How To Apply A Quarter Mark
Applying a quarter mark with a QuarterMark.com template is fast and easy! They will help you apply a professional looking quarter mark in no time.
First, brush your horse's hindquarters to clean off any dirt, dust, etc. Then:
Dampen the top of the hindquarters with water. Get the hair damp, not wet. Mist the hair with a spray bottle, use a damp cloth or sponge, or whatever method you like.
Position your template on the damp part of the hindquarters.
Brush or comb across the top of the template. If using a brush, it's usually easiest to use just the tip. Work in short, firm, strokes. Be sure to use a brush or comb stiff enough to move the hair, not just glide over the top of it.
Brush all of the damp hair inside the template down, or down and toward the front of the horse (don't be afraid to experiment!). Hold the template firmly but gently next to the horse with your spare hand. If necessary, hold down the inside edges of the template so the brush doesn't move them.
That's it! Remove the template to see your beautiful quarter mark!
Hair Spray?
In our experience we've noticed we can use just plain water to brush in and "set" quarter marks and they usually last all day. By all day, we mean applying the quarter mark at day break and riding the horse until late afternoon. As long as we don't brush them out, and the horse doesn't roll, we can often see a little or a lot of the quarter mark the next morning.
How long a quarter mark lasts does vary, though. We've noticed it varies from horse to horse and with weather conditions.
If you're concerned about how long your quarter mark will last you can spray your horse's hair with non-aerosol hair spray before or after you brush in the quarter mark. The majority of the time, though, we just use plain water with excellent results.
How Visible Are Quarter Marks?
We're glad you asked! Please see this page: How Visible Are Quarter Marks?
How High? How Low?
How high up you place a quarter mark on your horse's hindquarters is your choice. A quarter mark placed up high, on the top of the horse's hindquarters, usually catches more light and therefore often creates a better quarter mark.
However, placing a quarter mark up high might not always be the best choice. For example, if you're going to ride a tall horse in a parade, where many of the spectators might be sitting down at curb level, you may want to place your quarter mark lower so everyone can see it. But if you ride the same tall horse into an arena where many of the spectators are sitting up in the grandstand, a quarter mark on top of the hindquarters might be the ideal location.
So, as a general rule of thumb, place your quarter mark as high up on the hindquarters as you think it will be practical for everyone to see. Don't be afraid to experiment!
Troubleshooting
- If the completed quarter mark is difficult to see, it's possible you didn't get the hair damp enough. Brush out the quarter mark, add a little more water, and try again.
- If the quarter mark is blurry, you probably didn't hold the template competely still when brushing in the quarter mark. Brush out the quarter mark and try again.
- If you get the hair too wet, your completed quarter mark will look messy. Brush out the quarter mark, let the hair dry a little, and try again.
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