Buying for color

[RTBSH]

How many breeders have experienced a potential buyer very concerned about a horses color. Do people really buy a horse because it is black and not bay? Chestnut vs Grey? I recently had someone inquire about my Fabuleux colt that I am selling and asking me if I thought he was dark bay or black. Does the color of a horse really make a difference when selling? If so, why won't you (or buyers that you know) purchase a horse of a specific color?

[Faiths CremelloWB]

Many people do... I see it like this. If you really like those dress shoes and they come in a variety of colours which will you choose? If you really like that shinny new Honda/Ford/Lexus etc... on the lot and you can have a choice of 10 colours which will you choose and why? What colour you want the interior?

There are just so many options out there and if someone is spending a lot of money <to them> be it $1000, $10,000 or $100,000 why not pick out exactly what you like and that suits your personality etc... Sure there are those that will buy a new dress that looks great on them that is not quite the ideal colour cause the store does not have it in her size so there are buyers for horses like that too. Sure there are people that will only buy a certain brand of sneakers...

Every person has a priority list when making a new purchase and yeah no one wants to buy that old broken down car that is the perfect colour or the perfect colour car with the wheels warped, or great coloured dress shoes that have a high heel on a slant or angled side ways... you get the idea...

But can we really judge someone who likes a certain colour or dislikes a colour. Just personal preference.

Well that is how I look at it...

[Rhyadawn]

I wouldn't buy on colour alone, but I can't say that colour or markings don't play any part at all. I looked at a mare last week that was a solid chestnut. Not a while hair on her. She was cute, moved well enough, had had one foal, but wasn't what I was looking for. The fact that she was chestnut with no white didn't help either. I wouldn't say there is a colour that I AM looking for, but that wasn't it.

I do know people who buy almost completly based on colour (or pattern), they will sacrifice good breeding or soundness for colour and really its a shame, but it keeps some people in business.

Like FCW said, if you have the option of choosing the new truck in 10 colours, why not pick the one you want?!

[pintofoal]

I voted that yes, color is very important to me, BUT only if it is back up with quality :yes:

[daisyduke]

A trainer once told me that a good horse has no color. I used to be color specific (no greys, roans, etc) not a big fan of chestnuts either. However, when you see the horse that clicks with you, it has no color. When I was filling out my wish list, chestnut was not on it. My most recent purchase was a chestnut, but when he moves, he's black or pinto or whatever color you like, it just doesn't matter.

[RiddleMeThis]

I checked the top two, the ones that are complete opposites of each other.

I did this because when I buy I will only have a limited amount of funds and I want a specific color and will wait until I have the specfic color. BUT I will not buy a the horse JUST because of his color. I will get quality AND color.

[Wayside]

I can honestly say that color has never entered the equation when I'm looking at horses. Maybe I could find nice horses in all kinds of colors, but ultimately, I find them to be individual enough that it's not a case of the horses being otherwise identical except for color. Though I understand the car analogy, and I'm okay with it, it just doesn't really feel that way to me.

[erinwillow]

I voted that yes, color is very important to me, BUT only if it is back up with quality :yes:I will second this--though color will NOT a pony make, I do, however have my favorites and it IS important. If I had my dithers I would want a field of greys and duns. I breed Connemaras and these are the *traditional* favorite colors. Now, that is NOT to say that all other colors aren't good ones, because they are. . they just aren'ty my favs:winkgrin:

Actually, this post brings up another interesting point which is, with coat color genetic testing it IS completely possible to breed for color. . .all other QUALITIES being equal. For example, I know that if I breed my stallion to a dun mare or to a creme I am more likely to reproduce a dun. . .sooooooooo if we end up purchasing another mare anytime soon. . guess what color she will be????:D Of course, not just any ol' dun mare--she must also be exquisite in her own right. . but, since we are talking about color. . . thought I'd add my bushel and peck

[camohn]

Color is important to me but not in the way of a specific color I must have.
1) We breed pintos. I prefer the stallion be pinto or have a lot of chrome (sabino traits). It's not the be all and end all, it is a preferance, if I am breeding a solid mare. I do use solid stallions for the pinto mares.
2) I have a preferance for not gray. Grays are not popular for pinto sales foals as the pinto fades out and the horse gets just white. The keeper foal for myself I did take a chance on a gray stallion...got a black pinto (what I wanted) that is turning gray (not preferred.....but oh well!).

