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

Doc-t March 27, 2015
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Coat patterns of white hairs (non-pigmented) are genetically determined and applied over the modified base coat color.  In other words, they are secondary to the red and black base genes and the agouti (bay), gray and dilution (lightening) genes. Please see the coat color section before diving into white patterns.

White hairs occur where pigmenting is not allowed, and how this happens has been determined in several white patterns but is still debated in others.  The patterns distribute into the following categories, described after this list:

  • White markings
  • Roan markings
  • Pinto markings
  • Leopard complex markings
  • White horse marking

White markings

White markings are hair without pigmentation and uniquely identify individual horses.  These do not change over time or with the amount of sunlight.  The skin is also pink (without pigment) underneath, but in some horses, the white hairs can overlap or underlap onto the pigmented skin (sabino pattern).

White markings appear on the face as a star between the eyes, a stripe along the length of the face, a snip between the nostrils to the upper lip, a lower lip, or any combination of these, such as star, snip and lower lip with no stripe.  White markings also appear on any number of limbs as distal white spots on the coronary band (distal spots), a white band around the coronet above the hoof, extending from the coronet to below the fetlock (white pastern), from the hoof to just above the fetlock (sock), from the hoof to halfway up the cannon bone (half stocking), or to just below the carpus or tarsus (stocking).  They can even go above the knee and hock and are said to be “stocking and knee.”  Horses with white extending beyond the knee or hock are usually pinto horses.

White markings are used on official papers to help identify individual horses because each white marking is unique to every horse.  I was “infamous” at the New York – Canadian border because I drew these white markings in detail and accurately on the travel papers.  One of my clients traveling into Canada told me that the inspector saw her papers made out by me and declared, “You’re good with these horses,” but went into the large van to thoroughly inspect the other horses with papers made by another vet.

Roan Markings

Roaning is when there are hairs that are not pigmented and are therefore white.  They are evenly mixed with the colored hairs throughout the body except for the head.  The hairs of the head are either a solid color or look darker than the rest of the body.  The line between the head and the neck is clear behind the ears down to the throat.  They are also roan at birth, while a gray horse only becomes gray over time and affects all body hairs, just like in older humans.

Red Roans or Strawberry Roans are over the base coat color of red.  Bay Roans are over a base color of red plus the agouti gene making the horse bay.  Blue Roans are over a base color of black.  Dun stripes can be seen on Roans as well.

Pinto Markings

Pinto horses have white patches on their solid-colored body.  The white hairs are not evenly mixed (roaning) but have distinct white areas with one exception.  When a white patch contains colored hairs, and only this patch displays roaning, the horse has the sabino pattern.

Pintos fall into two color groups:

  • Piebalds are white patches over a black base color.  You can remember this by flipping the “b” of black upside down into a “p,” so piebald = black and white.
  • Skewbald is white body markings over any color other than pure black (a red, bay or any dilution color). Bay horses with white patches are often called tricolored but are technically skewbald as there is no pure black base coat.

Pintos come in four patterns:

  • Tobiano has white markings with smooth edges, three or more legs with white over the knee and hock, the white patches are oblong and more vertical, continuing over the top line onto the other side, and a solid-colored head with Thoroughbred-like face markings.  Remember that if the head looks like a Thoroughbred (really any breed, but this one starts with a “T”), it is a tobiano.
  • Overo has jagged edges to the white markings, is more horizontal in shape, the markings do not extend over the top line (but on rare occasions do), the limbs are usually solid with or without lower leg markings, and the face is generally white (bald face where the white covers the face from one side to the other.  Sometimes overo horses have blue eyes.
  • Tovero horses are a mix of tobiano and overo and develop when the horse has the dominant tobiano gene plus the recessive overo gene.
  • Sabino combines one or several factors, including patches of roan spots and roan edges to white markings.  They can also have just a belly white marking, white legs above the knee or hock without body markings, a solid colored body with face markings extending past the eyes or any combination of these.

Leopard Complex Markings

The leopard complex is the definition of a group of genes that create a variety of distinct white markings characteristic of Appaloosa and other breeds of horses worldwide.  The varieties include:

  • Solid color leopards are horses with the Leopard complex gene that have no white markings on the body but have one or more of the following: vertically striped hooves, mottled skin (pink with dark spots) at the lips and eyes, the vulva (mares) and scrotum and sheath of male horses.
  • Leopard horses have markings seen as colored spots all over the white body.  Some call this the “Dalmatian look” after the breed of dog.
  • Blanket horses have one white marking covering the hips on each side and can extend anywhere from the tail head to the base of the neck.  They can be exclusively white or have spots that match the horse’s color.
  • Few spots are leopard complex horses that are mostly white with colored patches contained in these areas: the mane and tail, the face, the lower neck, the underside of the front legs, the knees and just above the hoof.
  • Frost horses have white hairs along the back from the tail to the neck like a layer of frost that has settled on top of the horse.
  • Varnish roan horses have scattered white hairs over the entire body, including the head and face.  The white hairs on the head make this not a true roan, even though the word is used in the description.  It is also different from the gray horse as the horse (without the gray gene) will not progressively become more white with age.

