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Shopping for a new horse? Testing your color
IQ? Horses come in a large array of colors. No one color is
better than another, although many people have preferences. History
has often favored colors. Black horses are often considered the
noblest, most lucky and sometimes possising magical powers. Cowboys
of the old west have often said that a true Dun is the only horse with the
stamina to be a real cowhorse. Indians often rode paint horses into
battle because they were believed to be a magical gift horse.
Most breed organizations have color criteria for their breeds. The horse
must possess specific characteristics to be classified as a particular
color. For example the basic difference between Buckskins and Duns
are really quite forward according to the AQHA. A Buckskin has a
yellowish or gold body color with a dark mane and tail. A true Dun
will posses a Dorsal Stripe, many of them will also have Tiger Stripes and
Travers Stripes as well. There are Blacks and Dark Bays, often
Chestnuts are referred to as Sorrels. Paints have several patterns
of coloring such as Overo, or Tobiano. Looking for a Piebald or
Skewbald? What's the difference between dappled and spotted?
Sometimes you have to actually visit the animal you are considering to see
it's coloring, if the horse sounds like one you would be interested in,
visit it regardless of the color listed. People see things differently,
especially if the horse is not registered and the body color is not stated
on the papers. We would like to offer you a coloring guide
here to assist you in your shopping.
This list is by no means complete, but should offer you some basic guidance.
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Bay : Dull red, Brown or yellowish coat with
black mane and tail.
Black: All black except for the occasional white markings on the
head or leg.
Blue Roan: Uniform mixture of white with black hairs over a
large portion of the body, bus usually darker on the head and lower
legs.
Brown or Dark Brown: A mixture of black and brown hairs, with black
mane, tail and points. May be flaxen
Buckskin: Body color yellowish or gold, mane and tail black, black
on lower legs.
Chestnut: Light Ginger color to a Dark Reddish Brown with a
slightly lighter or darker mane and tail.
Cream: Unpigmented skin. Cream mane and tail.
Dun: Duns come in different colors, red, brown, but they all
have a Dorsal Stripe. Occasionally they have Zebra or Tiger stripes on
their legs.
Gray: Black skin with both black and white hairs throughout the
coat. Color can vary from iron gray to light with dapples. Often the
animal will lighten with age, as more white hairs appear.
Grullo: Body color smoky or mouse-colored, not a mixture of black
and white hairs, but each hair is mouse colored. Mane and tail
black, usually has a black dorsal stripe and black lower legs.
Palomino: Body Color a golden yellow, mane and tail white, no
dorsal stripe.
Piebald: Covered in large, irregular patches of black and white.
Often called a "Pinto" in the US.
Red Roan - More or less uniform mixture of white with red hairs on
a large portion of the body, but usually darker on the head and lower
legs, can have a flaxen mane or tail.
Skewbald: Patches of white and any other color except black. Often
called "Pinto" in the US.
Sorrel: Body color reddish or copper-red, mane and tail
usually dark red or brownish red, mane and tail same color as the body,
but may be flaxen.
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