Grey Horse Modifier

The greying gene is found in all breeds of horses and has the ability to mask all other colors, including pinto and appaloosa white patterns.

Grey horses are unique because they are born dark, with either black or chestnut base and slowly “grey out” with every shedding.

All horses affected by the grey modifier grey out, no matter what color they are born.

Grey Modifier

• Dominant gene
• Modifier that depigmentates colored hairs as the horse ages
• Skin may also depigmentate which causes mottling
• Greying varies between horses and breeds
• First signs of greying are usually around the eyes
• All gray horses grey out no matter what color they began

Different Greying Stages

Every grey horse will go through all of the below stages at some point in their life. Greying varies between horses and breeds.

• First stage of greying process
• Face tends to lighten first
• Can have a bluish tint
• Often mistaken for grullo

• Second stage of greying process
• Most commonly expect when they think of grey horses
• Occurs during ages of 4-12 & vary by speed of greying and age

• Last stage of the greying process
• Horses who have finished greying out
• All pigment in hair is gone

• Third stage of the greying process
• Horses have small red or black spots all over their body hairs
• Sometimes they start as they horse begins to grey out and others sprout up after greying process

• Horses that have a bay or chestnut base coat
• As horses grey out they have a rosy tint to their coat