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Pony and Horse Color Explained
(or "Horse Colour Explained", depending on where you are from)
by Sarah Myles

There are many horses' colors and pony colors and this horse color chart explains the basic colors and also a few more unusual horse coat colors.

Did you know?!

The coat color of your horse or pony can tell you what color they are. If you are not sure what color your horse or pony really is, have a look at the color of the "points"

The "points" of your horse are the muzzle, tips of the ears, the mane, the tail, and the lower part of the legs. Remember they could have white markings on some of these points that may trick you!

The colors of horses include:

Black: black all over including the points, mane and tail. Look at the color of the muzzle - it will be black. In this horse color your horse or pony will not have brown around the muzzle!

Brindle: this rare horses coloring has drippy striping that is not regularly spaced on the horse's coat, and brindle horses often have a vertical flank striping. Brindle horses are unlike other color of horses and once seen are not forgotten!

Brown: brown or dark brown all over, sometimes nearly black. The color of the muzzle tells you they are brown even if the mane and tail and legs are black.

Bay: a light brown or a red brown color with black points and black mane and tail. This is a common horse color that is often call "brown" by someone who is not familiar with horses.

Chestnut: a ginger or yellow brown color. The points of the horse are brown - similar to the coat color or lighter. Chestnuts are never black.

Grey: a mixture of black and white hairs. Variations of grey include: "dapple grey" when there are more black hairs than white; "light grey" when there are more white hairs than black; and "flea-bitten" has flecks of black or brown hairs on a white coat. The foal colors in grey horses and ponies vary. They are often born much darker and become lighter as they get older.

Piebald: large patches of black and white. This is a horse coat color that has different names in different areas of the world. This equine color can also be called paint or pinto.

Skewbald: large patches of any other color than black and white. This is another color in a horse that has different names in different areas of the world. This equine color can also be called paint or pinto.

Palomino: Golden yellow coat, (ideally the color of a newly minted gold coin) with a white mane and tail. This one is my favorite pony color!

Appaloosa: spotted coat mostly either brown spots on a white coat or white spots as a blanket on a brown coat. This is another horse color where the foal color can be different at birth, and some are born with no appaloosa markings.

Dun: mousey brown to golden yellow with black points, mane and tail.

Blue roan: white hairs through a mostly black or dark brown coat. The points are black.

Red roan: white hairs through a bay coat. The points are black.

Strawberry roan: white hairs through a chestnut coat. The points are the same as a chestnut horse.

The horse colorings of grey horses and roan horses are often confused, but the roan has a solid color head and legs. Roan foals are born roan, while grey or gray horses are often born much darker and grow more grey hairs as they grow older.

If you would like to find out more about horses colors, visit FreeHorseSite.com.

About the Author:
Sarah Myles - Horse riding instructor, sports (equestrian) coach, horse owner, equestrian competitor and most of all, horse lover
Smyles@FreeHorseSite.com, http://www.FreeHorseSite.com, http://www.Free-Horse-Site.com
Win up to $1,000.00 for your horse club or group, monthly competitions, prizes, forums - ask an expert, blogs, videos, make your own profile, and much, much more.
The author invites you to visit: http://www.freehorsesite.com
Article Source: http://www.articlecity.com/
Disclaimer: The information presented and the opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of Pampered Pets™.com and/or its partners.