Coat Colors of the Paint Horse

The paint horse is most recognized by their amazing color combinations. Since their color and patterns are the one thing that makes them stand out from other breeds, it' important to know as much as possible about the different colors of their coat. This way, you will be able to determine if a horse is truly a paint horse simply by looking at their coat color.

Coat colors of the paint horse:

• Black - The entire coat will be black. This includes the legs, flanks and the muzzle. Foals may be born a mousy gray but this will shed and they will turn to black later.
• Brown - The body will be a brown or a black color and there will be light color areas around the flanks, muzzle, inside the upper part of the legs and the eyes. The tail and mane normally are black.
• Gray - The gray in the coat color is the dominant color. They can be born any color but as the horse ages the white hair will gradually turn the coat a whitish gray color. If the horse has dark skin the eyes and behind the ears will usually turn gray first.
• Chestnut - The body is dark reddish or a brownish red color with copper or bronze highlights on the legs. The tail and the mane can be a yellow or golden color but these are normally the dark red or brownish red color.
• Blue Roan - The body is usually black mixed with white hairs. The lower legs, tail, mane and the head are normally a solid dark color.
• Bay - The body is a reddish brown color. The mane, tail, lower legs and the tips of the ears are usually black.
• Bay Roan - The body is a bay color mixed with white hair. Normally, the mane, tail, head and the lower parts of the legs are a dark or solid color.
• Buckskin - The body will be gold or a yellowish color. The lower parts of the legs, tail and mane will be black without any primitive markings.
• Dun - The body will be a faint gold or yellowish color while the tail and mane are brown or a black color. The withers will have transverse stripes and the legs are usually a dorsal or zebra stripe.
• Red Dun - The body will be flesh colored or yellow while the tail and mane are a reddish color. There will also be red colored primitive markings.
• Grullo - The hair on the body will be a mouse or smoky color but the tail and mane will be black. They will also have primitive markings that are black.
• Cremello - The body will be a faint chestnut color while the tail and mane are a cream colored and it has pinkish skin. White markings are visible through the faint color hair and the eyes will be amber or a blue color.
• Palomino - The body can be a rich gold color or a pale yellow. The tail and mane are usually an off-white color but not always. There are no black areas.
• Perlino - The body is a faint brown or bay color. The mane and lower legs are rust or chocolate color and the skin is gray or pinkish. The eyes will be amber or blue and the white makings will be visible through the coat.
• Sorrel - The body, tail and mane will be copper-red or a reddish color. However, sometimes the tail and mane will be a dark brown or a golden color.
• Red Roan - The body is a chestnut or sorrel color mixed with white hairs while the tail, head and lower part of the legs are normally a dark red or sorrel color.

The paint horse is well-known for their amazing coat colors, which is why it's necessary to know and understand them when you have an interest in this breed. The more you know about the paint horse, the easier it will be to distinguish them from all the other breeds.