Colors and Markings
There are many diffrent colors, kinds of colors, and markings, this is just a basic guide to show some of them!
Albino~ Albino horses are a special kind of white horse. Their skin pigmentation is pink, giving them pink around genitals, eyes, and muzzles. Many also have pink or reddish colored eyes.
Appoloosa~ An appoloosa is a coat pattern, which comes in several variations. The most common is called a "blanket," a white patch on the rump of the horse. It can have large, small, or in some cases no spots. Another kind is called a "leopard," a solid color (usualy white) with spots of another color appearing all over. Some have spots, a blanket, and a "roan" affect. It is important to note, however, that the vast majority of appoloosas, (also known as appys) have molted (spotted) pink skin about their eyes, mouths, nostrils, and genitalia.
Bay~ A brown horse with black points. May also have white stockings and white facial markings. Blood bay is reddish, also called red bay. Golden bay is a lighter brown. Can go almost black.
Black~ While there is no "true" black horse, many appear so as a result of extreamly dark browns. However, manes and tails can be "pure" black.
Brown~ Not to be confused with chestnut, browns are usualy solid colored, can have white markings, but are darker brown colored. May be black coat, with lighter brown on their muzzle and/or flanks.
Buckskin~ A dun colored horse with black points. Can also be palomino colored, or dull brown, must have black mane and tail. Some have a black stripe down their back.
Chestnut~ A light colored brown, usually almost a copper color. Can have white markings.
Dun~ Gray-tinged yellow coat color, mane, legs, tail, and dorsal (back stripe) are black.
Palomino~ Golden yellow horse, with white mane, some may have white points. To qualify as a palomino, the coat must be that of a "newly minted gold coin," or three shades lighter or darker than this. The stockings may not exceed the knees, or they are termed "pinto." Mane must be white and not silver or flaxen.
Pinto~ Large patches of color on white, can be brown, black, gray, or palomino colored, or any combination of such. *Note* There is a special breed called the Icelandic pinto, it is extreamly rare, but it has a pinto pattern of two colors, ie. light brown and dark brown.
Paint~ Large white patches with smaller splashes of color. Some may have a brown patch on their head, resembling a cap, these are known as "Medicine Hat," and were revered and sought after by Native American tribes for spiritual reasons. Can be any color on white.
Roan~ Can be reddish (strawberry), gray (blue), or brown. A base color such as brown or black with white hairs swirled in all over.
White~ White horses usualy have a dark skin pigmentation, giving them a grey look about eyes and muzzle, though some pink patches are common as well. Grey points are common.
Bald~ Face that is all white.
Blaze~ White stripe down the face, may be jagged, starting from the forhead.
Dorsal Stripe~ A dark line, usualy black, running from the withers down the back to the dock of the tail.
Leg Barring~ Also reffered to as "primitive" marks, these stripes appear on the upper leg and run horizontaly, almost looking like black scratches.
Snip~ White mark on the nose, short, small, on the muzzle, between the nostrils.
Sock~ White mark on leg, above the fetlock no farther than half way up the canon.
Star~ White star or diamond shape on forhead.
Stocking~ White mark on leg, continuing up higher than a sock.
Stripe~ Narrow white mark running down the face.