Whitening Tips

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Kub

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I know this has been done before but... I want to start trying things out on my boy to make sure I can get him white when I need to (assuming the weather will be nice one weekend soon!)

So what are your tried and tested methods? I need to get his feathers white, they're majorly dirty at the mo due to mud, and his tail and mane gleaming, also white. All suggestions welcome, and I will be trying them out as soon as a day is warm enough
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Best one is repeated washings to stay on top of it otherwise white tails go a hideous nicotine stained yellow colour - I compensate by putting a lot of cow udder cream on my boys legs. The whitening shampoos do help although dont deliver the miracles they offer. I have also tried vanish on my horses tail but was so paranoid about getting it on his body or leaving it too long that I dont think I really did it properly!
 
Get some decent whitening shampoo, some people like baby shampoo or fairy washing up liquid, which ever works best!

then chalk chalk chalk chalk chalk! You can put it on with wet legs, yes it will go clumpy but you can brush the clumps out when dry and/or put it on when the legs are dry. put loads on but make sure you walk your horse around before you go in the ring, there could be nothing more embarrasing then just walking into the ring & your horse having big white puffy clouds of chalk coming from its legs!

Also another tip.... paint their feet black with the hoof paint (if not already black) this looks really good as enharnses the white & black throughout their coat. it looks really good honest!
 
I use plain old baby shampoo from Tescos on my gelding's white legs. To be honest though, if I keep up with keeping his legs clean, they go white just with a powerful hosing
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Hehehe, I can just imagine Harry walking on clouds... Good idea for the hooves, though he has natural coloured ones with black bits, will painting them black look silly?

Unfortunately, haven't been able to keep them really clean what with all this mud and it usually being pitch black by the time I got him (until the last couple of weeks). Plus, haven't wanted to get his legs too wet. So I'm currently contending with that yellowy colour... hmph
 
A livery at my old yard had a mostly white piebald with a few black splodges - he was always immaculate and she swore by daz! Never used it myself, but she didn't notice any adverse affects.
 
I always used to wet the legs, lather in shampoo (blue/purple/silver based) then whilst there are a good amount of bubbles mix in a small handful of Gold Label Show White Paste, rub it in well. Rinse off after about 5 mins
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That always got their legs gleaming white. You can also leave the show white on and let it dry and brush it off. I swear by it!

Fortunately my horse doesnt have any white legs YIPPEE!! Good Luck
 
I thought that too, that they might look odd but i show at County & National level & that is what i do. my boy would no way have naturally black feet but when i went for HOYS prep David Bartrams groom suggested i do it & at HOYS the judge actually commented over the loud speaker on how nice it looked (& we came 5th
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) since that i have noticed how the majority of greys & coloured like yours & mine will have their hooves black at RIHS & Nationals etc. i honestly thing it does make a difference and make them stand out.. i dont really think my boy looks that silly
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(one of my old posts in the picture gallery has lots of pictuers of my horse, i cant get any pictures up but if you can find that post.... can you let me know please!!! )
 
NW! - you could do what I do if I'm trying to find a thread I've posted in...

Go to 'Who's Online' and click yourself, then choose 'Show Users Posts' and then it will list all the threads you've posted in. If you have some inclining of the what the thread was called, you should be able to find your pics
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Oh he is beautiful!! And the black hooves look fab. Not sure you'd be able to see my boy's.... lol! Here's a pic of him, and what I need to make white!!

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On a tangent, what sort of classes can I show him in?
 
Oh he is lush
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I think it would be worth doing on him because it will make his feathers (that fall over his hooves) stand out more & give his legs more shape!

I would put him in coloured & cob classes & if you were looking for other classes - do the condition class etc

For his show prep - even though he is a traditional i would chalk & paint his hooves. the black stuff is like nail varnish, will prob need a coat the night before and one in the morning of your show to make it nice and even. i would chalk ALL white bits (face incl) just not underneath your saddle! On his brown bits if you can use one of those chestnut shampoos to really bring out the nice rich brown you can see around his stifle. Use lots & lots of mane & tail conditioner on his mane & tail & trim his tail up, not so its short but i think it would make it look really full & thick if it was trimmed up. Dont use show shine spray or simiular product to this for his coat, if the judge happend to pat your horse they may end up sliding off ( & it looks fake - IMO) so i would recomment getting a body/finishing brush & lightly drizzling baby oil on it- rubbing it into the brush slightly then brushing it over his dark parts. this will put a natural gloss on him! I wouldnt put anything extra onhis white bits, thats just my personal choice of because obviously where you have bathed him he will have a natural shine anyway, i think any products used on white bits make them look too fake. Also with the baby oil rub a small bit over his muzzle & eyes. this will enharnse them and make him look super gorgeous!

If you do the coloured class, what will help you is making the dark bits dark & the white bits white, the more they contrast the better!

Sorry if i've gone on a bit, there are so many tips i could tell you which will make you really stand out against the other competitors.


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Nooo that is very very helpful!! I think he's really pretty and whatever I can do to show that off is great
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He's only 2 and a half at the mo so will be just inhand shows really for the next couple of years. I will be having a practice preparation day me thinks hehe.

Not sure if I'm meant to trim him at all being traditional and all... But will check
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Thanks again!
 
Oh crikey no i didn't mean to come across as saying trim his tail much just to even it out a little - sorry thats me not being able to explain myself properly!

oooh he is going to be a chunky little boy isn't he when he matures... he is going to look great! (Not that he doesnt already!)

