Dapples and Grays, Chestnuts and Bays...
Posted by Kali on June 09, 1998 at 18:36:50:
In response to Greys/whites...., written by Anita on June 09, 1998 at 01:31:21
Bays are essentially brown(usually pretty dark - sometimes almost maroonish) horses with black "points" (mane, tail, legs/pasterns). Chestnut horses are reddish-brown, often with lighter manes and tails.
From 4-H and the bazillions of books on horses I collected as a young equestrienne, I remember the gray-white distinction as being the opposite of Caroline's (this may be a historical-modern divergence, or even a geographical thing): most "white" horses are actually classified as gray. What we might think of as "true" grays are usually dapples and blue roans.
As for the brown-gray age continnum, I think Anita's right. I do know that some breeds and types (Conemara ponies and Andalusians, for example) which are known for their grayness start out life as little brown creatures. As for crossbreeds and breeds which come in varieties of colors, I can't be certain. I know a blue roan appy who was born black.
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