Horse Coat Colors and Patterns


Chestnut Horses - Another one of the dominant colors in the world of equestrian sports, chestnuts range from bright red through to the darker liver chestnut. Chestnut mare`s have the reputation of being moody and difficult, but many owners of chestnut mares would argue this and defend their horse. Famous chestnut colored horses include Affirmed, Jus De Pomme, Guidam, Jazz and many others. Some chestnut can have a striking flaxen mane and tale.

Grey Horses - Grey horses can be seen at the top levels of showjumping, dressage and eventing although are not as prevalent as other colors on the race track. many of us love a grey horse although owning one can be higher maintenance having to keep them clean from show to show, famous grey horses include Carthago Z, Democraat, Land Vision and Desert Orchid. Colored Horses - Coloured horses can be split into sub categories that include black and white (piebald), brown and white (skewbald), black, brown & white (tri coloured). Coloured horses are often more traditional horse breeds such as the Gypsy Vaneer horses, although coloured horses are becoming a more and more familiar sight in the sports of showumping, dressage and eventing largely thanks to the KWPN coloured stallion Samber. Coloured thoroughbred are an exceedingly rare sight but there has been some notable exceptions including the coloured thoroughbred Modern Society Appaloosa Horses - Known for their coloured spotted coats the Appaloosa coloring is thought to have been with us for thousands of years with cave drawings being found depicting appaloosa horses. Appaloosa horses make good riding horses been are not a common sight in the different equestrian sports or on the race track, so will stand out from the crowed when you see one at a show.
Click here for the story of the spotted race horse Buchiko




