Model Horse Coat Colors

CM mini Alborozo Model horse by Sarah Tregay in dapple gray

Dapple Gray

A horse with black skin but white or mixed dark and white hairs. Gray horses can be born any color, and lighten as they age. A dapple gray coat has lighter rings of grey hairs, called dapples, scattered throughout.

CM mini Alborozo Model horse by Sarah Tregay in leopard

Leopard

The leopard gene complex can create dark spots of varying sizes over a white body.

CM mini Alborozo Model horse by Sarah Tregay in grulla

Grulla or blue dun

A horse with a black base color and the dun gene. Coat is solid "mouse-colored" gray or silver (can also be almost brownish-gray) with black or dark gray primitive markings.

CM mini Alborozo Model horse by Sarah Tregay in perlino

Perlino

Similar to a cremello, a perlino is genetically a bay base coat with two dilute genes. Eyes are blue. Mane, tail and points are not black, but are usually darker than the body coat, generally a reddish or rust color, not to be confused with a red dun.

CM mini Alborozo Model horse by Sarah Tregay in chestnut

Chestnut

Chestnut is a reddish, orangish, brownish coat with a mane and tail in the same family. Chestnut is characterized by the absolute absence of true black hairs. It is one of the most common horse coat colors, seen in almost every breed.