[Daydream Believer]

You really didn't have the right option for me. I am pretty much color blind except for one...I will not buy a gray. Not my favorite color at all. I do like "colored" horses though but not to the point I'd turn down a nice plain colored horse. I really look at color last if all else is OK...temperament, conformation, movement, etc...

As a breeder of a bloodline based breed that has a lot of "color" in it, I do find a lot of people have a favorite color. Grulla is pretty popular as are paints and appaloosas in our breed. Duns are well regarded and quite common. Cream dilutes are fairly common as well. In the last year I have sold bays, duns, buckskins, perlinos, sabinos, and paints.

[shawneeAcres]

Well, we raise a "color breed" appaloosa sport horses, so if I am shopping for an app I want it to LOOK like an app! That being said one of my best app/TB crosses is a mare I showed quite a bit and she has no app color/characteristics (she is a true dappled grey). But when we breed, we breed so the foal will have color and be recognized for what it is. For other breeds, color helps, but isn't #1 on the list! My personal preferences are grey, black, bay with chestnut at bottom of list. Not a fan of paliminos, but wouldn't let that keep me from buying a good horse

[Reiter]

Like most people I have a favorite color (black) and a least favorite color (chestnut), but when choosing a horse color does not enter into the equation. To prove my point, I have 9 horses and 6 of them are chestnuts! ;)

[pintopiaffe]

I am a dreaded "colour breeder" though I have my share of solids since I don't own homozygous.

For me, it's the icing on the cake. For my last round of 'keepers' for the next 30 years, I want it all. Or as close to it all as I can get. So given all the other criteria are met FIRST, the horse that is the right colour (for me) is the one I want. When I look out my big bay windows, it *pleases ME.* That's it.

Doesn't mean I don't have and won't get solids in the future. When everything else adds up, the colour is *just* the topping. Other stuff does definitely come first.

We know enough about genetics these days though that it's much easier to get closer to your 'wish list'. IOW, you can narrow the field down to your short list, and still have ideas of percentages of getting the colour you desire.

The only colour I really *dis*like is chestnut that is not coppery. Can be the brightest, shiniest chestnut like a mirror, and that doesn't do a thing for me. Add the iridescent sheen, and I'm happy. Black-bay or 'brown' is probably 2nd least favorite, only because with the fading they can look pretty blah.

[RedMare01]

My reply is pretty much ditto to Riddle Me This.

Color is important, but only secondary to quality. I like bays best, but only if the quality is there. If two horses were equal in all ways but one was bay and the other chestnut, I would pick the bay. But, if the chestnut was obviously the best, I would have no problem buying it. Right now, I have a chestnut mare.

I actually like grays, and would buy one if I liked it enough. Unlike others, I am not a big fan of black. And, I could care less about bling (white markings).

Caitlin

[gortmore]

Another who doesn't really care about colour. A good horse is never a bad colour. That said when I went shopping for my mare I also owned a chestnut gelding with 4 stockings and a blaze. Out of the barn comes this plain brown mare with a teeny, tiny star. I did the yuck on the colour and bought her anyways. Get what is my favourite colour now. Plain dark bay or brown and no chrome. All that white is to much work to keep clean for shows. Plain bay/brown no white, no one can tell if they have any manure stains, and wow have you seen how shiny these horses can get. Mine you can almost see your face in.

So yeah, I guess colour is somewhat important to me, no chrome and well, while I love to look at a nice dapple grey, don't want to have to keep that clean.

[Overo]

I show APHA so colour is the first and the last criteria I look at. The horse HAS to have enough white to be eligible for regular registry. If it doesn't, my show options are severely limited. Quality is the next thing to consider - movement, training, bloodlines, etc.. . Everything else being equal (yah, like that ever happens), I'll pick the one with the colour that most appeals to me. I'm a total sucker for 4 high whites and a big white face.

[vxf111]

I won't have a gray, and I don't prefer dilute colors. Other than that my favorite color is "moves a 10, jumps a 10" and those are my favorite markings too. I've three times in a row NOT bought black, even though it's my favorite color and I saw black horses-- because I found a chestnut/bay that was nicer. So yes, color influences my choice, but on a list of priorities to preferences, it's a preference and it's low down.

My no gray rule is pretty non-negotiable because I just couldn't deal with the heartaches of melanomas. I've known 3 grays get pretty serious, career ending (in one case life ending) growths and I couldn't handle the stress of wondering when/if my gray would be next.

