So as you all know I am a total color snob when it comes to horses. I only like blacks and blood bays. I know, I know, I am picky. I have learned to love my dappled grey for who he is, although if I could change his color I would. Especially since he gets more and more white with each passing season. Texas’s color was almost a deal breaker before me at the start. I didn’t even want to look at him and his crazy spots. Appaloosas are fine for others, but I didn’t want one myself. I struggled leading up to the first show because I knew his color would be a point of conversation. Sure enough we were the only crazy colored horse in the ring! He was also being a baby so we were sticking out like a sore thumb.
I actually planned what I would say to people when they told me how cute he was. I would say a simple non-committal “Thank you”.
And it worked! He actually got a lot of compliments and smiles. And I have to admit that the spots are growing on me. He is kind of cute isn’t he? In fact, I think even I was saying to others how cute he was by the end of the show. I think the fact that he stands out so much kind of works for me…I am not exactly a blender-inner myself.
So last night I was reading Standaredbred Excellence’s Blog and she was writing about something that made me realize another good thing about my fat spotted pony. No one is EVER going to ask me what kind of horse he is or get his breeding confused! I used to lie when people asked me what Gen was (back when I rode him he was a OTTB in every way when it came to his behavior at shows). I would always say he was an Oldenburg. 
I know I know, where was my Thoroughbred pride! It is really hard to go into a show ring against horses who were bred to be doing dressage. Especially when they are highly trained, imported from Germany, warmed up by a trainer, and being shown in INTRO.
Texas and I are never going to blend in. And I am starting to realize that might be a good thing. I want to clinic with some big names someday. And I want those big names to remember me and my fat spotted pony (for good reasons of course). Reading how a big name person kept calling Standardbred Excellence’s mare a Saddlebred made me realize that my lying about breed days are over. And that is a good thing. I have to work with the hand I have been dealt, and I am lucky that includes not one, but TWO very adorable horses!
I know this doesn’t sound like a big deal to most people. This is a really big deal for me though. Especially consider I just found I have 10 people in Training 2 class and 9 at Training 1. A few of which are trainers. With class sizes like that at a local schooling show that counts for very little I think it will be good to stand out for all the right reasons. When we start going recognized with classes of 35+ at training level I am sure to a judge all the bays and chestnuts in the ring will start to blend in. I don’t think Texas and I are every going to have that problem!
So now I have to ask you all, what is your favorite color of horse? And does your own horse match it? Because I am 0 for 2 and I have a feeling I am not alone.
Oh and a few lectures about how it is not all about the ribbons might do me good as well considering I am pretty bummed that there is a good chance I might go home empty handed.
First the lecture: Judge the horse by what’s inside, not what’s outside! You have something special with Texas and I LOVE his spots. If you don’t ride the horse like you are proud of him, he’s going to have low self esteem issues.
Second lecture (you asked for this one): You love the beauty you see in the upper level dressage and it has nothing to do with ribbons. Think about that. There is NOTHING stopping YOU, yes YOU, from reaching that level if you want to – it may take a lot of time but if you always think that is your goal, you won’t be dissapointed if you ride well but don’t get a ribbon. Horse shows are supposed to be learning experiences, as in… oh, next time I need to move the bit a little more in my up transitions or if I had gone a little deeper in my corner the turn would have been better, etc. Then you go home and fix the stuff
We are going to have a blast on Sunday!
Well if you take a look at our horses you will see many different colors. I like a diversified herd. My favorite color is of course the dapple greys, of which we had two, my guy Erik and Donnie. My other favorites would include paints and palominos. I do like anything with color that stands out, but I also like our bays and chestnuts. I can tell you from personal experience that many years ago riding the only paint horse at shows, including the Hampton Classic, was very tough because he wasn’t accepted. We always did well because he was a phenomenal horse and couldn’t be ignored. Lifeguard even got a ribbon out of 60 something at the Classic. I’m so glad things have changed today and some of the prejudice against paints and Appaloosas is gone .
As for ribbons, well as I’ve said before it’s not the most important thing to get one. I’ve always felt it’s more important to ride against yourself and do the best you can and further your education and the horses. If you get a ribbon it’s a bonus.
Good luck.