White Horse Markings
The white horse pattern affects all hairs turning them white, plus the underlying skin is pink.  The pink skin is the difference between a progressively graying horse and a permanent white horse.  In addition, they are born white and remain this color throughout life.  Their eyes can be either brown or blue.

White horse genetics are unclear because to be a white horse, a dominant gene is needed.  However, if the gene is dominant, there would be more white horses, but they are rare.  Therefore there must be other factors involved.  Some suggest there is a link with the sabino gene.  Sadly, many foals born white also have a mutation in the gene that forms the colon.  A foal with this mutation dies from the “Lethal White Syndrome” or “Overo Lethal White Syndrome.” Offspring of overo matings, where one parent is a carrier of the mutation, never survive because the digestive tract is blocked.  There is a DNA test to identify these carriers.

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Sabino pattern on the face.
Tuff and his Appaloosa spotted head.
This paint horse has a flaxen mane and sabino markings where the pattern boarders are not crisp. Note the gray hairs spill from the white areas into the dark areas.
This paint horse has a flaxen mane and sabino markings where the pattern boarders are not crisp. Note the gray hairs spill from the white areas into the dark areas.
This paint horse has a flaxen mane and sabino markings where the pattern boarders are not crisp. Note the gray hairs spill from the white areas into the dark areas.
This paint horse has a flaxen mane and sabino markings where the pattern boarders are not crisp. Note the gray hairs spill from the white areas into the dark areas.
White lower lip as part of a face marking. Often these are very small but are a part of the identification of the horse.
Star, stripe, snip. This horse also has a lower white lip.
A chestnut horse with a star, stripe and snip face markings. Also note the white hairs on the side of the face next to the nose piece of the halter. This is an official sabino horse.
Sabino markings low on the shoulder, the side of the barrel and in front of the stifle. There are also scattered whight hairs throughout the hair coat but she is not a graying horse. Sabino.
Sabino spot on the shoulder with gray hairs scattered throughout.
Sabino spot on the face.
Sabino spot.
Skewbald 2 or more colors one of which is white and the others not being black. The opposite of piebald.
This is an example of a star and stripe combined.
Appaloosa blanket
Tovero is a blend of overo and tobiano traits. The white clearly goes over the back which is a tobiano trait.
Tovero is a blend of overo and tobiano traits. The white edges are irregular like an overo but the white goes over the back and he has 4 white legs which are all tobiano traits.
Tovero is a blend of overo and tobiano traits. The white edges are irregular like an overo but the white goes over the back and he has 4 white legs which are all tobiano traits.
Tovero is a blend of overo and tobiano traits. While the stripe is broad, it is not a bald or blaze so this is more of a tobiano trait.
Red roan in a 19 year old horse. Note the solid head color and the gray hairs over the rest of the body that in a 19 year old gray horse, would be a solid gray by now.
Red roan in a 19 year old horse. Note the solid head color and the gray hairs over the rest of the body that in a 19 year old gray horse, would be a solid gray by now.
Red roan in a 19 year old horse. Note the solid head color and the gray hairs over the rest of the body that in a 19 year old gray horse, would be a solid gray by now.
Red roan in a 19 year old horse. Note the solid head color and the gray hairs over the rest of the body that in a 19 year old gray horse, would be a solid gray by now.
Red roan in a 19 year old horse. Note the solid head color and the gray hairs over the rest of the body that in a 19 year old gray horse, would be a solid gray by now.
Skewbald 2 or more colors one of which is white and the others not being black. The opposite of piebald.
Skewbald 2 or more colors one of which is white and the others not being black. The opposite of piebald.
Red roan or Strawberry roan – Solid colored head with white hairs over the chestnut body. Does not become progressively gray
Red roan or Strawberry roan – Solid colored head with white hairs over the chestnut body. Does not become progressively gray
Red roan or Strawberry roan – Solid colored head with white hairs over the chestnut body. Does not become progressively gray
Mixed red and white hairs in a white spot
Bay or blue roan – except for a patch, there are no gray hairs forward of the neck strap of the halter in this 23 year old.
Bay or blue roan – Solid head with a body covered in gray hairs that do not become grayer with age. This is a bay roan or what some call a blue roan. This 23 year old has some gray hairs here and there on the face.
Bay or blue roan – Solid head with a body covered in gray hairs that do not become grayer with age. This is a bay roan or what some call a blue roan.
Appaloosa blanket pattern
