Horse Color Pt. 2 - Paint and Pinto
Paint Vs. Pinto Debate
The second section of the horse color series focuses on paint and pinto horses. If you are like me, you never quite understood the difference. We’ve got it all cleared up.
A paint horse must have either Quarter horse or Thoroughbred lineage.
A pinto horse can be of any bloodline.
For both the coat is either brown and white, black and white or a combination of black, brown and white. The only difference between the two is the bloodlines.
Paint / Pinto Color Variations
Piebald
Black and white spotted coat.
Skewbald
White and brown spotted coat, can also have black, brown and white spotted coat.
Most Common types of Paint / Pinto Patterns
Tobiano
Generally has dark spots on one or both flanks, four white legs and a dark head with white markings.
Overo
Generally has at least one dark leg, a dark back and splash shaped white markings.
Tovero
Has dark spots of varied sizes around the ears, mouth, chest, neck and flank. Often with at least one blue eye.
Sabino
Has irregular, splotchy markings with roaning (bleeding) at the edges.
There is plenty more to learn about the paint and pinto white pattern. Be sure to read up on the other white patterns too.
Appaloosa
Roan
Unexplained patterns and colors
