Comments on: How to Brighten the White Marks on Your Horse

on 9/23/2006 I think all the ideas are great, but sometimes its best to play it safe. You can try all those other options, but truth is that if you just spend that small amount of extra time washing or if it's too cold to wash, grooming your horse before a show, you can get the beautiful white shimmer. The only things I use are water, and whitening conditioner

on 8/19/2006 You should bathe your horse before a show to get most of the stains off of the white markings. However, white foot markings are hard to keep clean, even for a day, I have a small can of cornstarch that I rub into my horse's white markings to make them look dazzling before a halter or showmanship class. Cornstarch is easy to find and cheap to buy. I doubt it would be a problem if your horse somehow got some in his mouth, which is another plus. Don't do it when you are in your show clothes, especially if you're wearing black. Also, don't do it after you've blackened your horse's hooves or you'll have to do it over again!

on 6/30/2006 Days before the show, clip white legs. (this helps if you're not to good at clipping). The night before a show, wash the horse legs throughly. Make sure that you scrub them good. That night, put the horse in the stall with leg wraps and maybe a sheet (if your horse tends to roll). The morning of the show, brush the legs. When you arrive at the show, apply some baby powder. Then trot your horse to get the excess powder off. Your horse will be sparkling clean.

on 11/22/2005 Use baby wipes to get stains off your horse, then use baby powder on their white spots. This works wonders on grey horses.

on 11/22/2005 The key to using baby powder or cornstarch is to clip the white area several days before the show. On the day of the show, wash and dry the area. When the area is completely dry, apply an ample amount of baby powder or cornstarch. Set the powder with an inexpensive aerosol hair spray, such as Aqua Net. The hair spray will also put a real shine on hooves that have been painted with hoof black.

on 11/22/2005 When washing your horse, scrub his or her white socks until they are pink. The next day, they will be very white.

on 11/22/2005 My mother used to use the old Reckitts Blue - we thought you couldn't get it anymore but now we use something we've discovered called EquineBlue which is really good. It's not a blueing shampoo but a rinse, just like the old Reckitts blue. I think you can find it at equineblue.com or equineblue.co.uk (I can't remember which!).

on 12/22/2005 Wash any and all white with Quick Silver. Before you show, use Shapeley's spray-on color in white. Let it dry, then brush the area and remove any overspray from hooves and dark hair with baby wipes. It's like a spray paint that was made especially for horses!

on 11/22/2005 Plain vinegar on a cloth removes grass and other stains immediately.

on 11/22/2005 There are sure a lot of you who love using baby powder! If it was up to me, the stuff would be banned from the planet. Baby powder is a dangerous carcinogen and should be used with caution both for your safety and the safety of the horse. Inhaled, it can cause lung cancer. If used in the genital area in females (human, equine or anything else) it can lead to cervical, ovarian or uterine cancers. Please be very careful when using baby powder and for heaven's sake DON'T use it on a baby's bottom! Trish Williams, RN

on 11/22/2005 Wash your horses white areas with any regular shampoo, and then once it is completely dry, dust baby powder over the white areas. Re-apply a coat of baby powder before you hit the ring, and your set!

on 11/22/2005 I use Quik Silver whitening shampoo, it is the best. Work up a nice lavender lather and scrub really good. You can leave it on, but not for more than 5 minutes, otherwise you will have a purple horse. Use ShowSheen or silicone based spray on the legs to prevent stains, or wrap them to keep them clean.

on 11/22/2005 Use liquid blueing wit shampoo, leave for a few minutes, it works wonders

on 11/22/2005 Use baby oil rubbed between your hands to brighten your horse's eyes and nose. You can also put a little on the outline of the ears.

on 11/22/2005 The best thing to use is Castille soap. The benefits are twofold: this will also cool the legs and give relief from skin irritations whereas Bon Ami may cause blistering.