The dilute thing is purely an aestetic preference. If I found a nice one, I'd buy notwithstanding the color. I just don't prefer it.

[Carrera]

I WILL NOT buy a grey... too much work to keep it clean. Nor do I think that I'll ever buy a plain bay... too boring...

[Donella]

I think we all have preferances and to each his own though I think it depends how competative you are. Once you start looking for a real superstar for upper level sport you are a complete moron to turn down something truly talented because it isn't the "right color".

Outside of that I think it enters in the equation more than people even themselves realize..sort of a first impression thing.

[RiddleMeThis]

I think we all have preferances and to each his own though I think it depends how competative you are. Once you start looking for a real superstar for upper level sport you are a complete moron to turn down something truly talented because it isn't the "right color".


I think that depends on how long you want to wait. You wait long enough and the perfect horse (color included) will come around.

[MagicRoseFarm]

EVERYONE luvs "Black Beyooty"

80% of my best horses have been chestnuts..

[FriesianX]

I'm with Liz (Pintofoal), I love color, but quality comes first! Mind, Movement, Conformation, THEN color. Color is fun, what's not to love about a nice pinto, roan, buckskin, palomino :yes: But - the majority of what I breed is solid, I love bays too... Having said all that, I DO have a stallion, and he IS colored - pinto (www.MysticOakRanch.com), and when he comes into the show ring, everyone sits up and notices. And I'll admit, I LIKE that :D

I cringe when people breed solely for color - nothing like seeing a horse with horrible conformation, advertised as breeding quality because he/she is COLORED. But when I see color that is quality (like Liz's boy, Sempatico, YUMMMMMMMY), it just makes me melt.

[Donella]

Hehe as unbiased about color as I try to be I did see a lovely buckskin dutch warmblood colt on Sporting Chance Farms website a while back. NICE colt with super breeding and buckskin to boot!

[bludejavu]

As a breeder of pinto Saddlebreds, color is important so I voted on the first choice. That being said, color is NOTHING if quality is lacking. Conformation and typiness have to be in the equation or I pass color up. There are a few colors I would rather not have - albino doesn't appeal to me and gray isn't real popular with me although we do have one gray broodmare. As far as pinto coloring, I prefer chestnut/white, black/white and maybe buckskin/white but it has to be a really decent one.

[Maddie]

I voted no. I predominately breed trakehners and colour doesn't really weigh into the equation. I have however seen some mighty tempting coloured stallions. I love Sempatico's conformation and lovely topline. I just wish I could get his video! 2 requests and a phone call, but no video.

[ponygirl]

I've always wanted a golden palomino and a black, like Walter Farley's black stallion. I have 3 grays and a plain bay. The grays have in fact given me my palomino (when rolling in reddish dirt) and my black (when rolling in mud). They've also given me a poopaloosa which is unique to grays. My saving grace is my bay. She's brown regardless of what she rolls in.

[Reiter]

I think that depends on how long you want to wait. You wait long enough and the perfect horse (color included) will come around.

Or you passed up the perfect, once-in-a-lifetime horse because it had the wrong color! ;)

[pintofoal]

I voted no. I predominately breed trakehners and colour doesn't really weigh into the equation. I have however seen some mighty tempting coloured stallions. I love Sempatico's conformation and lovely topline. I just wish I could get his video! 2 requests and a phone call, but no video.

Hi Maddie

I apologize that you haven't gotten a video, we send out so many and try to keep up with the requests, but some do get missed for one reason or another.

Sending videos/dvds to Canada is sometimes like sending something to the moon -- not sure what is up with our post office, but unless we send it off priority international it can take forever or totally disappear! Can you please re-email me at pintofoal@ aol.com (remove space-no spam) and I will be happy to mail one off to you via priority international

[Blonde Filly]

Hi Maddie

I apologize that you haven't gotten a video, we send out so many and try to keep up with the requests, but some do get missed for one reason or another.

Sending videos/dvds to Canada is sometimes like sending something to the moon -- not sure what is up with our post office, but unless we send it off priority international it can take forever or totally disappear! Can you please re-email me at pintofoal@ aol.com (remove space-no spam) and I will be happy to mail one off to you via priority international

I did a very long post and it was eaten up by cyber space!!! :mad:

I recently sent registration papers to Canada on a horse I sold to a client in Canada...the horse is there, but the papers still are not. The client called me and I told her I had sent them long ago...she seemed to no believe me and Thank-God I sent them priority international mail, return receipt, and registered mail...with a tracking number. It did show it had been sent on Feb 20th, 2008 from Leesburg VA, arrived abroad on Feb 28th, 2008 in Canada, arrived into customs on Feb 28th, 2008 and there it has sat for 11 days now..so 19 days since I sent it. I hope they do release them soon to the new owners from customs..I can't imagine what would be so fasinating to customs to keep a horse's registration papers that is already in their country!!??

