

The foal’s coat, in particular the lower legs, is very dark or even black. However, there are two tell-tale signs that can help you know in advance if it will become grey. Since foals are born colored, you will usually not know if it will be grey until after some time and when it starts to shed the first coat. If either or both of the foal’s parents are grey, then there is a possibility that the foal may also be grey. The Grullo horse also has the primitive markings present, while a grey horse does not (unless it also carries the Dun gene). However, this shade in the Grullo horse is due to the partial pigmentation of the individual hairs, while on the grey horses, it is due to the intermix of colored and white hairs. The confusion is due to the similar shade of bluish-grey coat color. In some cases, Steel Grey horses with dark points (mane, tail, and lower legs) can be confused with Grullo Horses.

In Grey Horses, the progressive greying is made uniformly across the body and head. In some cases, Roan horses can even darken with age.Īnother difference is that the head of the roan horses is typically colored, but in grey horses, it will have a similar intermix of hairs as the rest of the body. Contrarily Roan horses keep the amount of white hairs stable during all the life of the horse. Instead, it is produced by a modifier gene that causes a progressive whitening of the horse´s hair throughout its lifetime.Ī Grey horse can change from a completely colored foal to a completely white horse. However, Grey is not a white pattern like Roan. The confusion is due to the similar intermixing of white and colored hairs. Grey Horses are often confused with Roan horses. Grey Horses Go Through Different Shades Of Greyĭuring the intermediate steps of the greying process, the coat will change to different grey shades from darker to lighter, usually with dapples, until finally, the horse becomes completely white.
:origin()/pre00/c485/th/pre/i/2012/267/d/5/dapple_grey_show_horse_stock_iv_by_ghost_rebel_stock-d5ftjt7.jpg)
This results in pink-colored patches around the eyes, muzzle, and under the tail. However, some grey horses can go through a progressive depigmentation in the skin, called vitiligo.
Dapplegrey horse skin#
If they happen to have pink skin or blue eyes, this will be due to the action of other genes like, for example, the cream gene. So grey horses will usually have dark skin and dark eyes. Unlike the hairs, the grey gene does not cause depigmentation of the skin or eyes. Grey Horses Usually Have Dark Skin And Eyes This faded look is a result of an intermix of white hairs with the base color hair. Grey horses are born with colored coats like one of the base colors (Black, Bay, or Chestnut) or dilutions such as Dun, Cream, Silver, or Champagne.īut the action of the Grey gene will cause a gradual depigmentation of the hairs so that the coat will fade with time. However, some unique characteristics can help you identify a grey horse. Grey horses are sometimes confused with other horse colors. Horse Breeds That Can Have the Grey Color.Health Issues Associated with Grey Horses.Similarities of Grey Horse with other Horse Colors.
