*GREYS* - pros and cons, thinking of buying but ...

[JULESMGARNER]

... are they really hellish to keep clean? I'm currently looking for a horse and many of the horses I'm interested in seem to be grey. One particular horse that ticks all the boxes (or at least appears to, I haven't rung yet) is white. Now I love the look of greys, I think they look stunning and stand out amongst all the bays and chestnuts etc and dapple greys with darker legs are especially striking.

However, I am slightly concerned that its going to be a lot of work keeping a grey, or in this case, white horse clean especially as my last horse was very dark bay, almost black and he had no white markings at all, I mean not even a white fetlock so I've been very spoiled and he always looked dark and gorgeous.

Apologies if this seems very petty and obviously finding the right horse is the most important thing, but just wondered how many of you would/would not buy a grey horse?

(On a more serious note I am also aware of the increased chance of sarcoids with grey horses).

 

[Blizzard]

Hmm well I guess its just a matter of personal choice!

I would never rule out a horse because of its colour, saying that Im pretty lucky because I have a black and a bay! As long as the horse does everything you want, and you dont mind giving a few extra baths, then I would go for it!

 

[Coffee_Bean]

Colour would never put me off, at the end of the day they are rugged for winter when it is muddiest anyway, good luck

 

[mle22]

My daughter always had grey ponies and I swore I wasn't going to buy a grey horse for her no matter how good it was because of all the cleaning, washing etc - then we ended up with a coloured horse who was even worse!! Seriously - personally I would think twice - the coloured has just retired from eventing and I was thinking of competing her at a much lower level at our riding club over the winter, but having to wash her to go out, especially in the dark evenings and as I also work full time has put me off. Even rugged up there are always bits to wash! Our new chestnut is soooo much easier.

 

[AmyMay]

A lot of grey horses mysteriously turn brown or even green overnight....

However, mine seems to be very clean. I think i've been lucky though!

 

[superstar565]

greys do look stunning when they are pearly white.
dont let the colour put you off, it the horse seems perfect in everyother way the a few more minutes with a bucket of warm water and sponge wont relaly seem that bad...will it?

 

[kit279]

A good horse is never a bad colour! Seriously though, almost all the greys I had loved a good roll - I think they try to camoflage themselves.. But if the horse is nice, go for it! Mud doesn't make them jump any worse..

 

[peanut]

[ QUOTE ]
I would never rule out a horse because of its colour,

[/ QUOTE ]

... but I'd never look for one either

 

[gigs]

My Andalucian is grey almost white and looks stunning when clean !! He is a messy sod in his box and has always got stains on him - when showing at local ferias here in spain I cover him in white chalk !!! However dont let colour put you off this is the best horse that I have ever owned .

 

[Silverspring]

I wouldn't rule out any horse because of it's colour.

The only thing you should consider before buying a grey is they have an increased chance of melanomia's. My grey Highland Pony ws PTS 4 years ago (he was 20) for melanomia's on the spine. He started to graze in an odd manner and then came up lame, we lost him 3 months later as the cancer was attacking his spinal column

 

[BlackWhite381]

[ QUOTE ]
I wouldn't rule out any horse because of it's colour.

The only thing you should consider before buying a grey is they have an increased chance of melanomia's. My grey Highland Pony ws PTS 4 years ago (he was 20) for melanomia's on the spine. He started to graze in an odd manner and then came up lame, we lost him 3 months later as the cancer was attacking his spinal column

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes but chestnuts can be prone to sarcoids!

I personally love grey the best horses i have had have been grey as for putting me off it would make me want to look all the more, absolutely love them

 

[Morrigan_Lady]

I always said Id never get a grey or a mare!!
Now Ive got a grey mare!!

She is perfect and easy to keep clean and she does like the mud!
I say go for it, if it ticks all the boxes.

 

[_April_]

I have a grey

It's slightly more work but there are loads more products available than when I last had a grey to help...

I do love Greys though

You need head to toe rugs like this!!

but then 10 mins later with just a brush she was like this (I swear!)

 

[oofadoofa]

Also depends on how good they are to do. I had a grey that was really headshy yet loved putting a full poo face pack on most nights. Not easy. Whereas my friend's grey lets her hose her head off if there's any stains on there. Personally, I'm sticking to the bays now!!

