It’s nice to see horses getting the recognition they richly deserve. Just in the last few years, equine superstars in fact and fiction are being celebrated by the moocher-obsessed and moocher-challenged alike. That being so, (and cuz I’m WAY late in writing a new Moocher Diary, sorry Triciawyse!), it might be nice to learn a little bit about these stunning creatures that tamed mankind, thus giving us the ability to civilize the world. If your curiosity is aroused, put yourself into a nice collected canter and jump with me over yonder elegant squiggle.
Before we begin, this is a PWB diary. If this puts a knot in your tail, please execute a prompt and stylish about face. You may consider that directive in nature.
And God took a handful of Southerly wind, blew his breath over it, and created the horse.” -- Bedouin legend.
Part of the reason mankind is so attracted to horsekind is simple. Let’s face it. They’re pretty. And that beauty has crept into our culture in surprising ways, especially when it comes to horses’ colors.
I bet my money on da bobtail nag
Somebody bet on da bay!
Well, okay, I guess “bobtail nag” doesn’t sound too attractive does it? On the other hand, whassa “bay”, aside from a body of water, somewhat sheltered by land?
A “Bay” is a horse whose body color is reddish brown, ranging anywhere from deep tan like old leather to “blood bay” – a strong, vibrant hue. Here is a bay horse:
Bay horses always have black manes and tails. Here’s another:
This is actually my moocher, “K.D.”, named for one my closest friends, Kevin David Boze, he of “Cpl. Kev” and “The Virgin Project” fame. K.D. (the horse, not my old Army buddy) is a “candy apple” or “blood bay”.
There is a huge color range among bay horses. Some bay horses can be considered “brown”, but the distinction is actually hard to make. See what I mean?
The magnificent Thoroughbred racing mare Zenyatta is also a dark bay.
Ah, that old chestnut!
In modern parlance, that phrase usually means an old, or hackneyed (there’s another horsey word fer ya) idea. The root of the phrase actually refers to part of a horse’s anatomy, the “chestnut” – a callous on the legs, present in mature horses. It is a vestige of the toes that ancient equines had instead of hooves. In another context, “Chestnut” is a body color – a light reddish color. While the range of colors is as large as that of bay horses, true chestnuts never have black manes or tails. Here is a Chestnut horse:
And yep, that’s me on board. Any true horsemen, please forgive me that dreadful position that I’m in. Here’s another example:
Secretariat was a Chestnut.
The old gray mare, she ain’t what she used to be!
It’s common for horses to get gray hair, especially around their muzzles as they age, but “Gray” as a color, like Bay and Chestnut covers a wide spectrum. Here are some examples:
No mistaking this elegant profile, is there? This is an Egyptian Arabian, colored in what is usually called a “Flea Bitten” gray. “Flea Bitten” refers to the reddish freckles that appear in the coat. In fact, this horse was born a Chestnut! Here’s a better picture:
Here’s another:
No, you’re not seeing double – this is also a Gray Arabian! But Salon here, is a Shagya Arabian. More about this in my next diary when we start talking about breeds.
Here’s one more:
This is an example of a “Dappled Gray”. Look carefully at the area just in front of his tail.
And yet another kind of Gray:
This is a “Grullo” type of Gray. Grullo’s can be associated with particular breeds (this is a Paso Fino, I know, I know, Next Diary!) Grullo grays have black manes and tails and usually have a dark stripe (dorsal stripe) that runs down their backs.
Robert E. Lee’s favorite horse, Traveller, was a gray.
Vhttp://www.stratfordhall.org/...
Well that’s a horse of a different color!
Some horses are so associated with their coloring that it forms their entire breed. Here’s an example:
This is an Appaloosa, a tough breed originating in the American West and much prized by the Nez Pierce tribe of Native Americans. To be a true Appaloosa the coat must exhibit an accepted color pattern. Pete’s color pattern is “Frost”.
There are other breeds where color is not only the most distinguishing characteristic, it is the ONLY color that breed ever is! Here is an example:
It might be difficult to credit, but this horse is actually coal black. He is a Fresian – the mottled coat is the result of sun exposure. Fresians’s are always black. Or they’re not, you know . . . Fresian. Here’s a better picture:
Finally we have this example:
If this massive critter was of another breed, he’d be called “Palomino”, probably one of the most recognizable equine colors (thank you, Roy Rogers), but he’s not - he’s a Belgian Draft horse. They are occasionally black or bay, but this coloring – Sorrel (a yellowish red), with flaxen mane and tail is the most prized.
Okay – think you’ve got it down? Ready for a pop quiz?
Okay then – left to right! Which colors do we have here? No cheating now, and SHOW YOUR WORK!
Here endeth the lesson for today. Hope you had fun and now you can impress your moocher-challenged friends with your easy mastery of horsey talk! Until next time, keep exercising the Rider’s Advice For Life: Sit Back and Hold On!
Update! Jesus H. CounterCantering Christ! Rec List! There's a First! Thank you all, especially triciawyse!!!
Coded by BirderWitch
Word clouds by ccmask