Horse C – BCS 4 – Moderately Thin – Spine ridge and rib outline are visible. The tail head may be visible. Tobiano skewbald
Horse C – BCS 4 – Moderately Thin – Spine ridge and rib outline are visible. The tail head may be visible. Tobiano skewbald
Horse C – BCS 4 – Moderately Thin – Spine ridge and rib outline are visible. The tail head may be visible. Tobiano skewbald
Horse C – BCS 4 – Moderately Thin – Spine ridge and rib outline are visible. The tail head may be visible. Tobiano skewbald
Distal spots at the coronary band used in the markings on the Coggins test.
Distal spots at the coronary band used in the markings on the Coggins test.
Overo skewbald
“Appaloosa Few Spot” is the official registry name for this horse according to the owner: pink skin, hair on colored spots is white, spots show when wet.
“Appaloosa Few Spot” is the official registry name for this horse according to the owner: pink skin, hair on colored spots is white, spots show when wet.
“Appaloosa Few Spot” is the official registry name for this horse according to the owner: pink skin, hair on colored spots is white, spots show when wet.
“Appaloosa Few Spot” is the official registry name for this horse according to the owner: pink skin, hair on colored spots is white, spots show when wet.
“Appaloosa Few Spot” is the official registry name for this horse according to the owner: pink skin, hair on colored spots is white, spots show when wet.
Red roan – Mustang Curly Horse A – BCS 6 – Moderately Fleshy ~ A slight trough above the backbone but not the tail head. Fat can easily be felt over the ribs and tail head and fat deposits can be seen along the withers, neck, and shoulders.
Red roan – Mustang Curly Horse A – BCS 6 – Moderately Fleshy ~ A slight trough above the backbone but not the tail head. Fat can easily be felt over the ribs and tail head and fat deposits can be seen along the withers, neck, and shoulders.
Red roan – Mustang Curly Horse A – BCS 6 – Moderately Fleshy ~ A slight trough above the backbone but not the tail head. Fat can easily be felt over the ribs and tail head and fat deposits can be seen along the withers, neck, and shoulders.
Red roan – Mustang Curly Horse A – BCS 6 – Moderately Fleshy ~ A slight trough above the backbone but not the tail head. Fat can easily be felt over the ribs and tail head and fat deposits can be seen along the withers, neck, and shoulders.
Horse D – BCS 4 – Moderately Thin – Spine ridge and rib outline are visible. The tail head may be visible.
Horse D – BCS 4 – Moderately Thin – Spine ridge and rib outline are visible. The tail head may be visible.
Horse D – BCS 4 – Moderately Thin – Spine ridge and rib outline are visible. The tail head may be visible.
Horse C – BCS 5 – Moderate ~ The spine and ribs cannot be seen but can easily be felt with a light touch. The withers, shoulders, and neck are smooth and rounded. Fat can be felt at the tail head
Horse C – BCS 5 – Moderate ~ The spine and ribs cannot be seen but can easily be felt with a light touch. The withers, shoulders, and neck are smooth and rounded. Fat can be felt at the tail head
Horse C – BCS 5 – Moderate ~ The spine and ribs cannot be seen but can easily be felt with a light touch. The withers, shoulders, and neck are smooth and rounded. Fat can be felt at the tail head
5 yr Gypsy Vanner, Piebald Tobiano. Horse A – BCS 8 – Fat ~ Discernible crease down spine and ribs difficult to feel. The neck is large for the horse. Fat is deposited on the tail head, withers, shoulders, neck, inner thighs.
5 yr Gypsy Vanner, Piebald Tobiano. Horse A – BCS 8 – Fat ~ Discernible crease down spine and ribs difficult to feel. The neck is large for the horse. Fat is deposited on the tail head, withers, shoulders, neck, inner thighs.
5 yr Gypsy Vanner, Piebald Tobiano. Horse A – BCS 8 – Fat ~ Discernible crease down spine and ribs difficult to feel. The neck is large for the horse. Fat is deposited on the tail head, withers, shoulders, neck, inner thighs.
5 yr Gypsy Vanner, Piebald (having the two colors of black and white. Tobiano. Horse A – BCS 8 – Fat ~ Discernible crease down spine and ribs difficult to feel. The neck is large for the horse. Fat is deposited on the tail head, withers, shoulders, neck, inner thighs.
Flea bitten gray and white tobiano paint pony. Horse A – BCS 6 – Moderately Fleshy ~ A slight trough above the backbone but not the tail head. Fat can easily be felt over the ribs and tail head and fat deposits can be seen along the withers, neck, and shoulders.
Flea bitten gray and white tobiano paint pony. Horse A – BCS 6 – Moderately Fleshy ~ A slight trough above the backbone but not the tail head. Fat can easily be felt over the ribs and tail head and fat deposits can be seen along the withers, neck, and shoulders.
Flea bitten gray and white tobiano paint pony. Horse A – BCS 6 – Moderately Fleshy ~ A slight trough above the backbone but not the tail head. Fat can easily be felt over the ribs and tail head and fat deposits can be seen along the withers, neck, and shoulders.
Bay and white skewbald tobiano
Bay and white skewbald tobiano
Bay and white skewbald tobiano
Categories: Coat Colors And Patterns

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