Showing - hoof and socks question

[Vicki1986]

I always thought i should use clear hoof gloss on my pony because of her white socks, but i was reading a showing book and it said if your hunter pony has good hoof conformation you must paint them black to highlight this... she does have really good hooves. what is best?

tried to find a pic where you can see her feet!

Does anyone have any tips on how to keep poo off white socks?! i wash and chalk them and spray some sheen on but by time we have walked from the box to the warm up she has pooped all down them

frustrating.

Any other wisdom and tips anyone else wants to share always appreciated

Getting very excited for summer and sun and shows, especially now ive all new show gear for me and pony has arrived

 

[FMM]

I would paint them black if I were you (see chestnut cob in the pic below). Looks smarter I think.

 

[rara007]

We never painted ours black, just left them as they were but times are changing, its like the horse makeup- black is not natural.

 

[josiesmithuk]

For the show hunters I use baby oil on the white feet as stays on better i've found. I get to the show liberally apply chalk and put travel boots back on until I am entering the ring that way they stay nice and white.

 

[Pasha]

Keep her boots or bandages on until your going in the ring! x

 

[NuttymareII]

I was always told that as my horse has four different coloured feet, i.e only one of them is black the other three are white/black they should be painted with clear gloss, which is what I used to do, never got marked down for it

 

[only_me]

i always paint them black and put white powder/talc on the white socks above, and imo they look stunning as my boy is a dark bay.

defo paint them black!

it malks a "clear" image and looks so professional

 

[virtual]

I think with 4 white socks on a hunter o cob type it looks better to keep them clear. It looks like your pony has striped feet, have a good look at whether the stripes accentuate or create the illusion of any poor conformation in/unstraightness of the foreleg when looking from the front. If they do, it's better to paint them black.

 

[merlinsquest]

I saw a beautiful darker than dark bay with four whites and blacked out hooves once, it looked stunning.......

Tried it on merlin (four whites) and he looked like he had wellies on!!!!

I use clear now.

 

[Drummer]

I have the black stuff that paints them if you want to try it out? I did it once on Drum and wont again. Someone asked about it at the Lynne Russell thing and she wasn't keen on it.

I don't think I would, as you and Wills colouring are all very natural and it may look a bit woah!!