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What are Some Terms Used to Describe the Color of Horses?

Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis

Much like cats, horses are often described in terms of the color and pattern of their coats. Often, a horse will be described by its specific coat coloration before listing its breed or sex. The color of horses is determined by genetics, leading breeders to use genetic research to achieve desirable color combinations in foals. Although definitions vary slightly between sources, the color of horses is usually broken down into very distinct and descriptive categories.

What the common person would typically describe as a “brown” horse is usually broken down into one of two categories: bay or chestnut. Bay horses carry a specific gene that distinguishes them from the more common chestnut horse, giving them a red-brown coloration. Bay horses are further broken down into dark, blood, medium, and light bay. Although a light bay may have some gold in its coloration, it is always more red than brown.

A bay horse has a reddish brown coat.
A bay horse has a reddish brown coat.

Another common color of horses is often called “white,” but is more accurately described as gray. Gray horses have dark skin and either white or a mixture of white and black coats. Gray horses typically get whiter coats with age, and are easily confused with truly white horses.

Some breeds of horses are defined by color, such as the Palomino breed. These beautiful golden horses are noted for their thick and stocky bodies and pale manes. Palomino horses are genetically described as a chestnut horse with an additional genetic element called the “cream gene”. Palominos are distinguished from Buckskin horses by their mane and tail. In a Palomino, the mane and tail is similar or lighter than the coat, while in a Buckskin the mane and tail are darker than the coat or black.

What a person would call a brown horse is broken down into bay and chestnut categories.
What a person would call a brown horse is broken down into bay and chestnut categories.

Other descriptive terms for the color of horses are based on specific forms of markings on the coat. Appaloosa horses are noted for a distinct leopard print across the main part of their coat. Any horse with leopard markings carries the Lp, or leopard gene pattern, in its genetics. These markings are found in several different breeds of horses, including Arabian, Thoroughbred and Quarter Horses.

Gray horses have dark skin and coats that are often a mixture of black and white.
Gray horses have dark skin and coats that are often a mixture of black and white.

Unlike leopard-print Appaloosas, pinto markings are usually large blots of color. The markings may be any shade of black or brown, but pintos are broken down by many professional horse organizations into specific color and pattern groups. For instance, a tobiano pinto will typically have white legs and a white back, with large dark spots across the rest of the coat. By contrast, an overo pinto often displays small, jagged white blotches on an overall dark coat.

There are dozens of descriptive groupings based on the color of horses, but they are by no means all agreed upon. Although genetic research can often determine a bay from a chestnut or a pinto from an American Paint, simple visual information can easily spark controversy about the true color of horses. If you are unfamiliar with the proper names for the color of horses, many websites and books created by professional horse organizations can help you understand the subtle differences with photographs and additional information. However, don’t feel too silly if you are reduced to complimenting “that brown horse with the white blotches;” many horse-lovers will be happy to describe the correct terms for their beloved animals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the term "bay" refer to in horse colors?

A bay horse is characterized by a rich reddish-brown body color with black points, which include the mane, tail, and lower legs. This coloration is one of the most common among horses and is a result of the Agouti gene, which restricts the black base color to the points.

How is a "chestnut" horse different from other colors?

Chestnut horses exhibit a reddish body color that can range from a light golden shade to a deep liver hue, but they lack any black points. This color is caused by a recessive gene, and variations in shade can occur, sometimes leading to sub-classifications like "liver chestnut" for the darker tones.

What defines a "palomino" horse?

Palomino horses are distinguished by their golden coat and a white or light cream mane and tail. The palomino color results from a single copy of the cream dilution gene acting on a chestnut base coat. This gene dilutes the red pigment, giving the horse its striking golden appearance.

Can you explain what a "pinto" horse looks like?

Pinto horses are known for their patches of white and another color, such as black or brown. The patterns can vary greatly and are classified into different types, such as "tobiano" with rounded, vertical white patches, and "overo" with irregular, horizontal white splashes that often do not cross the back.

What is a "dun" horse, and what are its distinguishing features?

Dun horses have a diluted coat color, typically yellowish or gold, with darker points and a distinctive "dorsal" stripe running down the spine. They often also have zebra-like stripes on their legs and a darker face mask. These primitive markings are thought to be linked to the wild ancestors of domestic horses.

How would you describe a "roan" horse's coat?

A roan horse has a unique coat pattern where the base color is mixed with white hairs, giving a frosted appearance. Roans can be blue (black base), red (chestnut base), or bay (bay base). Unlike gray horses, roans typically retain their color pattern throughout life without becoming progressively whiter.

Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis

With a B.A. in theater from UCLA and a graduate degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute, Jessica is passionate about drama and film. She has many other interests, and enjoys learning and writing about a wide range of topics in her role as a AllThingsNature writer.

Learn more...
Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis

With a B.A. in theater from UCLA and a graduate degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute, Jessica is passionate about drama and film. She has many other interests, and enjoys learning and writing about a wide range of topics in her role as a AllThingsNature writer.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Spotiche5

I think most horse people understand that people who aren't as familiar with horses may not know the technical names for coat colors. If you refer to a horse color as black, white, cream, brown, or spotted, most people will know what you are talking about.

Ocelot60

Growing up our neighbors had horses, and my grandfather always referred to them as painted ponies. Their coats were mostly white with large spots of brown and black, which resembled spots of paint.

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    • A bay horse has a reddish brown coat.
      By: Eric Isselée
      A bay horse has a reddish brown coat.
    • What a person would call a brown horse is broken down into bay and chestnut categories.
      By: kislovas
      What a person would call a brown horse is broken down into bay and chestnut categories.
    • Gray horses have dark skin and coats that are often a mixture of black and white.
      By: JM Fotografie
      Gray horses have dark skin and coats that are often a mixture of black and white.