Coloured horses hooves

[smartie4]

Hi

Does anyone know if you are supposed to black coloured horses hooves for in hand showing? We blacked Becky's for Ingliston but a guy came upto me and said you should never black a coloureds hooves. So I don't know what to do - personally I thought they looked nice black but I haven't got a clue!!

[crazyhorsess]

Would leave this question for the showing people who show coloureds on here, as I dont really know the rules for showing coloureds but we always black out Max white hooves (4) otherwise he looks like his legs never end and you loose the flick of the toe especially in grass

[summer]

I was told to use clear so that's what I do - but I'm no expert!

[crazycoloureds]

We are always armed with a pot of black and a pot of clear if they are more white then keep clear and vis versa
I'm not a lover of the black nail polish types on the end of white legs (although have done it for indoors as the clear cream comes off)
CHAPS have written it in their rule book that and make up to be discouraged

[avrose]

I know Jerome had Merrigan's hooves blackened and he won at hoys and rihs.I personally think it looks better with them blackened. ;D

[poser]

Not a coloured but my mare has one striped hoof and the rest are dark. I use clear on her. I once used black at Turriff show after being told to blacken her hooves and i didn't like the look at all and have never done it again. Plus certain societies discourage it. I would stick with clear and then you can't lose. If they are more brown, you also get brown hoof gloss from asorbine, i have that too although it makes a mess when you apply it

[smartie4]

I tend too agree with you Avrose and think they look much better blackened

[rufus]

Hi Smartie its probably a personal thing. I always think the leg looks more "finished" with a black hoof, and Tara always has hers done... EXCEPT for BSPA classes, who prefer natural feet (as per their rule book) although many people still do it.
So if you like it,... Id say do it

[oslo]

I prefer black too but have had a few comments from judges about discouraging cosmetic varnish so now just put clear on.

[gotk]

rufus said:

I always think the leg looks more "finished" with a black hoof, and Tara always has hers done... EXCEPT for BSPA classes, who prefer natural feet (as per their rule book)

Echo this. We black all of ours' hooves, however when we started with coloureds last year, we were told not to black out their hooves as it was frowned upon. Admittedly we were also doing in hand classes (attempting to qualify for the Cuddy) with one of them, so it was more of a no-no for that

[kermie]

Maybe it's because I'm used to M&Ms but I don't like blackened feet on white legs as I think it makes the feet look stuck on rather than a continued part of their legs

[gaylec]

I black out my greys legs but then he has dark hooves. With my Appy mare I used to use clear varnish as she had coloured hooves and this was correct for her type.

Personally I like black hooves - gives a nice finish and defines the legs.

[sparkler]

On a coloured I much prefer clear - some black hooves just look unnatural especially when they are the first thing you notice about the horse.

[jessie]

I like black hooves as daltons are all black so I dont have a problem but when I showed Chas 3 of his are white so I blackened them and by the time I was going into the ring the grass had washed some if it off and it looked terrible. Anybody know of stuff that stays on even in wet grass?

[whistler]

I have used black varnish and sometimes still do if I'm at a fairly big dressage competition but as a rule I hate the stuff! Flaunt the horses natural assests and use clear is my thought. Its a highland I show though so I'm maybe just biast to the natural look!