Would an almost-snow white colour in a prospective hunt horse put you off? I mean, all those early-morning baths (OK, so we have running hot and cold, so it won’t be too painful, but still), showing every muddy splatter, etc.
Assuming everything else about the horse looked fairly useful and usable; just that you could be fairly certain that keeping it clean and presentable was going to be a bit more work than cleaning the average bay or chestnut?
I did warn you, it’s a shallow question! 
I’d buy it! I think a lovely turned out white horse is the mosts gorgeous thing in the hunt field. The ex-huntsman for my ex-hunt had a lovely white gelding that he hunted, and it was just a sight in the hunt field! Rex (the horse) was absolutely lovely, and WHITE as white gets every time he came out to hunt.
Oh, I’d have to think about it. I don’t really care what color a good huntin’ horse is. But thinking as my own groom of things like manure stains, red Virginia clay, and such, and poop stains coming off the trailer…well, it would be a lot of work! Admittedly for white socks there are touch up possibilities like baby powder, but for a whole white horse… doubtful it would be an option.
My two current horses have zero white feet…which occurred to me as a plus for hunting when I got them!
Nothing beats a good horse no matter what color he is. Buy lots of that blue shampoo. My daughter’s horse is white. We buy it by the 1/2 gallon!
I’ve said it a thousand times because I’ve lived it “At one point in your life you must own a persian cat and a white horse”. It’s something you don’t repeat.
Here is my crop out Paint (lost what few light red roan patches he had by the time he was 8 years old) at Fort Leavenworth about 9 years ago. http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2132818580052639572ZYpLLe Blue Shampoo and turnout sheets are your friend. 
When they are spotless they are classic!
Honestly, yes - if it were down to a dark bay that was 90% perfect for me and a really light gray that was 95% perfect for me, I would be leaning towards the bay. That red Virginia clay can stain like nobody’s business, and I’d rather put time into riding than grooming… :-\ If you’re strapped for time and do your own grooming, I do think it’s a legit consideration.
But, as was said, a good horse is a good horse no matter what the color, so… it’s just one consideration in a list of many.
I think the thing is to keep them clipped and blanketed all season and in a stall the night before hunting up to their hocks in shavings!!! :winkgrin::lol: Thats what they do for the Budweiser Clydesdales to keep them clean below the knees! Tailcovers/knots for trailering of course!!
Me? probably not gonna ever own one but I’ve certainly lusted after them! Lesson here is to ALWAYS compliment the fellow hunter on a clean white horse since you know from whence they’ve come!!! :yes:
They’ve earned a compliment for cryin out loud!!! Is there anything more beautiful than a formally attired in black rider on a white horse? …ok…maybe a man in scarlet on a solid black horse?..or…a scarlet on a black & white paint!??..or…fill in the blank!
Former mfh had a gray she hunted for years. Magnificent animal who would “flag” his tail over jumps. Wonderful site for us hilltoppers to see him. Could see that tail for miles!
I just went through the same thing. I ended up with a mostly white paint, but hey, I’ll put in the elbow grease to clean him if its the right horse. Like the others have said, thats the biggest thing. I really don’t care for paint colouring, or blue eyes, or white horses, but his personality is to die for, so he’s home with me. I just scrub him real good, and spray him all over (except the saddle area, of course) with Vetrolin Shine, it seems to help keep the dirt and stains off him when hes rolling in the grass or napping in his stall. I recommend Pepi, Vetrolin, Quicksilver, and that Cowboy Magic Green Spot stuff to keep in your arsenal when dealing with a white horse.
Honestly, I’d hate to have that grooming job. I have a palomino with four high whites and a big blaze. Its a real PITA keeping him looking good for an early morning hunt. My best hunt horse grooming wise (and otherwise) is a bay with no white save for a tiny star and a tiny little snip of white on his right hind heel. He always looks clean. My worst grooming nightmare was a mostly white paint that liked to use a manure pile as a pillow at night and hated to have his face washed. His saving grace was that he was absolutely awesome in the hunt field. I always dreaded what I would find when I went to get him out of his stall in the wee hours of the morning for an early hunt.
The best colour around these parts is liver chestnut. Covers a multitude of ommissions!
I would buy a good horse of any color, but…one of my hunt horses is a pure white, pink skinned TB and it “ain’t easy”!!! Each public outing has to be planned for or you may be sporting ugly stains. But it’s worth it to me to have such a nice horse! A very long drop blanket is also your friend! Another issue is your black hunt coat. Make sure you don’t get up close and personal before mounting - YOU will look like a polar bear!!
I will be hunting a pinto horse this year-he’s about 50% white. That will be more work than I’ve had in the past-chestnut, red dun(perfect Carolina red clay color) and bay roan. If the right hunt horse was white, I’d just plan to get up earlier in the morning. You can always nap when you get home!
My sis hunted my buckskin one season - she LOVED it. We call him our dirt-colored horse.
edited to add: For the OP - gray would make it very hard for me to plunk down my $$$ LOL
MD
Some days they are just dirty
I hunt paints and one of my hunt horses last season was about 80% white.
http://www.chronicleofmyhorse.com/photo/album/show?id=1971868:Album:75190
They are out 24/7 and we have no hot water. So I clip them and put blankets on them all the time but some days they are just dirty. Especially in early spring when they have longish hair on their legs and it starts getting muddy. Before the paints I had a grey so I guess I’m a glutten. Greys are beautiful in the hunt field when polished up though.
If you look at the album on the above horse, you can see that some days he’s just dirtier than others.
If they are good in the field it doesn’t matter what color they are. The important part is to keep them clipped and the mane pulled.
OMG, you guys care about how clean your horses are before a hunt? Man, I’m never gonna get my colors. LOL. I ride grays and won’t bathe a horse when it’s under 50 degrees, so no bathing after the early fall. Heck, who am I kiddding, no bathing unless we get rained on before the hunt starts.
[QUOTE=Elegante E;3235069]
OMG, you guys care about how clean your horses are before a hunt? Man, I’m never gonna get my colors. LOL. I ride grays and won’t bathe a horse when it’s under 50 degrees, so no bathing after the early fall. Heck, who am I kiddding, no bathing unless we get rained on before the hunt starts.[/QUOTE]
:D:D Right there with ya!
Oh gosh Elegante, I am all about having my horse as clean as the temperature allows. That means if rain is forecast on a Thurs/Fri before a hunt, the turnout sheet goes on the night before the rain arrives- and I hunt a copper red, no white markings, mare.
My mares mane & bridle path are “hunt ready” year round. I cant’ stand a long mane or untrimmed bridle path/muzzle. 
Interesting timing for this thread! I’m picking up my new dapple grey pony on Sunday! He’s turning pretty white though, those dapples are starting to fade as he gets older from the pictures I’ve seen of him as a youngster!
My old retired jumper is white too. So I guess I’m used to it. Just lots of blue shampoo or green spot remover for the colder fall days!
I’m just so excited to finally have a nice, quiet horse to hunt without having to borrow somebody else’s horse! I don’t care what color he is! Sure is pretty though!
Congratulations, eventamy, on your new mount!
The last horse I foxhunted i had bought to event; but, foxhunting but, was his love1 :yes: he was a pure white 17 hand :eek:dutch Warm blood; I used show sheen the hight before on all the places likely to: turn green":winkgrin: overnight;The next morning they wiped off easily with a ha wet towel, or alcohol; He was such a fabulous foxhunter and loved it so, :yes: i would not pass on a good fox hunter due to color;!:no:
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