I voted yes, but you have to have quality with the color or you have nothing! :winkgrin:

[Peace of Cake]

It took me over a year to sell the plain chestnut gelding, and only 1 week to sell the one with the stockings;) Same temperments, height, age, vey similar horses except for the stockings on one of them. And yes they were up for sale at the same time. Color does sell. I want a horse with good conformation, temperment and a good mover, and if it has a flashier color thats even better! I really think the color breeders are trying to improve their stock, as they were very limited in the beginning to what they could work with.

[Maddie]

Thanks Pinto foal, mail sent! Luckily to date I haven't had any major problems with the mail. When I recieved my Feuertanzer video it had been opened, watched, not rewound and then taped back up again, but I did recieve it. Customs must be an interesting place to work! lol...

[mew]

I take color into account but it is not a major factor. I would have loved to have a pinto warmblood, pintofoal I have drooled over your stallions for *years* but have never had the mare to breed or been able to find one in the price range I could have. This horse I really wanted a chestnut with a big blaze and four white feet, and it to be a WB and a mare. I ended up with a chestnut, TB gelding, a stupid funky blaze, and no white feet, but he was a horse of a life time, so no way was I going to pass him up, with or with out white feet.

[crosscreeksh]

We breed painted TB's, painted sport horses, paints and now have a black ISH stallion prospect. I take offense when people degrade those who breed for color...as if prospective buyers at the upper level, go out and buy the first horse of a certain color or markings regardless of how the horse moves, his conformation and disposition. We breed for upper level horse sports and attract intelligent horsemen who come for the color, but buy for the quality. I would like to believe that the "color breeders" on this forum do the same. Before we started breeding sport horses - we bred top notch running TB's. Those horses could have been purple with orange spots if they could run. In the sport horse market people have enough choices to own the horse of their dreams in the color they prefer. I've owned GREAT horses of every color available, but I LIKE to ride a pretty painted horse and I love a black, so that's what we breed to get!

[Dazednconfused]

There are a few colors I would rather not have - albino doesn't appeal to me.

Well that's good, because there are no albinos in horses :lol::lol:

[bludejavu]

You are correct but this is what I was referring to:

http://cowboyfrank.net/fortvalley/breeds/AmericanAlbino.htm

[Dazednconfused]

Then you don't like "dominant whites" or cremellos or maximum sabinos. Not albinos. ;)

[Donella]

Yeah makes me start thinking about all the plain chestnuts and greys at the top of the sport horse world. Wonder how many of them got passed over because of color?
Even in Germany they like the dark horses..I often hear things like "sheer black gene" or " in a desired dark package" in a stallion video. No doubt they like the dark ones best in general and the dark ones get used more..look at Rhodiamont vs Royal Diamond in terms of breeding.

[crestline]

I went shopping on a hunt for an amazingly nice stallion to replace the incredibly lovely chestnut one that I'd lost...Never went looking for color but look what I bought. When that once in a lifetime horse crosses your path you're an idiot if you don't grab it and bring it home in whatever color package it's wrapped in!!!! :)

[RiddleMeThis]

Or you passed up the perfect, once-in-a-lifetime horse because it had the wrong color! ;)

Possibly, but if it was the wrong color would it really be perfect?

[Donella]

Depends what your purpose for owning it is. If I had a horse that was that gifted and made all my riding ambitions come true it would be perfect even if it were purple. And I do have color preferances..but come on!

[RiddleMeThis]

Depends what your purpose for owning it is. If I had a horse that was that gifted and made all my riding ambitions come true it would be perfect even if it were purple. And I do have color preferances..but come on!

It was a joke Donella.

[okggo]

It really doesn't matter to me.

I love greys, that steel dark dapply variety, if only there were a way to keep that color! I don't care for the Rose greys (the pink looking color).

I think any color, in its peak of glory, shiny and dapply is beautiful. I remember a plain dark bay stallion listed on CANTER PA one time who just gleamed and he didn't have one ounce of white on him.

