Horse Color Anecdotes
October 21, 2008
Does your horse display the characteristics of his color?
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Tradition, they say, can teach us a lot,
So here is what horsemen, on color, have thought.
A bay is hardy, a chestnut is fast
And you can’t kill a buckskin: he’ll last and last
A grey is gentle, a sorrel is hot
A dun is a horse you’ll be happy you bought.
White eyes are flighty, white feet may crack
While some won’t rely on the feet of a black.
Some pintos are lucky, like the medicine hat,
But all horsemen agree the best color is fat.
– Anonymous
Learn more about horse colors with AQHA’s FREE report: Color Coat Genetics. Download it now, and share it with friends!
The Myth About White Hooves
There are a multitude of “old wives’ tales” when it comes to horses, but the one about hoof color simply isn’t true.
The color of the hoof wall doesn’t affect its quality. Genetics plays a role, as does nutrition.
Dr. Robert Agne of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, says, “Nutritional deficiencies will be reflected in the hoof wall quality and growth rates.”
There are a variety of supplements available, but he says horses who get a balanced diet with an appropriate level of calories for their activity level should not need special hoof supplements.
What’s the difference between a buckskin and a dun? Find out for FREE! Download AQHA’s Color Coat Genetics report now!
Comments
16 Comments on “Horse Color Anecdotes”
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October 29th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
This is very cute…I gotta agree with the black description…at least with my horse…she doesn’t always have the best footing when we are out riding…oh well, I just thought the poem was cute!!
October 29th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
My black horse has feet of iron – my farrier says her feet are as close to perfect as any horse he’s seen. I ride rocky trails in the mountains almost every weekend and have never put shoes on her. Genetics and nutrition are what count!
October 29th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
That is so true! I ave a sorrel that is hot! My boyfriend laughed out loud when I read it to him
October 29th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
I have a dun and I am so very glad I bought him!
October 30th, 2008 at 1:34 am
I have two greys and both are very gentle and sweet.
October 30th, 2008 at 7:32 am
I love this little poem…my buckskin will outlast me I think. Also have a very hardy bay, a racing fast chestnut, and a sorrel who may put me in the grave on day. Got to love them all!
October 30th, 2008 at 7:53 am
Those old wives were just wrong! My chestnut with 2 white feet and a white sclera is drop dead quiet, pokey slow and has great feet. His nickname is “speedy” and not because of how fast he goes.
However, he is a bit on the chubby side…
October 30th, 2008 at 7:58 am
We had to put our bucksin down at 10 due to ringbone – we only had him a year. We had a great sorrell kid horse that did love to run but I would never call him hot! However my beautiful pinto will always be my favorite!!
October 30th, 2008 at 9:05 am
So where is the palomino in this poem? Mine seems to be in the Dun group, if that makes sense.
December 30th, 2008 at 10:54 am
Have a sorrel that’s hot (good thing she is a mini) and a black that takes his corners too fast in the snow and wipes out. The buckskin is definitely the energizer bunny he is still full of life at the end of the day at the shows while my daughter and I (we both show him) are exhausted. Cute poem!
December 30th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
I have 2 chestnuts. One’s laid back and pretty fast. The other is hot and long strided and so far quick as a cat. I also have a sorrel that can be on the hot side of things…. Never really had a problem out of white feet yet. *knock on wood* And I have a palomino out of buckskin mare, who really did last and last although it was at bucking… not riding.
January 1st, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Nice poem! Guess it lives up to poetic license, since most people have known exceptions to the ‘rule’. A well-known writer in horsey publications once told me, ‘guess it’s true that bay horses never die, they just end up at the “_________” place.’
Thank you for the opportunity to post my thoughts.
January 12th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
LOL Funny but mostly wrong in my 36+ years of horses! I had a crazy grey, a quiet kids’ horse sorrel, three lucky paints none medicine hats, a quiet black that was sure-footed with GREAT white feet who showed the white of his eye, a fast skinny bay, a clunky fat chestnut, and numerous others – including an Appy Palomino with light blue eyes who was NOT blind, a roan mini, and many others… and I’m not quite 40, I’ve just ridden and owned many that all lived long long lives but one… just like people, don’t stereotype!
August 12th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Hello,
My question is….I just bred my Bay Half Arabian/American Saddle Bred Mare to a dorsal striped Dun stallion. What color foal could I end up with?
September 5th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Sherry, you didn’t say if it’s a bay dun (with black points) or a red dun (a chestnut with a dorsal stripe).
If a bay dun, you could end up with a bay, bay dun, or a black foal (since both bay and bay dun are black based colours), and also possibly a chestnut or perhaps a red dun foal, if both parents have the right genes!
If the sire is a red dun, then you might get a bay, bay dun, chestnut, or a red dun.
Quite the range of possibilities, eh? Hope you have a beautiful healthy foal, no matter what the colour turns out to be!
Susan
November 22nd, 2011 at 7:16 am
I have a bucksin and she certainly acts like she can’t be killed .. or pushed around by anyone, including the much bigger geldings!
Melissa