HORSE COLOURS In the horse community, a specialized vocabulary has evolved to describe the diverse array of coat colours and distinct markings found within each individual horse. While most horses remain the same colour throughout life, a few, over the course of several years, will develop a different coat colour from that with which they were born. It is important to understand that not every person or breed organization agrees on or defines horse colours in the same way, and may not be accepted by everyone as accurate. Along with the body, the deciding factor in determining the colours of a horse lies in the colour of the points. The points are the; the muzzle, the tips of the ears, the mane, the tail and the legs from the knees and hocks down.

One colour over the whole body, mane, tail and legs. SOLID COATS One colour over the whole body, mane, tail and legs. CHESTNUT BLACK The body is ginger or reddish in colour with similarly coloured points. The body and the points are uniformly covered with black hairs.

MIXED COATS BAY BUCKSKIN MOUSE COLOURED MIXED COATS Two Separate Colours Beige to yellow body with a black mane and tail and extremities, usually has a dorsal stripe down it’s spine. BUCKSKIN Has ash grey hair with black mane, tail and extremities. MOUSE COLOURED BAY Has hair varying from brown to a bright reddish colour with dark or black mane and tail and extremities. MIXED COATS BAY Two Separate Colours A uniform colour on the body, but the mane, tail and extremities of the legs are black. A uniform colour on the body, but the mane, tail and extremities of the legs are black. BUCKSKIN MOUSE COLOURED

Mixed Coats STRAWBERRY ROAN GREY Two Colours Mixed A mixture of chestnut and white hair in the mane and extremities. A mix of white and black hair in the mane and extremities GREY more… Grey horses are usually darker in tone when younger. As a grey horse ages its coat becomes lighter.

Mixed Coats Three Colours Mixed BAY ROAN BLUE ROAN A mixture of brown, white, and chestnut hair. A mixture of black, white and chestnut hair. BAY ROAN BLUE ROAN

*Appaloosa Colours fall under this category MIXED COAT A combination of two distinct coats, generally a white coat with patches of another colour-black, brown/bay or chestnut. White with black patches PIEBALD White and any base color other than black. SKEWBALD *Appaloosa Colours fall under this category

COLOUR BREEDS The Palomino, Paint and the Appaloosa have their own registries; they are recognized as breeds and have their own colour guides.

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