 

[Firewell]

Theres no way I would turn down the right horse because of its colour. Theres no way I would turn down my boyfriend because of the colour of his hair!

I have a grey and on a shallow level the only time it irritaes me is getting ready for a show because even if im just SJ, I have to make the effort to wash her tail and sponge her dirty bits whereas my mum who has a bay just flicks it over with a brush and goes!

Saying that on a day to day basis I really dont notice, even if she comes in a bit muddy a quick flick with the brush and she looks fine. If she rolls in poo, i only damp a sponge and wipe it quickly clean, I mean it literally takes seconds.

My OH also made a valid point, a dark horse gets dusty and you need to brush it to make it shine so I dont think you would spend any more time grooming just because its a grey.

I also think Greys are just the most stunning to look at. A beautiful gleaming white grey with its beautiful snowy tail fanning out behind it is enough to take my breath away.

It actually makes me cross when someone says they turn down a horse because its grey as they are too lazy to grrom it. Just as it makes me cross when someone turns down a chestnut because of their reputation, its ridiculous really. But then im biased because my past 2 horses were grey and the one before that chestnut!

Also think what if Milton, Desert Orchid, Murphy Himself, Glenburnie, Shear H20, One Man, Sunny Bay were all turned down just because they were Grey, how gutted would we be!

 

[GoJo]

If i was offered a bay or a grey and they had the same attributes then i would go for the bay but if the horse is perfect otherwise then it should be worth it really.
the only other issue with greys is that they are prone to melanomas (or i've heard that anyway from owners).

 

[Arabelle]

I love greys - it would always be my first choice of colour. They look magical to me. There is a quote somewhere (can't remember where) about a horse 'as beautiful as the moon.' I think my girl is as beautiful as the moon.

She isn't usually too dirty, but fortunately for our sport (endurance) looks don't matter. She does have a melanoma under her tail - she has always had it and the vet said it is nothing to worry about. Our old (grey) boy was PTS at 36, melanoma free. I don't believe greys are more prone to sarcoids.
A

 

[chunkytfg]

This is sparky

It must have taken us all of 30 mins with a brush and a damp sponge to get him this clean and white.

At this show people ooh'd and aah'd over him because he was just so damm white in the sun but couldnt beleive us when we said it was easy to keep him this clean.

like others have said providing you rug them up then they dont get any dirtier than other colours it's just that what dirt they do have them stands out.

 

[Firewell]

Oh and on the melanoma side of things, to put your mind at rest, our last two greys were PTS aged 23 and 26 respectivley with not a hint of a melanoma on either of them. They are more at risk but no more than they are catching any other disease...

 

[ironhorse]

[ QUOTE ]

I always said Id never get a grey or a mare!!
Now Ive got a grey mare!!

[/ QUOTE ]
Likewise! Altho I'm one of the stupid ones having had 2 greys before.
They ARE a lot of work but they DO look great when all sparkly clean.
A lot depends on what you do, the yard facilites and how much time you've got.
We show ours, but are lucky that our yard has a wash box with hot water. And most of the shows we go to seem to have wash bays.
Trying to constantly clean her with cold water outside at our previous yard caused lots of fights.
Ours has been really clean all summer despite being on rubber mats, but because of the fluctuating night temperatures at the mo gets a bit hot and rolls in poo.
For schooling etc I try not to fuss too much and just brush or sponge the worst off, but for clinics etc she does get the full beauty treatment, regardless of the time of year.
You also need quite a wardrobe of rugs, including a lighweight turnout or heavy summer sheet for the night before shows...remember what is a bit of dirt on a bay is a great big stain on a grey!

Melanomas are a worry, and now she is 9 I keep a religious look out for them. I thnik greys are also a bit more senstitive to flies, and remember if they've got pink skin on their nose or legs they're more susceptible to sun burn/mud fever

 

[Silverspring]

[quote[Yes but chestnuts can be prone to sarcoids!



[/ QUOTE ]

Are sarcoids a terminal illness? I always thought they were like warts, unsightly and could be an issue for bridle etc but would actually mean the horse would need to be PTS? I don't know much about them

 

[ladylisa]

I would never rule a horse out because of colour.
I said i didn't want a grey, but ive got one!!

