Colours & Markings
Please scroll down or click on a title under Table of Contents to learn more about colours and markings.
Colours
The colour of a horse or pony is determined by considering the colour of the coat and the colour of the ‘points’. The points are the muzzle, the tips of the ears, the mane, the tail and the extremities of the four legs.
Black
A black horse is black in colour with black points.
Brown
A brown horse is dark brown or nearly black in colour with brown points.
Chestnut
A Chestnut is a ginger or reddish colour. The mane and tail are usually a similar colour. ‘Flaxen’ manes and tails should be described as such. ‘Light’, ‘dark’ and ‘liver’ chestnuts are variations of the colour.
Bay
A bay is a brownish colour with black points. ‘Light’, ‘bright’ (red) and ‘dark’ are descriptions for variations of the colour. The term bay- brown is used for a horse that appears to conform partly but not exactly to bay or brown.
Dun
A dun varies from mouse-colour (‘blue’ dun) to golden (‘yellow’ dun). A dun typically has black points and may show either ‘zebra’ marks on his limbs and or a ‘list’ or ‘eel-stripe’ which is a dark line along the back.
Grey
A grey horse has black and white hairs occurring throughout the coat. An ‘iron’ grey occurs when black hairs are predominant. A ‘dappled’ grey has light grey circular patches on a darker background. A ‘flea-bitten’ grey occurs when dark hairs occur in tufts over most of the body, giving a speckled appearance. A ‘light’ grey has white hairs predominant. Horses continue to grey progressively throughout their lives and at varying rates. Typically, they finish being very near pure white.
A horse is not correctly described as being ‘white’. True white is a lack of pigmentation. When this occurs, the horse has pink skin.
Roan
A roan has white hairs throughout the coat. Variations are ’strawberry’ roan (chestnut coat), ‘red’ roan (bay coat), ‘blue’ roan (very dark bay, brown or black coat).
Piebald
A piebald has large irregular patches of black and white.
Skewbald
A skewbald has large irregular patches of white and any other colour except black.
Spotted
Three different types of markings are recognised:
‘Leopard’ – spots of any colour on a light or white coloured background.
‘Blanket’ – a white rump on which are spots of any colour.
‘Snowflake’ – white spots on a foundation of any colour.
Palomino
Palomino is a colour not a breed. The body colour is golden. Limited variations of shade are allowed. The mane and tail are very light, almost white.
Odd Coloured
‘Odd-Coloured’ is a term used to describe a horse that does not conform to a standard colour .
Determination of Visible Identification Markings and Characteristics
Face Markings
Face markings are usually white and they can run together (e.g. star/stripe/snip combination).
Star — a white mark on the forehead - can be any shape: round, oval, half-moon, crescent, pear, heart, irregular, triangular, polygonal, curved, oblique, linear.
Stripe — a narrow white strip down the centre of the face - can be irregular, asymmetric, curved, interrupted, inclined to the left or right.
Snip — a white mark between the nostrils, which sometimes extends into the nostrils - limited to lower face and general nostril area.
Blaze — broad white stripe down the face -usually centred.
White Face — includes the forehead, eyes, nose and part of the muzzle.
White Muzzle — covers both lips and nostrils.
Lip Marks - any
Wall Eye — shows white or blue-white colouring in place of normal coloration.
Leg Markings
Leg markings are usually white. Marking on the limbs should be defined with reference to the anatomy and the upper limit of the marking: e.g. ‘white pastern’, ‘white to the fetlock’, or ‘white to half-cannon’, etc.
Ermine Marks — black spots on white hairs usually found around the coronet
Heel — above hoof at rear
Coronet — just above hoof
Pastern — below fetlock
Sock — from hoof to the fetlock
Stocking — extending as far as the knee or hock
Leg — extending above knee or hock
Zebra — primitive — rings of dark hair on lower legs
Hooves
Blue Horn (Black) — generally dark limbs have blue/black hooves
White Horn — usually accompanies legs with white markings.
Striped Horn — usually found in spotted horses (Appaloosas).
Whorls
Whorls (or Cowlicks) are changes in hair pattern at certain points — usually on the crest of the neck, forehead and chest - this irregular setting of coat hairs and can be used for identification since they are permanent markings.
Dorsal Stripe
The dorsal or eel stripe extends from the tail and is often accompanied by a band across the withers and sometimes there are also zebra stripes on the legs.
It is almost always found with a dun coat. This colouring and marking combination is primitive.
In the Fjord Pony, the stripe also extends through the mane and tail.
Other Distinguishing Natural Marks
Chestnuts - the horny growth on the inside of the knees and below the hocks — these are unique to each horse and some countries photograph imprints as a means of identification.
Flesh Marks -areas where there is no skin pigment — often occur with white face markings on an otherwise dark skin.
Prophet’s Thumb Marks - indentation the size of a thumb may appear in the flesh — particularly on the neck — supposedly indicates a good horse.
Mealy Muzzles and Eyes - creamy or light coloration on an otherwise dark coat — this is a characteristic of the Exmoor Pony.
Eyes - generally brown but occasionally may be blue or hazel or wall due to the lack of pigment — some horses have eyes of different colours.
Toad Eyes - show the white sclera ring round the rim — another feature of spotted horses (Appaloosas).
Distinguishing Marks Acquired
Hot Brands - a brand can be used to place an identification mark to denote ownership or a particular breed. The mark is made with a hot iron on the hide and is permanent. They are usually placed in prominent location — shoulder or thigh.
Freeze Marks - another method of placing a permanent identification mark on a horse.
Lip and Ear Tattoo - another method of identifying a horse but these can be altered.
Scars and Saddle Marks - these are acquired marks — white hairs caused from a bad fitting saddle, rubbing, an accident, or even abuse.
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