Base Horse Coat Colors - Black
By Paige
Image from Little Red Ranch
Basic Black
There are two basic coat colors in the equine animal, either black base or chestnut base.
All horse colors are built on a black or a chestnut base and different colors are achieved by dilution genes and color modifiers to provide the wide variety of colors and patterns in existence today.
A Few Black Facts
- The black gene occurs in most breeds
- Black horses have no brown or red hairs
- They have a black coat and black points
- The only white is in markings on face and legs
- Black horses do better in cold climates
- Dark hair absorbs heat from the sun making hot weather work difficult
Different Black Shades
Although there aren’t different shades of black there are two types
Non-fading black
Image from Canterbury Farm
- Their coat never fades from sun, weather or work
- They are born black and remain black throughout their life
- Can be a smokey or blue black
Fading black
Image from Deal Arabians
- Coat fades from sun and weather
- Usually born smokey or dark bay
- Cannot generally produce bay foal
- Also called ‘Barn Black’ because unless they are kept from the sun they will fade with age
Black Dilutions
Black horses can display the following colors when diluted.
Grullo or Grulla (male - female)
Black base with dun dilution gene
Image from LD Acres
Smokey Black or Smokey Cream
Black base with a cream dilution gene
Image from Liberty Walkers
Classic Champagne
Black base with a champagne dilution gene
Image from Snakewater Farms
Silver Dapple or Chocolate Silver
Black base with a silver dilution gene
Image from Pond Lake Stables
Black Modifications
Black horses can display the following colors when modified.
Mealy / Pangare
Black base with a mealy / pangare gene
Image from Apple Ridge Mountain Horses
Sooty / Smutty
Black base with a sooty / smutty gene
Image from Morgan Colors
White Patterns
Black horses can display the following white patterns.
Appaloosa
Black base with an appaloosa white pattern gene
Image from Mystic Rock Minis
Piebald Pinto / Paint
Black base with a pinto / paint white pattern gene
Image from Boston Equestrian Center
Black Roan / Blue Roan
Black base with a roan white pattern gene
Image from Blue Roans
Learn more about horse colors
6 Responses to “Base Horse Coat Colors - Black”
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Paige,
I have shown your site to some of my horse friends (as you know what I do for a living) and the comments were all terrific. Basically, they all agreed “what a great site you have going” and I agree. May your success always meet your dreams!
Linda Shier
Linda Shier Photography
Thanks Linda,
I can’t wait to get your pictures up there too.
Thanks for passing the site around and everyone feel free to leave feedback. I’m always looking for ways to make the site more user friendly.
Paige
i have a mare who is a grey with blackmane and tail her sire was black and breed her to a black stallion the foal was born black no white anywhere will the foal stay black he has a few hairs in his ears that are brownish will he stay black grand sire black and sire black mare going grey but still has a lot of black in her coat and mane help
Hi Kim,
It is hard to say of the foal will remain black, a few white hairs could just mean a white marking. Although if the ears are brown you might have yourself a fading black horse.
Color genetics is not an exact science and sometimes is down to the luck of the draw. As you know just because a foal is black doesn’t mean it will remain that color throughout it’s life. Good luck.
If the white hairs are on his forehead, the marking is called a flare.
My Flicka is a non-fading black. She is a 3 yo. filly and her breed is unknown. I am for sure she has Arabian and something eels in her.