She goes yellow! in winter, she's never gets really muddy.
But this year i have clipped her for the first time so only her legs will hold any mud!

 

[mle22]

Firewell - I too think greys are lovely - but imo they are definitely more work especially if you are going out competing a couple of times a week and they are mud larks as all mine seemed to be, plus no matter how clean the stable they seem to be able to find a bit of pooh. We has a grey show pony who could even manage to get dirty in the horse box on the way to a show. All the lovely greys you listed do have full time grooms to look after them! If you work full time and only have yourdelf to do all the work it can get annoying. Plus I always feel a bit sorry for them having to get washed all the time.

 

[catembi]

After Catembi (in avatar) died, I said 'no more greys' & was really looking forward to chucking out my shampoos & white plaiting thread, and having an extra lie in on comp mornings.

But I do like the ISH ability & temperament & they tend to come in dapple grey, so I ended up with a carbon copy of Cat.

In winter he has a rug with a full neck & luckily his legs are dark so I just top & tail him i.e. wash his head, top of neck & tail. My reasoning is that after 5 mins trotting around in the warmup, everyone's legs are dirty anyway so there's no point in doing them. In the depths of winter he has a snuggy hood on so it's just the tail that gets dirty.

I'm a lazy so & so, so for everyday riding I just check the saddle/girth/bridle area & that will do. He'll only roll again when I turn him out.

He never comes properly clean cos our soil is orangey & it stains, & he lives out 24/7, but I'm not a showing person so I can't get too excited. Having a slightly yellow tail isn't going to make him have more jumps down.

 

[jess_asterix]

try washing that every weekend before a show.
I had 2 months of doing it properly and then this weekend it just got a quick scrub!

TBH its not much different though because everyone of my horseys gets a full bath before a show, you just have to scrub a grey a bit harder

I love my geys though

 

[Firewell]

''Firewell - I too think greys are lovely - but imo they are definitely more work especially if you are going out competing a couple of times a week and they are mud larks as all mine seemed to be, plus no matter how clean the stable they seem to be able to find a bit of pooh. We has a grey show pony who could even manage to get dirty in the horse box on the way to a show. All the lovely greys you listed do have full time grooms to look after them! If you work full time and only have yourdelf to do all the work it can get annoying. Plus I always feel a bit sorry for them having to get washed all the time.''


You've made me feel bad now, my poor horse didnt have a proper bath all summer!

TBH I dont really find mine that much hard work but i do love grooming and even my old chestnut horse would be groomed every day so im used to it.

My piccies in my signature are mostly from this yr and the most effort I put in before those shows was a good groom and a tail wash and I think she looks lovely and clean

I dont do showing though so maybe I would have a different opinion if I did!

I also mention Milton etc because if a horse is good it doesnt matter what colour it is. I would clean all day if it meant I had the privilege to ride a horse with even 1/100th of their ability and spirit.

 

[TicTac]

I Love grey horses. They don't get any dirtier than their coloured mates.......it just shows up more!!! Having said that, the lovely horse I had was rugged, hooded and booted ( see my sig) every winter in an effort to keep him spotless and it does take more of an effort to keep them clean but I certainly wouldn't hesitate to have another.

My current horse is black.......easy lol

 

[Flint12]

I have a grey well white. . .and yes he does get filthy. . .but it is very rewarding when he is all clean again. . .and he does stand out at shows!

I have just got used to the dirt and stains hehe

only thing he has pink skin and his nose does burn very easily.

 

[Zoobie]

I vowed NEVER to get another Grey and I wasn't even going to look at a horse if it had a sniff of a white leg..... so yes I ended up with another (mud monster ) I mean grey and am thrilled with him. This was him on a dry day and I had whipped his rug off 10 mins he found the only patch of mud on the field.

 

[mle22]

Firewell - you are right - given the chance to own/ride Milton - I'd put up with the cleaning!!
Silicis - it is rewarding when you have them looking lovely - my daughter turns out to a very high standard and her coloured always gets admiring looks and comments. That's partly why I'm reluctant to take her out to the riding club as I said at the beginning - She wouldn't look as good if I was doing it!!