refund you. All we ask is that you contact the office to assure you are using it correctly: 781-665-5988.
Within the United States, you’ll normally receive your product in 2-5 business days.
Lucky Braids’ distinguished grooming products are yet another way quality horse care can be easier.
Most companies want to sell you lots of products. Like a bad mechanic, they often solve one problem and cause another: Only to sell you another product.
Ruthann is a groom and braider at heart. Her goal is not to treat problems. It is to have LESS to treat, manage, ship and buy. The idea is for it to be easier to take better care of horses.
YES. Our coat care products are the most effective and versatile. You can use 2-3 products, instead of 9-11 conventional ones. Which means better results, fewer treatments and lower costs. The braiding products can lead you to save or make you large sums of money.
YES! Dogs love it, especially if they tend to be itchy. Those that get bathed at least once a week tend to be tick and flea free. ~Ruthann
They love the smell! Also, that LuckyBraids All-In-One Shampoo helps minimize bug, skin and feather issues. Show chickens stay cleaner and fluffier. Big hit!
Some horses on the road get bathed every day. Their coats look great. Though, I recommend more currying than lathering. Many people have told me theirs is the only horse in the barn using our LuckyBraids Shampoo, and the only horse without ticks and not getting eaten alive. Last week three people told me that. ~Ruthann
If you want to keep the ticks, fleas and flies down, bathe at least once a week.
Is the LuckyBraids Shampoo just for coats, manes and tails? YES. This is truly: all-in-one. Use it instead of: daily, whitening anti-bacterial and anti-fungal shampoos, stain remover, conditioner, detangler, shine agents and scratches medication.
To help reduce crud and itching, as well as deter ticks and bugs, we recommend bathing one a week. As a therapeutic measure for severe skin disease and itching, you can bathe daily. As always, be mindful. Listen to your horse and its condition. Do what helps, while continuing a vigorous daily grooming routine.
NO. Many have reported the horses that get bathed every 4-7 days with Lucky Braids are not getting ticks and eaten alive like all the other horses.
It depends. To support rapid healing, apply 1-4 times a day, preferably to clean skin. If the abrasion is new and not serious, once may be enough to disinfect and promote healing.
YES. For hotspots, the Handy Salve helps stop break the itching cycle. Our All-In-One Shampoo will help keep your dog out of the itching loop. Please note: you don’t want the dog eating the Salve. It readily absorbs into the skin. So, apply and hold the head or go for a walk. Then wipe the skin clean. Many dogs that have been tortured by hotspots for years, whose people have tried everything, finally find relief with Lucky Braids Salve and Shampoo.
At first, I thought most people would be wanting something for stains. Since then, we realized how great it is to have something to quick clean in the cold or when horses’ feet are bad. Since it is not a bleach nor a detergent, it works great on any color.
The Lucky Braids Whitener/Dry Wash does NOT parch the coat, nor leave a residue. Other products are drying. So they leave coats porous and parched- attracting and readily absorbing stains.
For new dirt, simply spray on the Whitener/Dry Wash. With new dirt, you can see the dirt bead up. Wipe off with a towel.
Our spray is not a detergent, but an enzyme. It breaks the bond between the hair and dirt. So you may want to use your fingers to push it in between and around the hair. Let it SIT. Many are tempted to rub with a towel. On old stains, it is better to let the solution sit for a few minutes to dissolve the bond.
Old stains get sealed in with detanglers, fly spray, etc. The buildup locks in urine and discolors hair. Our spray is not designed to strip hair. So, initially, it may take a few attempts to get through the buildup. The good news is that once you get past the old stain, it will be much easier to keep your horse clean with Lucky Braids products. Different game.
Sometimes the hair gets so stripped with harsh detergents, they invite stains to penetrate very deeply. In some cases, those stains also take a couple treatments to totally dissolve the stains. Once clean, if you use only Lucky Braids All-In-One Shampoo, that should not happen again.
NO. This spray leaves no yellow. It cleans, leaving hair super shiny.
At first, I thought most people would be wanting something for stains. Since then, we realized how great it is to have something to quick clean in the cold or when horses’ feet are bad. Since it is not a bleach nor a detergent, it works great on any color.
YES. Not only will this system teach you secrets to braiding like a top pro. It will help optimize your learning curve!
YES. You can always get faster or more consistent. If the DVD suggests you to change your finger form, braids may get worse until you get the hang of it. Then, they’ll be much better, you’ll be able to braid faster and more comfortably.
No other top braider is sharing their secrets. This is the only video that effectively teaches the fine tuned technique. Before making this video, I had taught braiding clinics and worked in film and TV production for 10 years. So, I had figured out how to make an effective how-to, teach this particular craft as well as speak to your inclinations. In the step-by-step video, you can see the process up close and slowly. The idea is that this video not only shows you how to braid, but also optimize your learning curve.
Initially, we sold the video separately. However, when people realized they needed the Essential Tool to braid most efficiently, they wanted it. To buy it separately was more expensive, so they got upset. Bottomline: if you want to braid well, we’ll hook you up. The DVD comes with tools, which are also available separately, should you want to share the DVD. Our Braiding Yarn completes your kit.
“I am a good braider, but can’t get that crisp bottomline to last the day with other yarns. ~Ruthann Our Braiding Yarn is: strong so you can crank on it and stretches for braids that are sturdy and even.
Preferably, you want to use a color that is about the same as the mane. That low contrast keeps the eye focused on the bottomline, instead of flecks of color at the crest. So, the conformation is enhanced.
If the mane is any chestnut color, our chestnut yarn will do. If the horse is liver chestnut, you can choose between chestnut or black yarn.
