Horse Colors

I figured I should start with the basics of horses.  Let's start with coat colors!  There are so many, but here is a basic list that I will expand upon.

• Bay
• Black
• Brown
• Buckskin
• Chestnut
• Dun
• Gray
• Grulla
• Palomino
• Roan
• Sorrel

Bay

This coat color is brown with black points (this means black mane, tail, legs, muzzle, and ear tips).  The shade of brown can vary greatly from light to dark, from copper to brown to red.  

Black

This color is pretty self explanatory.  But be careful, some people mistake brown horses for being black.  A horse is a true black if he is fully black (may have white markings).  A horse that has a black colored coat but has a brown muzzle or points is considered brown.  

True black

Not black!  Seal brown

Brown

This coat color is similar to bay, except that the horse does not have black points.  It is a horse that is darker in color but without black on the muzzle, ears, legs, mane, and tail.  A really dark brown or black horse with lighter brown markings is called a seal brown 

Seal Brown

Buckskin

This is a light tan colored coat with black points.  This color is easily mixed up with dun.  But Dun and Buckskin are NOT the same!  Though both are tan colored, buckskins are typically lighter, while duns range from tan to yellow to red.  Also, Duns have dorsal stripes (black stripe from withers down back to tail) while Buckskins do not. 

 

Chestnut

This is a coat color that ranges from reddish to brown that has no black in it.  There mane and tails are the same color as their coat.  Some of the different shades have specific names (for example: liver chestnut or flaxen chestnut).  Liver chestnuts are very dark.  Flaxen chestnuts are any shade of chestnut with a light colored mane and tail.  

Flaxen chestnut

Liver chestnut

Flaxen liver chestnut

Dun

This is a light tan colored coat with black points that is often mixed up with Buckskin.  But Dun and Buckskin are NOT the same!  Though both are tan colored, buckskins are typically lighter, while duns range from tan to yellow to red.  Also, Duns have dorsal stripes (black stripe from withers down back to tail) while Buckskins do not.  Duns also may have primitive markings such as "zebra stripes" on their shoulders, forehead, or lower legs.  Different shades can have different names (for example: red dun)   

Note the dorsal stripe

Primitive markings on legs

Red Dun

Gray/Grey

This coat color can be split up into many different types.  The shade can vary from light to dark and can have different markings.  Grays are unique because often, the coat will drastically change with age.  It is common for gray horses to start out darker and to change into light gray as they get older.  I will mention the basic types below:

• Dapple gray-grey mixed with white "marks".  May also have black points
• Fleabitten gray-light gray or white colored coat with tiny black or brown spots all over
• Light gray-often mistaken for white.  A very light grey colored horse (may even look white) that has black/gray around the nose and eyes.  
• Steel gray-dark gray.  May be mixed with some black.

Dapple gray

Fleabitten Gray

Light gray

Steel gray

Grulla

This color is in the dun family.  The shade can range from silver to brown to black.  Like the dun colored coat, grullas must have a dorsal stripe and may have primitive markings on the head, shoulder, or legs.  The grulla color has a few distinct characteristics that must be met:

• legs must be black or brown
• head must be darker than the rest of the body
• Ears will have dark tips
• Dorsal stripe 

Palomino

This is a simple color.  A palomino is a horse with a gold coat and a white mane and tail.  The gold can range in shade as well as the shade of white in the main/tail.  

Roan

This coat color is an even mixture between white and another color.  The head and points (lower legs, ear tips, mane, and tail) are solid colored.  Horses may be born this color or may develop it as they mature (known as roaning out).  Roan can be any color mixed with white so there are a few different types.  Below I listed the most common ones:  

• Blue roan
• Red roan
• Bay roan  

Bay Roan

Red Roan

  

Blue Roan

Sorrel

Sorrel is similar to chestnut.  It is a light brown colored horse with no black.  The difference is that it is more red.  The red can range in shade.  Chestnut is usually darker than sorrel and has more brown.