This. Times 10. Think I read you were looking at VHSA shows? Those are competitive and some pretty nice horses show there. Mediocre horse with average Adult isn’t going to cut it. Doesnt need to be the best out there, but needs to be better then mediocre. That’s where you need to sharpen your eye.
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A good horse is a good horse period. It’s fine if you want color, but the main thing should be finding a horse that suits you and does the job you want it to well - and within your price range. I’ve seen some great jumping QH and lousy jumping TBs or take the WB I had - had lovely jumping form but wasn’t honest. What’s the point of having great form when you refuse out? Look at anything that sounds good within your budget and is suitable for you. If it’s got some color, great. You also have to like it. When I was looking for my first horse, my trainer really like this one horse. He trucked around never missing a beat, but had a sour look all the time. Ears back and didn’t look like a happy hunter. Even though he jumped well he didn’t pin often because he looked sour all the time.
I agree with going to watch shows - you can learn so much by watching. You can develop your eye for what’s a good mover, what’s good jumping form all of which will help you when you’re shopping. In the meantime see if you can’t work out a part or full lease
I think if you’re just gonna do a few local shows a year you should just buy whatever horse you like riding the most.
Also I remember one pretty high end barn that had like 8 appendix QHs all in a row disguised as warmbloods who were very very competitive in the hunters I think from 2’6"-3’ at HITS Ocala one year lol so maybe that’s up your alley.
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I have a full QH that I have shown at local and smaller A shows and have also done the huge AA show in our area. His trot is not that nice but he has a nice canter and a really cute jump. We win a lot at local shows and get good ribbons at A shows if we put in a good round. We have placed above plenty of warmbloods and TBs. Now, he is never going to bring home a tri color at an A show (in anything except long/short stirrup.) But, we have gotten plenty of decent ribbons at A shows, including 4th in a Classic, 3rd out of 17, a 2nd over fences my first time doing the 3’ Adults, etc. I don’t bother with the flat class most of the time at A shows though. 
I am realistic about what he is but he is SAFE and FUN and didn’t break the bank. It’s been a very rare occasion that I have not felt fairly judged at shows.
I also have an Appendix QH that is more typey and when he is not being naughty can get nice ribbons at A shows and get a piece of the hack. Again, probably not tri colors but he doesn’t stick out as an “off breed.”
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If you just want to show locally, have fun, and be safe, buy the fun & safe horse that appeals to you most!
I think Appendix QH (or something similar like a paint/TB) are a secret ammy superweapon and would love to see more of them in the ring. Generally they are very athletic and don’t look at all like stock horses - but also have that great QH brain.
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OP, a couple things to think about since your goal is the local VHSA hunters.
Nobody is going to laugh you out of the ring. But if you want to be at all competitive, you must have the step, you must swap your leads, and the better mover is going to be needed if you want to win championships. Remember that at local shows there are only two over fences classes plus the hack for a division, and the points in the hack count just as much as the over fences classes. Unlike at rated shows where the ratio favors the best jumpers, at local shows you can do very well with a merely adequate jumper as long as you find your eight fences, get the step, swap your leads, and pin high in the hack.
If you’re a newish horse owner, I think color should be your last concern. But if you really don’t care about being competitive then by all means get one that’s safe and fun and flashy and live your best life.
Echoing others on the Appendix QHs. We’ve had a number of them who have done really well at A- and AA- rated shows. Color is the last consideration on our list and we’ve had pinto warmbloods and even a boarder’s registered paint do well in the lower level divisions (though the paint was not very well suited to the job by any stretch of the imagination and i’m convinced our head trainer is magic). Most of the barn is obviously filled with bay warmbloods, but not exclusively.
I’ve noticed a number of pinto warmblood stallions that have been imported recently, and anecdotally I feel like there’s been an uptick in the number of pintos I’m seeing in the upper-level rings, beginning, as it always does, with jumpers, but also in hunters. Maybe I’m just looking for it, but I think we’ll see more color in the rings in the coming years.
