Equine Science 1

1. Horse Colorings and Patterns Equine Science 1

2. BLACK Jet BLACK (true black will not fade in the sun) All horses are genetically either black or red. (red is chestnut or sorrel) Color variations are due to genetic modifications to the two colors which dilutes them or additions of white markings and patterns. FADED BLACK (HAS A RUST TINT AND IS USUALLY CAUSED BY SUN)

3. Black foals are usually a mousy color when born. As their foal coat sheds out, black comes through.

4. Chestnut and Sorrel These are essentially the same colors. Chestnut and sorrel colored horses are red, yellowish red, or reddish brown, and they do not have black points. Mane and tail are a lighter color than the body.

5. Chestnut and sorrel coloring is recessive whereas black coloring is dominant. Example: EE = Black Ee = Black ee = chestnut or sorrel Genetics in Horse Colors

6. Bay Bays have reddish brown colored bodies With black points. Points are mane, tail, and lower legs. They always have black mane and tail but shades of Body color vary.

7. White A white horse has pure white hair, pink skin and brown, hazel, or blue eyes

8. Roan Blue Roan Roans have a mixture of white and colored hair. Strawberry Roan

9. Buckskin Buckskin is bay diluted. These horses are yellowish, golden tan, or gold, with black mane and tail.

10. Gray Grey is a pattern of individual white hairs intermingled with colored hairs. It can occur on any base color. Grey foals are born colored and become progressively lighter with age until the horse appears white, but the grey horse retains its dark skin, unlike a true white horse, which has pink skin.

11. Dun A dun is yellowish or gold in body color With a mane and tail of varying colors. A dun has a dorsal stripe, zebra type Markings on legs or stripes on the withers. A dorsal stripe is a stripe running over the rump of the horse.

12. REVIEW

14. Dun

16. Black

18. Bay

20. Chestnut or Sorrel