I had a liver chestnut mare who could be anywhere from blah furry reddish, to dapply shiny purple black, to even buckskin looking during the summer sunbleached months.

I guess my only non-preference would be the white faced paints (Overos?) with the pink skin.

[krfarms]

Color never really entered into my mind until I looked out in the pasture one day and EVERYTHING looked the same. Black/Brown with a little white!! I bred one of my mares to a pinto WB just to see If I could change the dynamics in the herd!! Funny thing is when I first take a youngster "out into the world" if there are greys they seem scared to death!!!

[RiverOaksFarm]

I definitely think color is important to alot of people. I don't think many people buy just for color, but color can be the deciding factor between two otherwise very similar horses.

I think it is exciting that there are starting to be so many choices for color AND quality.

[work4horse]

A few years ago didn't really care about colour. Then I had a pinto filly born a few years ago and I had to put her to sleep at 9 days old, absolutely broke my heart. She was so beautiful with her pinto markings and I am was not even a big fan of the pinto colours.

At the same time I discovered Silverwood farms as I had been checking out my filly's bloodlines and her relations (Art Deco was her uncle). So when I lost her and my mare didn't re-catch I felt REALLY cheated that I wouldn't have my baby (I had bred for my next performance mount).

So in my misery I went around looking at everyone else's foals and how happy they were and that I wouldn't have a foal to celebrate so I went out and purchased an in-utero foal that was due the next year.

First time I ever did something like that. It was a Sempatico foal due, and darn it I wanted colour and I wanted a filly. In a way I can say I was replacing my filly in my mind even though I knew it would be a different horse altogether.

Well I got my filly and in teh end the colour is icing on the cake. She is a stunning filly in both temperament (so loving but a princess no less), and movement. She was a gold premium at her inspection and I got a really good deal in teh end. Marie at Lazy J Sporthorses did a marvelous job raising her and having a quality mare pop this filly out. She is definetly a keeper for me no matter how many people ask if she is for sale. I want to one day breed this one to Briar for a fantastic dressage type movement horse. She just loves to show off and her movement just always catches my breath.

Then there is my Maxamillion filly who I will confess I fell in love with her buckskin coat and white markings. I just admired her and let me confess I truly thought Tawna King was not going to part with her. But this filly has movement and a wonderful work ethic to back up that colour. Again I got a beautiful/great horse with extra splash to catch the eye.

I wouldn't buy for colour alone but if it is on a great horse, hey I am on that boat. I think it is another ace in teh hole on teh part of teh horse and breeder. I love my colourful girls and one day I plan on breeding to some great stallions (not based on colour but achievement/confirmation ect). if the foals come out with colour then someone else can ride a wonderful coloured dream horse.

[quietann]

I don't care about color, but I ended up with a Palomino anyway. I have to say that people tend not to see past the "pretty" to the really gorgeous horse underneath.

http://annsrats.com/horses/feronia/LoafSep06_t7sm.jpg

(I might, however, avoid grays because of the melanoma issue.)

[goodpony]

I also own and breed Connemara Ponies and currently have Grey, Bay, Buckskin, Brown and Black. I do not care for the Cremellos or Red Roans (don't mind some bay and black roans) and would likely not be interested in adding either one to our program nor do we breed for color. Though every year I hope for a flaming red chesnut with flaxen and chrome or a palomino! I think there is some advantages to certain colors....some photograph much better than others. The hardest color for me to capture is the very black and very dark grey!

[okggo]

I just want to chime in on the grey issue that has been brought up (a.k.a. not buying grey b/c of melanomas).

The Equine Veterinary Journal published the results of a study that was done on the malignancy of melanomas in grey vs non-grey equines.

The study found that melanomas in gray horses are less malignant than those found in solid-colored horses. Researchers think that grays have specific genetic factors that inhibit the metastatic processes to some degree. Also, the researchers found that the heritability of melanomas in a gray horse population is about 30%.

Research also shows a higher percentage of melanomas in grays (some indicate up to 70%), but this is a positive finding in the sense that most tend to be under the tail and non-cancerous vs those found in non-gray colors having a higher likelihood of malignancy.

[Signature]

I think as a breeder looking to provide a product so to speak for the market, you have to consider color at least a little. In our experience, bay colts sell the most quickly. Chestnut seems to be the least favorite and admittedly our least favorite. Of course, there are always people looking for a specific color and it just could be chestnut! To each their own! We had buyers once that specifically wanted a chestnut filly (and it just so happens that was the only chestnut we ever had!). Do we kind of try not to get a chestnut, admittedly yes, but if it happens, the quality is such that it does not matter. It is strictly for market desirability. A good horse is a good horse. I, too, think color is definitely a deciding factor between two foals of equal quality. It is simply human nature to pick the one you think is prettier!