The light grey is perfect for flaxen manes as well. When it is pulled tight, the color blends beautifully.
Technically, horses are considered light grey, not white. So, our light grey yarn is perfect for you.Technically, horses are considered light grey, not white. So, our light grey yarn is perfect for you.
Use what is most similar to the mane. Our charcoal yarn is developed for darker blended names. Sometimes the hair underneath is lighter, so you can choose between light grey and charcoal.
Braiding is not only to make the horse's hair look stylish. It enhances or compensates for faults in conformation, and is an important expression of respect for the judge. Attractive, correct turnout catches the judge's eye and earns credibility immediately. More braids are not necessarily better. It is more important that the braids stay straight and flush to the neck. Though, you want enough/visual rhythm to carry your eye down the neck. If there are too many braids, they are unstable. The most important part of the braid job is the bottomline. A clean line makes the neck look longer and rounder.
Some disciplines are braided, such as: hunter, equitation, jumper, dressage, eventing, driving, etc. Braiding began as a way to keep hair out of the reins. Though it has evolved into a means to signal the horse that it is a bigger occasion, as well as gain credibility in competition. The process of braiding well can be very relaxing for the horse and braider, who may be the rider. It both massages the equine’s spine as well as provides a rhythmic action. Both can help prepare body and mind for a great connection and performance.
Most people recognize that some look better than others without grasping what makes the difference. Behind the scenes, while most people sleep, the best braiders twist these secrets into the hair of winning horses. During decades of braiding and teaching the craft, I have found there are common, fundamental misconceptions about braiding manes. The following information may surprise you:
Lucky Braids All-In-One Shampoo soothes irritated skin. Plus, just having manes clean makes them more comfortable. Also, make sure your technique is sound. When all the hair stands have even pressure, they are more comfortable. The Lucky Braids DVD/Tool does show how to smooth the hair at the top of the braid, which reduces some rubbing.
The first thing you want to do is be sure that under the tail and the teats or sheath are very clean. Some mares need to be wiped daily. Sheath cleaning once a month is a good habit, weather permitting. Don’t use flyspray nor detangler on irritated areas. Most horses stop itching with LuckyBraids All-In-One Shampoo. For severe cases, our Handy Salve can cool the skin to break the cycle of rubbing and All-In-One Shampoo keep you out of the loop.
Here’s more on why our products work best: Tail Rubbing
Here are tips for mane taming: Mane Taming
Here are tips to help most horses to find pulling relaxing: Pulling Tips
There is something for everyone in the Lucky Braids DVD/Tool. Once you have studied Ruthann’s formula, you can take online lessons with her.
If you have learned Ruthann’s specific formula, you can take online lessons with her.
Most discoloration comes out with one bath with Lucky Braids All-In-One Shampoo. The Dry Wash spray can be used to dissolve the toughest stains. Let it sit in the hair to do its action, before wiping with a towel. Tough old and deeply penetrated stains may need more time damp with the spray. Though, once you get ahead of the stains, if you continue to use only Lucky Braids Shampoo, you’ll find it is much easier to keep even light colored horses sparkling and clean.
Drying shampoos and detanglers leave hair brittle to break. Lucky Braids Shampoo moisturizes and nourishes to strengthen hair. To best protect it, follow this procedure: Mane Taming
Your best defense is to only put bone-dry legs in or out. ALWAYS thoroughly dry legs, preferably with vigorous toweling. Lucky Braids Shampoo helps scratches heal. If they are sore/hot, our Handy Salve will give an extra boost to the healing. Though, it is not recommended for FEI horses.
You should see improvement with one Lucky Braids All-In-One Shampoo bath. If severe, lather and wait a couple minutes before rinsing.
That’s because its coat is dry, attracting the dirt. A shampoo that leaves residue can also attract dirt. The “Consumer Report” of the horse industry, Horse Journal, named Lucky Braids All-In-One Shampoo and Spray TOP PICK for Greys and Whites. Other products dry them out. So, hair may be clean for a moment, but then gets dirtier.
Our paradigm is distinctive and proven. Basically, use only Lucky Braids Shampoo and comb wet. You won’t need conditioner nor detangler. If mud is in the tail and you don’t want to wash it, our enzymatic spray will clean ANY COLOR. Here are details to the fundamental tail care: Mane Taming
The first thing you want to do is be sure that under the tail and the teats or sheath are very clean. Some mares need to be wiped daily. Sheath cleaning once a month is a good habit, weather permitting. Don’t use flyspray nor detangler on irritated areas. Most horses stop itching with LuckyBraids All-In-One Shampoo. For severe cases, our Handy Salve can cool the skin to break the cycle of rubbing and All-In-One Shampoo keep you out of the loop.
Always make sure equipment is clean and well-fitted. Dry skin and hair are not supple, hence prone to rubs. So, curry lots to stimulate natural protective oils. Lucky Braids All-In-One Shampoo will strengthen hair and skin. Lucky Braids Handy Salve will help skin heal and hair grow back quickly.
You can pull the dirt off ANY COLOR coat without a hose! Lucky Braids Whitener/Dry Wash is color safe. Just spray it on, wait a few seconds and wipe off with a towel. Horses come super clean. Even, ringside in the mud!
If you qualify to host a clinic, Ruthann will travel to your facility. For more information, please read about clinics on the bottom of the About Ruthann page. Then call: 781-665-5988.
Please read about clinics on the bottom of the About Ruthann page. Then call: 781-665-5988.
Feel free to send her a question via the Contact link below. Or, send a message via Facebook
Yes. The office number is: 781-665-5988. We are on Eastern Standard Time.
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