wk 2 - Horse Colors & Markings

why is proper identification of horses important? (1/2)

• health & disease control

  • health certificates

  • coggins test

• theft prevention/recovery

why is proper identification of horses important? (2/2)

• breeding

• fraud prevention

• slaughter

what are some methods of identification for horses? (1/2)

• body color & markings

• tattoos

• microchips

• brands

what are some methods of identification for horses? (2/2)

• scars

• body markings

• blood typing

• DNA testing

where is the most common placement for a tattoo?

• upper lip

• Jockey Club uses this to identify racehorses

how is freeze branding used to identify horses?

• uses unalterable system of symbols

• copper stamps or marking rods are cooled in liquid nitrogen or dry ice

• developed by USDA vet medical officer

how does freeze branding look in dark or white animals?

• dark animals: hair grows white

• white animals: no hair grows

how does microchip implantation work?

• small, sterile, & implanted under skin

• contains radio frequency identification (RFID) technology

where is the microchip implantation inserted?

• in nuchal ligament, connective tissues form around microchip

• no maintenance required

how is blood typing & DNA testing used for identification?

• includes parentage verification & paternity testing

• horses have 7 different red blood cell groups

• DNA testing - individual horse genetic variations

how do horses' different RBC groups work?

• A, C, D, K, P, Q, U

• each group corresponds to particular gene

• over 30 different factors

how does DNA testing work for horses?

can also be used to determine color genes

what kind of body markings are there?

• chestnuts

• cowlicks

  • whorls

• dimples

how can colors & markings identify horses?

• vary among horses

  • some are unique to a breed

    • some breeds have color requirements for registration

  • some are descriptive

what are the primary or base coat colors for horses? (1/2)

• black

• bay

what are the primary or base coat colors for horses? (2/2)

• chestnut

• brown

• white

how does bay color look like?

• body color/shade ranges

• mane and tail is black

• usually black legs

how does a black horse look like?

• body color - true black

• black mane & tail

• no light areas

• can have white markings on face/legs

how does a brown horse look like?

• body color brown or may look black

• light areas at muzzle, eyes, flank, & inside legs

• black mane & tail

how does a Buckskin horse look like?

• body color - yellowish or golden

• black mane & tail

• usually black lower legs

• dilution of bay

how does a chestnut horse look like?

• body color - dark red or brownish red

• mane/tail - dark red or brownish red

  • can also be flaxen (lighter)

what are some variations of a chestnut horse?

Sorrel or Liver chestnut

how does a Sorrel variation look like?

• more red than chestnut which is more brown

• may be used interchangeably

how does a Liver chestnut look like?

• darker shade

  • appears chocolate in color

• more descriptive term

what does flaxen refer to?

• golden yellow mane & tail

• various shades

how does a Dun horse look like? (1/2)

• body color - yellowish or golden

• mane/tail - black, brown, yellow, red, white, or mixed

how does a Dun horse look like? (2/2)

• has a dorsal stripe

• some have transverse stripes over withers or zebra stripes on legs

how does a Gray horse look like?

• mix of white w any colored hairs

• born solid-colored & get lighter w age

• different gray patterns

  • dapple, flea-bitten, steel

how does a Grullo horse look like?

• body color smoky or mouse-colored

  • each strand is mouse-colored

• mane/tail - black

• usually black lower legs

• usually dorsal stripe

how does a Pinto horse look like?

• “painted“→ refers to color

• also a color breed

• can be black, brown, chestnut, bay, dun sorrel, palomino, gray, or roan

• large areas of white

what is a Paint horse?

• refers to a breed

• have different color patterns within breed

  • Tobiano

  • Overo

  • Tovero

what does a Paint - Tobiano horse look like?

• usually has head markings

• legs may be white

• body markings often regular & distinct (oval or round)

what does a Paint - Overo horse look like?

• often has bald face (white face marking covering eyes)

• at least one dark-colored leg

• body markings - usually irregular, scattered, or splashy white

  • don’t go towards back, between withers & tail

what does a Palomino horse look like?

• body color - golden yellow

• mane/tail - white

• don’t have dorsal stripe

• dilution of chestnut

what does a Red Dun horse look like?

• dun w yellowish or beige body color

• mane/tail/dorsal stripe - red

what does a Roan horse look like?

• gene producing color pattern of white over any base color

• solid coat color w white hairs mixed in

• usually darker on head & lower legs

• come in variety of shades

what variations of Roan do horses come in?

• Blue Roan

• Red Roan

• Strawberry Roan

what does a Blue Roan horse look like?

• mix of white w black hairs on body

• may have few red hairs in mixture

what does a Red Roan horse look like?

• mix of white w red hairs on body

• may have red, black, or flaxen mane/tail

what does a Strawberry Roan horse look like?

• blue roan: base color is black

• red roan: base color is bay

• strawberry roan: base color is chestnut

how does a White horse look like?

• true white → born white, remains white

• snow-white hair, pink skin, brown/hazel/blue eyes

• white fatal gene → usually die young, can survive

what are the other colors that get mistaken for White?

• Perlino → double dilution of bay

• Cremello → double dilution of chestnut

what are the different kinds of head marks? (1/2)

• star

• strip (or stripe)

what are the different kinds of head marks? (2/2)

• snip

• blaze

• bald face

how does a star marking look like?

• solid white mark on forehead

• shape ranges

  • oval, diamond, narrow vertical, diagonal, or horizontal star

how does a strip or stripe marking look like?

• white mark starting at eye level or below

  • ends on or above upper lip

• size & shape varies

how does a snip marking look like?

a white or beige mark over muzzle between nostrils

how does a blaze marking look like?

• wide patch of white extending down the face

  • covers full width of nasal bones

how does a bald face marking look like?

• wide white marking

  • extends beyond both eyes & nostrils

what are the different kinds of leg marks? (1/2)

• coronet

• pastern

• sock

what are the different kinds of leg marks? (2/2)

• half-cannon

• stocking

• white spots

• distal spots

how does a coronet marking look like?

white marking covering coronet band

how does a pastern marking look like?

white marking from coronet to pastern

how does a sock marking look like?

white marking from coronet to fetlock

how does a half-cannon marking look like?

• white marking that goes past fetlock joint

  • runs way up to cannon bone

how does a stocking marking look like?

• white marking that covers entire lower part of leg

  • sometimes goes past knee

how do white spots look like?

spots of white on front of coronet band or heel

how do distal spots (ermine spots) marking look like?

dark spots on white coronet band, just above hoof