June 05, 2009
The All Arounder: Issue #005
Western Boots - Color Matching Made Easy
June 2009
Welcome!
The All Arounder is the official monthly newsletter of the Stock Horse Show Source website. Author Lynn Espinoza is the main editor for both the website and this newsletter. With this issue stay up to date with news from the site and horse industry, hot tips for showing and caring for your horse, and "members only" specials!
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The All-Arounder Table Of Contents
1. Inspiration For The Month2. News & Updates
3. In This Issue: Western Boots - Color Matching Made Easy
4. Tip Of The Month
5. The Next Issue
Inspiration For The Month
~Spanish Proverb
News & Updates
Site News!:Check out the latest pages added to our website!
- Horse Show Shirts - Measure Up to Compete: http://www.stock-horse-show-source.com/horse-show-shirts.html
- Horse Show Boots - What You Need for Riding and In-Hand: http://www.stock-horse-show-source.com/horse-show-boots
- Used Horse Show Clothing - Shopping Guide: http://www.stock-horse-show-source.com/used-horse-show-clothing
FREE GIFT FOR OUR READERS!
We are giving out free downloads to all of our dedicated readers! Now when new readers sign up for an All-Arounder subscription they get a free Horse Show Checklist Download. Since you all have been loyal readers to this ezine we would like to also include you on this free offer.
Right click on this Horse Show Checklist link to download and save the PDF document on your hard drive.
Western Boots - Color Matching Made Easy
Have you ever wondered how people at a horse show can get their showmanship boots to match near exact to the color of their outfit? There are a few ways to get that perfect color, but for the purposes of this article we will focus on an easy paint-to-match method.This is an easy method you can do on your own at home, saving you time and money. Below we will be discussing the steps to color matching beginning with picking out your boots to applying color.
This article adresses how to apply a latex-based paint to your boots.
Picking Your Boots
If you know your showmanship outfit will be difficult to match boots too you may want to begin with a lighter base color of the boot to make painting them an easier task.
Obviously if you are wearing black pants, finding a pair of black boots to match is pretty simple. However, if your are in the same boat as a majority of exhibitors and decided to go with a different color for the outfit, then you may have a more difficult time matching up colors.
It may be easist if you went with a pair of white or a lighter cream color to begin with. Make sure the boots fit and are comfortable to walk or jog in as you would in showmanship.
You may want to break them in a little before continuing on with this process.
Color Matching
The easiest way to find a matching color of paint is to head to your local paint of home improvement store. Make sure you bring a swatch of the material you are matching.
You will want to choose a latex-based paint meant for outdoor jobs. Since your boots will be on your feet, the outdoor paint may hold up better to the abuse you will be dishing out when showing your horse.
Begin with a smaller amount of paint, you likely will not need a full gallon to paint two boots, however you may want some extra paint on hand in case you have to repair any damage during the show season.
Boot Preparation
Now that you have your boots and paint in one place you can begin prepping your boots for painting. Again, you may want to make sure the boots are somewhat broken in and are a little more flexible.
You can do this by wearing them around your house. The folds and seams where your boots need to bend should become much more flexible after they have been worn. Plus it helps to make sure they are comfortable enough to show in.
Now that you have gently used boots you can prep them for painting by sanding them down. A lot of newer boots come with a glossy coating over the leather. The sanding will help to ensure that the paint adheres well to the boot.
You can use a 150 grit piece of sand paper. You want some abrasion but not enough to scratch or damage the leather. You may want to wear a face mask to prevent breathing in the dust from the boots.
Once you have gone over each boot with the sand paper, they should appear a little more dull than before. Next you want to take a damp cloth and wipe each boot off to get rid of the remaining dust allowing for a smooth finish after painting.
Applying Color
The next step is to get set up to paint your western boots. You may want to work in a well ventilated area for more comfort with breathing while painting. Make sure you work in an area where you won't mind getting paint on the surface under your boots.
Other supplies you may need to paint are a combination of different sized brushes and sponges. If the sole of your boots are black and your do not intend to paint them, you may want to tape the edges or use a small brush to paint around the bottom of your boot first.
Make sure your paint is well mixed with a stir stick before use. Apply one coat at a time with sufficient drying time allowed in between. It may take at least 2 coats to get the coverage you want.
Since your western boots will be presented to the judge under your showmanship pants, you don't have to paint the entire boot. You only need to paint up half way as long as your pants will cover the unpainted area while moving.
Allow plenty of drying time before use.