This is a non-commercial, independent website, owned and written by Nancy Kerson, for the benefit of actual and potential adopters of BLM Mustangs and Burros and similar animals.
DVD or VHS (2-DVD or 2-VHS set) almost 3 hours of instruction!
$39.95 plus $5 shipping/handling = $44.95 total
Lesley Neuman: The First Touch Gentling Your Mustang $45.00
Lesley works with 3 wild horses at a BLM adoption, and very clearly explains what is happening, what she is doing, & what she sees in each horse as it progresses. Study this video and you can learn "pressure and release" gentling techniques to gentle your own new mustang!
Help for Burro adopters! Crystal Ward Donkey Training
All the basics of gentling, handling, and training. A MUST for new burro adopters! Good for domestic donkeys, too!
Disclaimer: I am not a geneticist. The information on these color pages represents the best scientific info I have been able to locate. Theories and knowledge change over time, and it may be you know something I don't - this site is not intended to be "the last word" in colors, just a guide for those wishing to explore the topic.
Color genetics are the same for all horses, regardless of breed or ancestry.
Since this is a Mustang website, I use and prefer pictures of wild, or formerly-wild horses wherever possible.
Colors and color patterns in mustangs are extremely varied, the inheritance of the early Spanish Horses who came in many colors and patterns. - Dr. Phillip Sponenberg
Horse Color variations are so numerous, and they go by so many names, that it may seem impossibly complicated to understand. But understanding horse coloring does not have to be so hard.
Think of it as LAYERS, like painting with stencils or making wax-resist batik.
You start with a BASE COLOR: it will be one of two: Red or Black. That's all there are.
Every horse is, at base, either red or black.
The base color is determined by one "gene" - the Extension Locus. With the dominant form of Extension, the horse can be either red or black (will be black except in the presence of a second "gene" - Agouti, which makes Bay, a red/black combo). In its recessive form it is red. All other colors and color patterns are created by the actions of genetic modifiers on these two base pigments.
"CHROME" is a term refering to white facial markings (stars, snips, blazes, aprons) and lower leg white (socks, etc).
Chrome is determined genetically (by a color blocking agent) that may be an entirely separate component to coloring, or it may be part of certain pinto patterns.
Chrome is not considered in identifying the base color. A horse may be any color or combination of colors and also have chrome - or not.
What About BAY? Because many color genes affect BAY differently than Red or Black, BAY is also considered a "Base Color" although genetically it is the result of a genetic modifier ("Agouti") on the base color Black.
White results when a genetic modifier - or combination of genes - or another agent such as scarring - BLOCKS color from being expressed, or DILUTES it (think "bleach") to white or near-white, or, in the case of GRAY, the gray gene progressively REPLACES the original color with white.
There is a Dominant White color gene - but it is rare. Its action is to completely block red or black pigment. A White horse has normally colored eyes, however - and is not an albino. There are no known, documented cases of true albinism in horses.
BROWN is not a color gene in itself. Brown comes about in many ways:
The most common useage of the term "Brown" in horses refers to a black horse or donkey with tan or lighter muzzle, and lighter mottling around the flanks.
Smokey Black may appear "brown."
Silver Dapples on Black creates "Chocolate"
Dark Red or Bay horses also appear "brown"
How to use the "Horse Color" section:
Scroll down to the CHART below and click on the link of the color you want to read about. Or choose from these links:
There is also the whole subject area of "Chrome" (white markings on legs & face) and "acquired coloring," such as Bend d'Or spotting and corning. For now I am not going into those subjects.
Here's a quick Pictorial Overview of all the Known Horse Color "Genes"* (*common use, not technically correct) and how they affect each Base Color: Click on a link to go to a page about that subject:
Dun on Smokey Black Looks light Grullo This is a wild horse - the only way to tell for sure what color it is would be a genetic test - it could be a dunskin, too.
Dun on Buckskin "Dunskin "
FLAXEN is a recessive that dilutes red mane and tail to blonde or white
GREY Grey/gray is a progressive color - actually a color replacing gene.
The foal may be any color (depending on the rest of its genetics) at birth. The gray gene causes the color to be gradually replaced by white hairs, bringing the horse through a roan-ish phase, then glorious dapple gray, then lighter and lighter until the horse is either almost pure white (but with black skin) or "fleabitten" gray (white with dark freckles or specks)
The famous "White Stallions" of the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, and the famous Lippizanner Stallions are grays in the final, mature white form.
"LP" - THE APPALOOSA COMPLEX: Appaloosa coloring is complex, and recent research indicates that more than one gene is at work. Appaloosa coloring is not always stable throughout life, often becoming a "varnish" pattern at maturity.
Pearl was long thought to be just an especially shiny, metallic-looking version of Creme. Like Creme, Pearl is a mixed dominant, creating one effect if heterozygous and a more intensified effect if homozygous. Pearl can also team with other dilutions (dun, silver, champagne) to create a spectrum of effects.
black/red, agouti, tobiano, cream, sabino, and silver.
$30 for the first test and $25 for any additional test (per animal). Send to: E. Gus Cothran, Ph.D. Equine Genetics Lab. VIBS, CVM Texas A&M University TAMU 4458 College Station, TX 77843-4458 (979) 845-0229
Special thanks to Leah S. Brault of the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory University of California, Davis for reviewing this site for accuracy
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Note to viewers: I am always looking for good photos to illustrate colors. If you have one you'd like to share, especially for a color or pattern that I don't already have good pictures for, please email me!
copyright 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 Nancy Kerson, all rights reserved - I'm happy to share, just need to be asked and have credit given where due.
Disclaimer: Horses are inherently dangerous. Use the information contained within this website at your own risk.
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