The horses that run for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen can often be seen with precisely-braided manes when they come to the paddock prior to a race.
In the inaugural installment of the Paulick Report's Inside the Grooming Bag video series, Asmussen groom Hugo Morales guides us through the process of braiding the 2-year-old colt Munny Bolt.
With 10 to 15 horses to braid per day, each requiring about 20 braids down the neck plus another for the forelock, Morales has the process whittled down to about 12 minutes from the first handful of mane to the final rubber band – a blazing fast time.
The trainer himself then describes the reasons and traditions behind why the barn's runners sport the look.
Though he describes himself as “out of practice,” Asmussen said he learned how to braid horses from his mother, trainer Marilyn Asmussen, and he carries on the practice in his own stable to honor her.
“A lot of it's trial by fire,” he said. “Some of those first braids didn't look so good, but with the volume of horses we run, you get over that in a hurry. My mom braided, she was great at it and taught me how to braid, and we went from there. We've been doing it for a long time, and I'm very proud of it; especially the reason why.”
The post Inside The Grooming Bag: Braiding Manes At The Steve Asmussen Barn appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