Would I avoid breeding two chestnut horses that were fabulous ONLY because I am guaranteed a chestnut? No. Again, a good horse is still a good horse. If I could breed to equally good stallions but with one being guaranteed to throw bay or black, and one likely resulting in chestnut, I would breed to the one most likely to produce bay/black, all else being equal (of course it never is).

But, there definitely is some difference in the quickness with which a trendy colored foal will sell over an equal quality but less desirably colored foal.

[vxf111]

okggo I totally understand where you're coming from, but so you know where I'm coming from-- 2 of the 3 saddest melanoma cases I knew were the totally benign type.

One poor mare developed a large melanoma right where the saddle would sit, on her barrel. Benign. It grew and grew until it was bleeding because of rubs from blankets and tack. The owners spared no expense and tried everything. The mare was really uncomfortable, all the time and would try to rip at the melenomas with her teeth and/or rub the area raw on the fenceline/tree bark. The owners stopped riding her entirely but the melanomas continued to grow and it was a constant fight trying to get her not to tear her sides open. She then began to develop the melanomas around her anus and did the same thing-- rubbing them raw. You couldn't even look at this mare, she was so miserable and always bleeding from her sides and her anus. She was euthanized, because there was nothing to do for her and she was suffering. It was heartbreaking.

Less painful but even more disturbing-- a mare at a former barn was COVERED with melanomas on her legs (mostly near joints). At first, the vets would come freeze/cut them off but when they occured, they tended to grow back more aggressively and multiply. They were HUGE and greatly affected the mare's movement. It is no exaggeration to say that a few of them were SOCCER BALL SIZE and hung off her legs by flaps of skin. It was DISTURBING. The mare had to be hidden at times when children came to the barn because it was UPSETTING. I would have thought for sure she'd be euthanized by now (I boarded at the same place as her over 4 years ago). I went back a year ago to visit and she's still there covered with growths. She was only ever a trail horse, I assume they don't ride her now. She's not in pain but she can't be comfortable either.

I know these are extreme cases but there are some things that stay with you and these stay with me. Everytime I see a gray, a small part of me remembers these two mares.

[okggo]

okggo I totally understand where you're coming from, but so you know where I'm coming from-- 2 of the 3 saddest melanoma cases I knew were the totally benign type.

One poor mare developed a large melanoma right where the saddle would sit, on her barrel. Benign. It grew and grew until it was bleeding because of rubs from blankets and tack. The owners spared no expense and tried everything. The mare was really uncomfortable, all the time and would try to rip at the melenomas with her teeth and/or rub the area raw on the fenceline/tree bark. The owners stopped riding her entirely but the melanomas continued to grow and it was a constant fight trying to get her not to tear her sides open. She then began to develop the melanomas around her anus and did the same thing-- rubbing them raw. You couldn't even look at this mare, she was so miserable and always bleeding from her sides and her anus. She was euthanized, because there was nothing to do for her and she was suffering. It was heartbreaking.

Less painful but even more disturbing-- a mare at a former barn was COVERED with melanomas on her legs (mostly near joints). At first, the vets would come freeze/cut them off but when they occured, they tended to grow back more aggressively and multiply. They were HUGE and greatly affected the mare's movement. It is no exaggeration to say that a few of them were SOCCER BALL SIZE and hung off her legs by flaps of skin. It was DISTURBING. The mare had to be hidden at times when children came to the barn because it was UPSETTING. I would have thought for sure she'd be euthanized by now (I boarded at the same place as her over 4 years ago). I went back a year ago to visit and she's still there covered with growths. She was only ever a trail horse, I assume they don't ride her now. She's not in pain but she can't be comfortable either.

I know these are extreme cases but there are some things that stay with you and these stay with me. Everytime I see a gray, a small part of me remembers these two mares.


That is so sad :(

As a lover and breeder of a breed that is predominantly grey, I try to keep the more positive spin on the color. But I know the stories exist, and the reality is there.