I love white or grey horses. My old pony was white, and my favorite thing was to bathe him and brush out his thick white tail. I also pretended we were in match races against the Black Stallion, so hey, being white was great. I have a buckskin now, and she is very pretty. Actually, color isn’t a huge factor for me, I like interesting heads/faces. That doesn’t mean a pretty face, but something that catches my eye. I like Holly’s romanesque nose and almond eyes, and Cozee’s gentle eye and little chin. I loved my old white horses tail, and I thought my bay gelding had the cutest snip on his nose, and I loved looking down at his ears when I rode him. I also like a big hip, though my arab has a pointy arab butt. No matter what the color, they all smell good!
I like the flashier colors -paints and appys. I have a black and white paint that is “perfect”. I am fond of grays and bays, but do not like chestnuts.
I’m a chestnut/dun person and I’ve had chestnuts.
About the breed pride – When I was showing my Morgan in sport horse breeding classes I’d get a lot of “what a sweet little Arab head” comments from warmblood people. It was a bit condescending until she’d win her class. I remember people at one show complaining about a mare they had who was mean and ugly so they had priced her to sell. $50,000. At the same time my $1500 auction baby was kicking butt. I think it is better to succeed with a horse who doesn’t have all the “advantages.” Getting off my soapbox now.
My favorite color is actually gray, especially dappled grays. Of course, I have never owned a gray ever.LOL I’d love a gray with black points like Gennyral. My own horses have usually been bays. Now I own a bay tobiano and a chestnut roan. Though I have to say, my very first horse was a liver chestnut, and I have missed him so much, and Chevy is funnily enough shedding out to a very dark liver chestnut roan this summer. It is so odd! He was never this dark before (per his former owner). I am learning to appreciate my horses of color. They definitely get noticed!
I am a sucker for a black horse. My mare was black as night, a real handful and no horse was more striking. However, she was the poster horse for pretty is as pretty does.
I always thought grays were attractive, (until I had to keep one clean!) But Monty turned out to be an angel in white as he aged and grayed out. However, after dealing with his gray horse melanoma, I will pass on the grays.
A bright bay with lots of “chrome” is also a favorite for me.
And now I have a B/W paint. He’s rather nice to look at but now to see if the horse inside is just as attractive.
I love my handsome bay boy, but speaking from experience it sure is nice to go into a ring and get noticed right away.
Ribbons are nice. I’m not going to give you a lecture on that it’s not all about the ribbons. Instead, I’m going to lecture on how those big classes where everyone won’t get a ribbon should motivate you! You are a good rider. Texas is a good horse. When you both concentrate enough to be on your A game, you will do exceedingly well. Instead of worrying about how many horses are in the warm up ring or how many trainers are in your class, go to that show and focus on you and Texas. It’s not about everybody and everything else. It’s about you and Texas. You go do your thing, think about focusing on your ride and staying calm, and I think you’ll do great and have a very good chance at walking away with ribbons.
Great stuff! The horse is beautiful and nothing is wrong with being unique. Just slap some ShowSheen on there and you’re all set. By the way, just a heads up that Absorbine put up some great coupons for their horse care products: here.
As a kid, I loved white horses. As an adult, dapple gray with dark points appeals, but I had an epiphany about chestnuts. One day a few years ago I was brushing my lesson-horse at the prime of his summer coat, and it was just dazzling. Like a new penny. From that day on, I’ve loved chestnut.
my favorites are grays. I grew up riding my neighbors gray horse at pony club. She was wonderful. So I’m a sucker for gray.
(
But I’ve only owned paints. I briefly bought an adorable appy pony and a big, giant bay. Hadn’t thought they were so pretty until I owned them. But neither one worked out, so back they both went to the same barn.
I guess they all appeal to me in various ways. I just love horses, and want one so bad. It’s what another poster on here said “they all smell good”. ;o)
I hear ya on the color issue. I was never an appy fan and I certainly was not a fan of their coloring. But appy’s just found me and after many years I feel like I have a great understanding of the sometimes complicated, stubborn, obnoxious and highly devoted breed. They need to trust you and know that their safe with you and then your made. I show hunters so having an appy in the ring with all bays and blacks and chestnuts all gleaming and neatly braided sucks. I wash and wash my horse and still he doesnt get that shine and always looks like he has dirt on him due to his coloring. But none the less it’s what is on the inside and really I wouldn’t trade Possum for the world.