Horse Color Modifiers - Grey
Image from Blue Ridge Hanovarians
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.
Steel / Iron Greying Stage
Image from Chisholm Trail Critters
- First stage of greying process
- Face tends to lighten first
- Can have a bluish tint
- Often mistaken for grullo
Dapple Greying Stage
Image from Pure Spanish Mares
- 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
Fleabitten Greying Stage
Image from Velvet Cage
- 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
White Greying Stage
Image from Rivendale Farm
- Last stage of the greying process
- Horses who have finished greying out
- All pigment in hair is gone
Rose Grey
Image from Philipp Ranch
Learn more about horse colors