On the flip side, I know sarcoids are more common in pink skin areas, so max sabinos, cremellos, champagne horses are more prone to those. We had a champagne gelding with one on his leg, thankfully small. So there are risks with any color horse, from color related (think burnt noses from sun, or scratches on white legs) to just the very nature of horses being accident prone. So it saddens me a bit when I see people who refuse to buy greys b/c of the risk of melanomas, if there would be no other reason to turn the horse down. But your opinion is based on scenarios that would probably make me think twice as well, if I had to live that.

[vxf111]

It was horrible. I was just thankful that neither mare was a horse of mine. :(

[incahoots]

Maybe it depends on who you are trying to market your babies to. I find that eventers don't care about color as much and folks looking for a jumper project care not at all. Maybe the disciplines that are most subjectively judged draw a crowd more concerned about color. And certainly, upper level riders and professionals don't seem to give color any weight in their decision. If my main goal was to market to the low ammy's and the trail/pleasure folk I would be more concerned with the color of my foals. As it stands now if an interested party were to comment they didn't like the color of the horse I was marketing to them, I would kindly dismiss them as potential clients. I can afford to do that being as I am purely a hobbiest and have other income. Color certainly sells-surprisingly well.

[goodpony]

Strangely enough in our breed there are those that shun anything but GREY.

I have been told that melanomas are less prevalent in heterozygous Greys...and this from life long breeder of Grey Ponies with two homozygous grey stallions who lived well into their thirties. I have also heard that the incidence of Melanoma's is higher among certain bloodlines.

OKGO I'd be very interested in reading that article....could you share a link or reference?

[okggo]

Goodpony, here is a synopsis from the horse (you need to register to read it)

http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=4655

and the Journal link (but you actually have to buy it) https://secure.evj.co.uk/cgi-bin/index/search.html?id=kiYwSXCY

[akrogirl]

In my case, when I was first looking to buy a horse, I was hoping to find a grey. Despite trying some pretty flashy horses with lots of chrome, I ended up with two, rather plain, dark brown/bays. Next time around, I had decided no greys because of the melanoma stuff, and was not overly fond of overos and toveros either. Yep, I ended up with a beautiful rose grey, and a loud, chestnut and white tovero, lol.

In my case, given that they all have good conformation and the performance ability I need, the horses' personalities are the deciding factor, not their color - though I admit to having a fondness for buckskins, silver dapples and blue roans ;-) I tend to buck the trends anyway; I like the heavier built, older types with large heads, lol.

[Centuree]

I LOVE a big muscular pure white warmblood. the C lines, and the Lipizans, in my fine opinion are absolutely gorgeous!!

I've had horses of all colour, black, blood bay, palomino, grey, and think they are all beautiful in their own way.

I love my black horse, as he gleams and shines in spring, fall and winter. He's got the star on his forehead too, just like BB - haha. Unfortunately, he turns orange every single summer. what can you do?.

Also LOVE the red chestnuts (I've never owned one, so that contributes to the novelty). But nothing looks more flashy, then a red shiny chestnut with lots of chrome.

Love the variety you get with horses. I know though that chestnut mares are not popular, due to the stereotype of them being piggy. That is a stereotype, and definitely not all chestnut mares are like that, but I used to break babies, and the ones that usually gave me the most trouble were those spunky chestnut fillies - lol.

If I happen to fall off, there was a 50% chance it was off a chestnut filly.

[Donella]

As it stands now if an interested party were to comment they didn't like the color of the horse I was marketing to them, I would kindly dismiss them as potential clients.

I kind of agree. My mare is grey and had a grey Londonderry filly last year. There was actually a lady who wasn't interested BEFORE she saw the filly because of the color. Kind of weird...but still ok because that kind of foal is not hard to sell.

I will consider color when chosing stallions just because there are SO many nice boys out there..it doesn't hurt if they are homozygous for black if you have a chestnut mare..but it won't make or break it for me. In the end I still chose Quaterback for the chestnut mare this year. So I get a chestnut foal...if it looks and moves like I think it will I think there will be enough people who will take it in a chestnut package.

OTOH..I do think chrome is a huge factor for people. To me a totally plain jane blah chestnut with no white is different than a liver or bright red chestnut with chrome all over. For most people anyways..right?

[sporthorsefilly]

I am an admitted chrome junkie, with three sabinos and a TB with 3 ankle socks. I love glitz, but agree that performance and temperment are very important. If those criteria are there and the horse is sabino...I am sold.

Also drawn to Palomino :) and also to paint! Would also love a White TB.

Color matters to me, as long as I don't sacrifice temperment and performance in the package.