Hi! I am taking a young horse to compete at Devon, who has four white socks with some black spots (so peroxide as a whitener isn’t an option). Aside from washing his socks many times during the week with whitening shampoo or Dawn dish soap, what other options are there? What is the best whitener before stepping into the arena? Many thanks for any useful ideas!
Chalk?
Are you presenting in-hand for the breed ring? Have fun, and good luck!
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I find Orvus scrubbed in works well. I use a bath cloth like this which helps work the lather in right to the skin: https://www.bigdweb.com/product/scrubby+bath+cloth.do
Vetrolin makes a product, Green Spot Out I think it is called and it works great. I use is on my welsh pony when we show him. He has four high whites and a big blaze.
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Clairol used to have a product called Sparkling Lights or something similar, looks purplish when you suds it in, but it is by far the best whitener I’ve ever found. Was the best whitener I used to use on my dear Bichon Frises.
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I used to scrub with a whitening shampoo, then let the leg dry completely. Once it was completely dry I would cover the white parts in baby powder and lightly rub it in. Then take a damp cloth and wipe the baby powder off the black spots and apply hoof oil.
A friend uses the white spray from shapley’s I believe, I’ve not done that and would definitely want to practice. She told me she will spray the legs when they are still wet as she’s found this keeps them from looking streaky.
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I just use Quick Silver, or whatever other blue/purple shampoo is around. I use it a few days before the show, and then either the night before or morning of, with plenty of laser sheen sprayed on to keep stuff from sticking. I also clip the legs, which definitely helps, but I didn’t clip my youngsters legs until late 3. I’m not sure it’d be worth the battle at 1 year.
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Clip them about 3 weeks before the show.
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Orvus soap, scrub down. Clip the legs and then go over with a damp sponge. Add cornstarch or baby powder. Brush excess off when dry. Be careful not to use too much baby powder or your horse will have clouds of powder every time he trots. BTDT and why I wet legs now.
If you use chalk, spray with hairspray, it sets better and doesn’t come off if you have to do a touchup with a rag right before going in the ring.
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Quic Silver that morning.
Friends I have had with white horses have just gone the route of whitening shampoo, and green spot remover as needed. Years ago, we went to Dressage4Kids, and did have to do some touch-up baths in the mornings because he would lay in manure. At least with just stockings, it’s not so bad to re-wash, or just get it off with green spot remover. IF your young guy is well-behaved, clipping the stockings can help keep them whiter.
I use the purple people shampoo from Sally’s Beauty Supply. I currently use the generic one in the white bottle with black writing. I can’t stand the smell of it but it works. There is another one in a purple bottle I used to use Silver Shimmer or something. The generic is cheaper and works better. I have used the generic on my Chestnut when somebody else “borrowed” the last of my regular shampoo and it didn’t seem to fade his chestnut color at all.
To be honest I use a glop of liquid Oxyclean in a soapy bucket with Quic Silver. But I would not recommend without doing a spot check to make sure your horse won’t react to it. I like the idea of generic bluing shampoo @SonnysMom. Off to Sally’s I will go! (After I use up my big bottle of Quic Silver).
One of the best suggestions I have is to make sure that you keep up on washing your horse’s legs. I wash my mare’s high whites with whitening shampoo at least once a week during show season. This helps any stains not “set” and makes washing up before the actual show much easier.
Back in the day when I was doing Arabs we used cornstarch on the white legs. Rub it in, brush off the excess.
Compelled to point out that chalk, cornstarch, or other such thing are all forbidden by the rules.
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Exactly! The ‘ermine’ spots are actually part of the horse’s markings, and are not to be hidden, changed, nor worried about.
Some Vetrolin products also test.
I would just clip, put the quicksilver on first and let it sit while you wash the rest of the horse, and follow up w rubbing alcohol if necessary.
