How to Whiten a Horse For A Show

A well-groomed appearance is necessary in the horse show ring. Competitors often spend hours bathing, brushing, trimming and grooming their horses to make sure that they look their absolute best. One important factor in grooming is to properly clean the white markings on your horse. Clean whites stand out against darker coats, making for a flashy and eye-catching contrast. These white markings need to be as striking as possible to catch the judge’s attention and earn your horse the most praise in the ring.

Things You'll Need

  • Bluing shampoo
  • Stiff brush
  • Towels
  • Baking soda
  • Cornstarch
  • Clippers
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Instructions

    • 1

      Bathe your horse prior to whitening any areas of his body. The white areas need to be as clean as possible to properly prepare him for the ring.

    • 2

      Clip any white areas along the legs. Many horses have white markings on the legs, and these are often the ones that need whitening the most. Clip against the hair and be sure to stop at the edge of the white markings for the best effects.

    • 3

      Wet your horse’s white spots and apply a small spot of bluing shampoo to the hair. Bluing shampoo helps to take out any stains and will get the whites as clean as possible. Read the labels on any shampoos you apply to your horse to avoid any allergic reactions or chemical sensitivities.

    • 4

      Mix enough water with baking soda to form a paste and apply this paste to any stubborn stains. Let the paste dry and brush it off with a stiff brush. The baking soda will draw the stains out and make the white markings stand out against the dark hair around it.

    • 5

      Apply a liberal amount of cornstarch to your horse’s white markings just before entering the ring. Brush of the excess with a stiff brush, taking care not to get any cornstarch on the darker hair surrounding the white. Use a damp towel to remove any spilled cornstarch.

    • 6

      Cover your horse with a blanket and wrap his legs if you will not be showing immediately. You want to keep your horse as clean as you can once you have groomed him for the ring.