“I told you to get me a Hunter Green blanket!”

When your horse disapproves of your color choice, you’ll know it.

Choosing colors can be a conundrum–do I want the light blue or indigo pair of jeans? Does this red top go with these orange sandals? There is a great deal of pressure on us to make the right color choice. The colors we embrace make a statement about us – she’s classy, she’s fun, what the hell is she thinking? Even in the horse world, we need to get color right because let’s face it, people can be a little “judgy”.

First Things First – What Color Horse is Right for Me?

Say you already know what KIND of horse you want, and what type of riding you wish to do – vital details we all know are important when horse shopping. You also need to decide what COLOR horse you want. Choose carefully because this color decision is the first. For those of you overwhelmed by Baskin Robbins 31 flavors, take a deep breath, there aren’t that many choices when it comes to horse colors.  Here are a few tips that might help you choose.

• Go through books, magazines and online ads. Make prints or copies of horses you think are beautiful – at least 15 or 20. When you have a handful, spread them out and see if there is a color trend. Are 11 of your 15 prints bay? That’s a clue!
• Make a list of famous horses you think are beautiful, doesn’t matter if they are real or fictional. Take a piece of paper and draw a line down the center. On the left write those dreamy horses’s names, on the right their color. When your list is complete, tally the colors. Do you see a trend?

Once you have settled on what color your new horse should be, go out there and get him or her! Mind you, the horse you bring home will probably not be the horse you went shopping for. The heart is fickle. You may set out for bay perfection but that chestnut tugged on your heartstrings and it was all over the second your eyes locked knowing “you had me at hello”.

My New Horse Needs Stuff, Now What?

Congrats. You’ve made the first big color decision and have your new horse in hand but don’t get cocky, you are about to face more color decisions. Your new horse needs stuff and stuff is available in a rainbow of colorful options. Before you shop, you should probably decide on your color theme. A color theme simply boils down to two choices – I want all my horse stuff to match OR not.

Where your horse lives and what riding pursuits interest you might help you with choosing a color theme. For instance, if you belong to a barn or ride with a club, they may mandate a color code. Easy, your color decision is already made – get one of what everyone else has. Badabing, badaboom.

If you’re not part of a group, start by analyzing your own wardrobe, how do you dress?

• Do you wear matching sweater sets? Do your shoes match your purse match your belt? Then you’ll probably be more at ease color coordinating your horse’s items as well.
• If you are at ease wearing socks or underwear that don’t match or a blue hat with a brown scarf? That’s great, you’ll be able to save on your horse stuff by taking advantage of “exotic”color sales. That lime green halter at 80% off and BOGO purple leads are a pretty sweet deal!

Once you’ve identified your color theme, you are ready to shop. Go get all that new stuff for your horse – halter, lead rope, blanket, buckets, leg wraps, tack box and saddle pads. Immerse yourself in colorful overdrive and enjoy the delicious rainbow of horse stuff. But choose well my friend, the right color will enhance the beauty and magnificence of your horse. The wrong color will conjure finger pointing and eye rolls from others.

All this talk of color and the importance of your decisions may have brought you to the point of apoplexy.  You are making color commitments for your horse that will last for decades. Are you making the right decisions? What will others think? WARHorses has one final bit of advice to ease your nerves – chill.

There are no wrong decisions when it comes to choosing the color of your horse and the stuff you buy for it. Color is a matter of taste. Color is personality. If someone looks down their nose and harrumphs at your horse’s pink leg wraps, that’s their problem, not yours. Choose colors that make you feel good. The time you spend with your horse should always be happy and joyful. Color should foster positive feelings for you on the most intimate level. Ignore the pointy fingers and eye rolls. Go for what feels and looks good to you!

And a little BLING is fine thing!

Written and Photography Provided by Melanie Eberhardt, Publisher WARHorses. My OTTB Bubba dug purple!