PEBA — Professional Equine Braiders Association

Certification

A credential earned at the stall, not on paper

Every PEBA certification is awarded after an in-person, scored assessment by sitting Master Braiders. Credentials expire and must be renewed, so a badge always means current skill.

Apply for assessmentVerify a credential

The pathway

  1. Level 1

    Apprentice

    Supervised work under a Master Braider

  2. Level 2

    Certified Professional

    Independently certified to work the show circuit

  3. Level 3

    Advanced Professional

    Demonstrated speed and consistency at A-rated shows

  4. Level 4

    Master Braider

    Highest credential; qualified to train and evaluate

Credentials and how they are scored

Each requirement carries a weight toward the final score. Pass/fail items, including horse handling and safety, must be passed regardless of total score.

Hunter Certified

Hunter Braiding Certification

$325

Valid 24 months

Traditional hunter mane, forelock and tail braiding to A-circuit standard.

Hunter Braiding Certification requirements
RequirementStandardWeight

Braid consistency

Uniform size, spacing and tension across the crest

8 of 1030%

Finish and turnout

Clean part lines, no flyaways, secure knots

8 of 1025%

Speed

Full mane and forelock completed within target time

Under 60 min20%

Horse handling and safety

Calm, safe handling in a stall environment

Pass / fail15%

French tail

Even, tight French braid finished to the dock

7 of 1010%

Dressage Certified

Dressage Braiding Certification

$325

Valid 24 months

Rosette buttons and running braids for FEI and national dressage.

Dressage Braiding Certification requirements
RequirementStandardWeight

Button uniformity

Matching rosettes evenly spaced

8 of 1035%

Security

Braids hold through a full test and warm-up

Pass / fail25%

Speed

Full mane completed within target time

Under 50 min20%

Horse handling and safety

Calm, safe handling

Pass / fail20%

Jumper Certified

Jumper Braiding Certification

$275

Valid 24 months

Secure braiding for the jumper ring.

Jumper Braiding Certification requirements
RequirementStandardWeight

Security

Braids hold through a jump-off

Pass / fail40%

Neatness

Tidy finish appropriate for the jumper ring

7 of 1035%

Speed

Completed within target time

Under 45 min25%

PEBA Master Braider

Master Braider Credential

$650

Valid 36 months

Awarded after peer evaluation, portfolio review and teaching demonstration.

Master Braider Credential requirements
RequirementStandardWeight

Portfolio review

Minimum 40 documented show-quality jobs

40+ documented30%

Peer evaluation

Evaluation by two sitting Master Braiders

9 of 1040%

Teaching demonstration

Deliver a lesson to an apprentice cohort

Pass / fail30%

Apprenticeship

Train under a Master Braider

Before sitting for professional assessment, apprentices log supervised work with a PEBA Master Braider. Each entry is verified by the master before it counts toward the requirements.

Find a Master Braider

  • Supervised hunter manes

    Full manes braided under direct supervision

    40

  • Supervised tails

    French tails braided under supervision

    20

  • Show nights worked

    Overnight braiding shifts at rated shows

    15

  • Dressage button manes

    Rosette button manes under supervision

    10

  • Safety sign-off

    Master Braider sign-off on horse handling and safety

    1