Definatley put him in some youngstock classes too
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I think he has the potential to do well in coloured classes at affiliated level & with CHAPS, from the pics his conformation looks good
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I cant wait to see some pictures from your shows .... how exciting (im a geek and get excited for people!)
 
Welcome to 2 - 3 hours the day before a show scrubbing and another hour (if you are lucky) on the day
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This is my routine for Stinky - he lives out 24 x 7 from May to October and is out four days a week in a swamp in winter.

Winter - invest in a bag from tailgator. I also bag mane and forelock but have heard they are not doing them at the moment.

Cover the legs and anything else that is not rugged in pig oil - test first. Add sulphur to the oil on the legs. Use a t/o rug but be very careful with hoods and neck covers.

In summer, mine wear snuggy bodies - this is for mild SI but also keeps them clean.

Day before the show - eat lots of energy food - you will need it.

Start with the legs. Hose down the worst and then use green fairy and arial excel gel mixed 50 - 50. Really get into the feather. Rinse and then repeat with tresume deep cleansing shampoo and equine blue. Rinse and then use plenty of cheap conditioner. Rinse.

Next take stinky horse and if nice and warm hose down body until worst is washed off. If cold, boil kettles and bucket buckets and sponge.

Wash body in tresume deep cleansing shampoo mixed with equine blue. Really scrub hard. Rinse off and if necessary repeat.

Now tackle mane and tail - again if white, use the arial mix and then the tresume shampoo and equine blue. The blue is also good on black hair, condition.

Rinse the whole horse to make sure all is clean and soap/conditioner free.

Once clean, apply coat conditioner - I like Alva and brush hair flat. Whilst body is drying, use survivor detangler on mane, forelock and tail and brush out the hair. Put mane and forelock in bunches - never plaits and put on a full body and neck lycra suit to keep coat flat and mane in place.

Very loosely put a plait in the tail and put back the tailgator bag.

If legs are still not white, don't panic. Make up a very very dilute rinse of leg whitner but never a paste - this clogs the hair, rinse down the hair. Comb out the legs. I also like to use a little survivor on the legs too. Once dry I put on stable leg wraps, bandages can cause wrinkles in the hair.

Pop a turnout rug on and pray. If Stinky is staying out, I use his snuggy SI hood and body, if in, the dress circle suit.

Next day if you have any stains, wash them off or if minor, cowboy magic is super. Then travel.

When you get there, more cowboy magic and you can use a little white cover on any stains but be very careful if you have a black tail. Legs and if white, tail can be covered in talc and brushed out. I spray Alva show gloss on the body and use a sheepskin mit. Mane and tail are combed out and supreme sparkle applied. You can use a little on the legs but only if on grass with no dust.

Final touch of a little supreme gel on the nose and eyes - never use any makeup on a traditional so you end up with something like this

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I only ever use a clear varnish on hooves and most of the time don't bother as you can't see them. Never use black on a traditional.

Hope that helps.
 
NW1 - Oooohhhh ok lol! Yeah, agree with that, getting abit straggly at the end.

Yep, he's defo a heavy weight that one, bless him. My perfect horse really, love him hehe.

Well he's registered with CHAPS already so all good, will have to see whether I'm good enough to take him that far, I'm very much a novice! Will get lots of pics when I eventually find a show to take him to, I get excited just thinking about it, lame I know!
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Theresa - Thanks, your boy always looks stunning in his photos. I've started bagging his tail to save a bit, makes brushing it a hell of a lot easier and the end isn't getting so dirty! I'm worried about his mane at the mo as it is getting a bit rubbed out by his standard neck LW
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I'm tempted to take his rugs off altogether if it's warm enough, just to stop the rubbing.

I'm loving all these things that aren't horsey items like tresemme and fairy liquid, definitely makes it easier on the wallet
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Go for it! Don’t worry about holding back, im sure there a re enough people around you who would be more than willing to support you!

I think it worth doing because what's the worst that could happen? You do one season & he doesn’t get placed but he gets some damn good experience at the hustle & bustle of big shows!

You will get honest judging at the CHAPS shows, not just the horse winning because it’s a friend of the judge!

You might as well go in at the deep end with it, he is of good quality!

I am probably the best person to encourage you to do it as I was in your boat only 2 years ago! Romeo is a recue horse I got when he was 18 months, I took him to his first local show at the beginning of the season in 08 as a 4 yo, at the end of the season we were competing at HOYS. I only took him to the Search for a Star class for a bit of experience but qualified! Last year we won the Maxi's at the Royal Norfolk & competed at the other county show & RIHS & Nat Champs. I had no experience in showing before hand but you kind of pick it up as you go along… and lets face it all you have to do for ridden is walk trot & canter round at a nice working pace with them not sticking their head out! I think the judge rides in the CHAPS too.

Please go for I want other people to get the same feelings I did of doing it yourself, not having a pre made horse, its just wonderful 
 
Hehe thanks NW1! Well I am planning on going to the BSPA SW Stars Show in April, got the horsebox booked, just need to get hold of a schedule. I'm just hoping I get to go a local show before then so that I kinda know how he's going to be and what to expect etc.

He's lovely looking and does have good confirmation. Unfortunately, don't have any family history on him, which is a shame, but if he's as laid back and quick learning when it comes to the ridden stuff, I should be well away
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