White Faces / Pink Skin

[Mari]

Just a general question what are people opinions on white marking on faces/heads and pink skin on eyes and muzzles.

I dont mind a white face or pink skin but I was wondering what peoples general feeling were about it espeaically in the show ring?

Mainly speaking about the welsh breeds which tend to have alot of white!

[kirstysp]

I don't mind a lot of white on a welshies face but can't stand tonnes of white on a plaited.

[jebediah]

I will probably be shot down in flames but consider that to deliberately breed for pink skin and white markings can cause so many welfare problems
How many ponies/horses (of the non-pampered variety) do you see with sun burn on their noses and mud fever--lots.
I have a grey with dark skin--he never has problems with sun/mud
My bay has only a small star so never any sun burn problems, he has one white sock with pink skin, guess where he gets scabs if I am not on constant guard and this weather of wet followed by sun just exacerbates any problems.

[Stacey]

I have a Sec D stallion with 3 white stockings, a belly splash & a white face - I have owned him since a yearling and is now rising 7yrs, he has lived out the majority of his life and he has never had mud fever.

Provided they have adequate shelter from the sun they don't usually get sunburn either - I also have a cremello mare who also never gets sunburnt.

[smee]

I go through loads of Sudacrem when they are living out. The wet seems to affect them as bad as the sun.
I love a nice even blaze but agree the pink skin that goes with it can cause problems

[Milliesmum]

My old mare had a pink fleshy muzzle - I found that if you buy the zinc based sun block stick that skiers use it stays on better than just normal sun block, and is also easier to apply. Boots do one I believe and Aldi do an own branded one thats about factor 40.

[jebediah]

Reading posts on here people do care for their horses very much and go to great efforts to look after them but unfortunately not all equines are so lucky
So much depends on soil types and how well grazing holds up to the weather
My own grazing has been under water 3 times in the last 2 weeks with weather station Eskdalemuir in S Scotland recording over 12inches of rain for August
So really thinking about a lot of the coloured cobs who are basically very hardy but many do have pink skin and noses

[Mari]

the reason I ask is because i have purchased a foal this time and he is beauitful but has a white face and pink skin around he eye(instead of the normal black skin) It doesnt bother me that the skin is pink or the white face, or appling any lotions to protect him, It was really more or a showing question! I have had them with white faces before but not with pink skin around the eye?

Is it like blue eyes? do the judges like it or not? His other markings are lovely. He wasnt breed to have loads of white but he has inherited a large white face from some were only on one side of his head. (very similar to Ffoslass The Fox.( who i love).

[colourful]

Well i have a pony whose all pink skin - he has never had sunburn or mud fever, I dont have to use anything on him at all - never have.

[kidside]

you will find same as blue eyes it will be the judges opinion, it shouldn't matter but some will mark down for it

[topdog]

I ADORE welshies white faces !

[fawsleyfilly]

Have broad white face and 4 white socks, good stamp of B, would say in the 5yrs i have been showing him in hand and ridden 7 out of 10 proberly gets put down cos of it, more so in in hand breeding classes.

[suzee]

Sometimes the "shape "of the white blaze can distort the look of the head and spoil the initial look of a pony ,especially in in hand classes,but generally the judges in the Welsh breeds do not seem to mind too much.

[fawsleyfilly]

I do use a broad cavasson noseband on his bridle this breaks up the white a bit, i find the older traditional jugdes tend to accept white faces better.

[wilmira]

I have a mare with a big white face and pink eye, it hasn't stopped her doing well in the show ring,