My mare is still in the “flea bitten grey” stage. I show in a white pad with black piping. It seems to separate the horse from the pad. I really like a white pad with black tack! For schooling, I use a blue grey pad with navy piping, or a sage green . I love my burgundy pad, but is impossible to keep it clean as it shows every white hair!
I had a blue-roan for a long time and I always showed him in black. For a while I had a nice Eous pad that was microsuede and had silver and black piping, I think they make it with bronze too. I hated putting him in white because it made either him or the pad look dirty. For schooling you can put your kid in just about anything!
The gray I rode had dark gray, black, purple (all shades) and a white pad. Teal would look gorgeous as well. I’m not as matchy matchy but that owner opened my eyes to a world of colors I never knew I liked on horses. :lol:
Paint with lots of white! My guy looks dirty in a white pad. When I showed I used either a creamy pad, a white pad piped in black or a black pad. Now I don’t show I stick to black pads.
I have a flea bitten gray, I show with a plain white BOT pad, never had any issues.
I used to ride and show a flea-bitten gray, and I agree with people (and judges!) that white makes the horse look dingy. I’m sure that comment by the judge was meant to help the rider in the turnout department, but obviously wouldn’t mark you down. I showed this horse in a solid black velvet pad. The velvet was cotton velvet, not synthetic, so it didn’t shine and had a matted appearance and looked sharp. I also really like the blue pads here, and a navy pad/navy jacket combo. That would make you stand out in a sea of black coats and white pads!
Hunter green would also look great, esp with a hunter green coat.
Honestly, ask the TD if a pad is acceptable at a show. Most judges are happy to see a conservative but DIFFERENT color combination, especially in the National levels. They notice you, and it is good to be noticed in your class if you and your horse are bringing the goods. Plus, it looks sharp. I used to scribe alot and I have heard several judges make positive comments about non black and white combinations.
The nice thing about white on white is that if your horse matches the saddle pad (more or less), the horse’s back isn’t “broken up” by the pad. I think that’s especially nice for short-backed horses like the PRE. You can really focus on Joiedevie99’s horse uphill balance and nice shape/frame when your eye easily goes from hocks to poll. Very nice!
@J-Lu Thanks for the nice thoughts. I’m pretty fond of the little bugger 
And I totally agree about the optics on short-backed horses. The dude has about 6" of back between his withers and his tail.
I remembered this thread when I saw this picture this morning (Adrienne Lyle on Duval, in their first GP at Tryon, in a white pad):
Hmmm. then maybe a dark pad helps on a horse with a long back? Good, since that’s what I use.
I’ve gotten the dingy comment from an S judge in CA, wonder if it was the same judge? I usually use a grey or black pad.
