Horse Colors - Unexplained Markings and Patterns
There are plenty of grey areas in the color genetics of horses, considering all of the combinations of color-altering genes horses come in almost every color imaginable.
There are also plenty of unexplained markings and patterns, some horses are born with and others that develop over time.
Unexplained Markings and Patterns
Bend or Spots / Ben d’Or Smuts / Grease Spots
Image from White Horse Productions
- Spots of color that can be from a few shades darker than body hairs to black
- Commonly seen on chestnuts and palominos
- Random on horses body
- Can be present at birth or develop
- Cause unknown
- Named after a thoroughbred who was chestnut with dark spots on his body
Birdcatcher Spots / Tetrarch / Chubari spots
Image from White Horse Productions
- Cause unknown
- Small spots of white on the body about size of pearls to the size of a dollar coin
- Thought to have something to do with sabino
- Named after a thoroughbred stallion who carried the spots
- Found in Thoroughbreds and Akhal-Tekes
Brindle
Image from Southwest Spanish Mustang Association
Image from Sideline News
- Striped pattern a few shades darker than coat color
- Common in cattle and dogs but rare in horses
- Varies in appearance from animal to animal
- Usually doesn’t affect head and legs as much as body
- Concentration generally on neck shoulders and hindquarters
- Dun factor can cause wrinkles that look similar to brindle
- Grey horses may display striping mistaken for brindle
- No evidence of a gene that causes brindle
- Occur with expressions of dun, rabicano and classic roan genes
Lacing
- Also called
Giraffe markings
Marble
Cobweb
Lace
- Can be from a fungal infection called rain rot or a blood disorder
- Can be associated with appaloosa or pintos
- Cause is unknown
- Generally develops over time
- Australians call it ‘Catbacked’
Blood Marks / Bloody Shoulder
Image from White Horse Productions
- Only on grey horses
- Large concentration of fleabites in one particular area
- Rare and usually only happens in arabians
- Area can grow as horse ages
- Called bloody shouldered grays
Ink Spots / Paw Prints
- Dark spots found on white tobiano markings
- 1-3 inches wide
- Found in clusters which resemble paw prints
Learn more about the colors that can be explained.
Black horse coat
Chestnut horse coat
Grey horses
Bay horses
Cream colors
Dun colors
Silver colors
Champagne colors
Paint and Pinto patterns
Appaloosa patterns
Roan colors
June 21st, 2008 at 12:24 pm
I have a red chocolate 10yo Rocky Mountain mare that began exhibiting her spots as a three year old. The amazing thing to me is the spots change location and size from year to year. Is this common?
June 21st, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Hi Linda,
Interesting, are they birdcatcher or bend or spots?
If you want to send a picture of your mare, I’d love to add it to this article.
June 21st, 2008 at 3:39 pm
They are birdcatcher spots. The bad thing about her spots is that in our breed, white above the knee, on the body are not allowed. White on the face is allowed, but in limited quantities. Mercifully, she was already registered before her spots came out at 3. She is really unique since in addition to her spots, she has “smutty” dapples too. Dapples are common in the RMHA breed. They are usually seen in chocolate horses with light manes and tails. She does have a light mane and tail too.
How would I go about sending a pic? Right now, I only have pics where they are not apparent, but would be glad to take one that shows spots!