Coat Colors And Patterns Topics – The Horse's Advocate

50 Shades Of Red And Black – Just How Do Horses Get Their Chestnut, Paint or Bay Coat? – Rounds With Doc T

Understanding how horses look the way they do is based on genetics. I attempt to simplify the view of coat color and patterns in an organized manner. …

Doc-t June 28, 2021

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Base Coat Colors Of Red And Black

Independent of what a horse looks like, there are only 2 base colors of horses - red and black. From there horses layer modifiers and dilutors and th…

Doc-t March 20, 2015

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Base Modifiers – The Agouti Control Of Black (Bay)

The Agouti gene controls where the black pigment of black horses is seen by restricting the black to the lower legs, the ears, the mane and the tail.

Doc-t March 24, 2015

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Base Modifiers – The Dominant Gray Gene

Any horse of any color has the opportunity to become gray over time if they have the dominant gene for graying - at least 1 parent needs to be a gray …

Doc-t March 5, 2015

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Base Modifiers – The Silver Gene

The silver gene (Z) dilutes the black base coat with or without the Agouti gene (bay). It does not affect the red base coat. Horses…

Doc-t February 10, 2021

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Coat Colors And Patterns

The colors, patterns and markings of horses are based on genetics both determined and at random. When speaking of a horse color it is best to use the…

Doc-t May 1, 2020

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Dilutions – The Cream Gene

The cream dilution gene can dilute both the red and black base colors to yield the Palomino, the Cremello, The Buckskin, the Perlino, the Smoky Black …

Doc-t March 21, 2015

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Dilutions – The Dun And Grulla Gene

This gene can work on both red and black base colors by lightening the base color. It also allows expressing of the primitive markings, most notably …

Doc-t March 12, 2015

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Mixed Hair Length Coat

On occasion a horse can be seen with patches of hair that are longer or shorter than the rest of the body.

Doc-t May 1, 2020

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The Curly Hair Coat

The breed Bashkir Curly has a hair that maintains a curl throughout the year. The curl can range from no curl to minimal to full curl but it is uniqu…

Doc-t September 5, 2020

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The Dapple Hair Color Pattern

Dappling is the description given to any color horse exhibiting circles of a darker color (dark rings) over all of the body.

Doc-t March 16, 2015

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White markings, Pinto, Roan, Leopard Complex And White Horses

Coat patterns are made of white hairs (non-pigmented) that are genetically determined and applied over the modified base coat color. They are categor…

Doc-t March 27, 2015

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