Base Horse Coat Colors - Chestnut
Image from Benchmark Training Center
Basic Chestnut
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 Chestnut Facts
- Chestnut horses have no black hairs, they have a red coat and red points
- Chestnut and sorrel are interchangable terms and the same genetically
- Colors range from dark reddish brown, to deep red to light red
- Mane and tail can achieve a sunstreaked look making it lighter than the body hairs
- Mane and tail can be almost black all the way to blonde and flaxen
Different Chestnut Shades
Liver or Black Chestnut
Image from French Stallions
- Darkest red color
- Can be very dark, however hair will retain a red color
- Common in the morgan breed
- Can be confused with silver dapple
Chestnut / Red Chestnut / Sorrel
Image from Travelers Farm
- Lighter red hairs
- Mane and tail can be very light in color
- Most common shade of chestnut
Light Blonde / Sandy Chestnut
Image from Imoan Arabians
- Very pale red
- Mane and tail can be very light in color
Chestnut Dilutions
A chestnut base can produce the following colors when diluted
Red Dun
Chestnut base with a dun dilution gene.
Image from Engage Farms
Palomino
Chestnut base with a cream dilution gene.
Image from Stallions at Stud
Creamello
Chestnut base with a double dose of the cream dilution gene.
Image from Color Thyme Stud
Red Champagne
Chestnut base with a champagne dilution gene.
Image from Evening Shade Farm
Chestnut Modifications
A chestnut base can produce the following colors when modified.
Mealy / Pangare
Chestnut base with a mealy / pangare gene.
Image from White Horse Productions
Sooty / Smutty
Chestnut base with a sooty / smutty gene.
Image from jwakanmorgans
Flaxen
Chestnut base with a flaxen gene.
Image from Sunset Farms
White Patterns
Chestnut horses can display the following white patterns.
Appaloosa
Chestnut base with an appaloosa white pattern gene
Image from evelynbelgium
Skewbald Pinto / Paint
Chestnut base with a pinto / paint white pattern gene
Image from Wagon Wheel Farm
Strawberry Roan
Chestnut base with a roan white pattern.
Image from Travelers Farm
Learn more about horse colors
