Another color question

[vineyridge]

I know my young colt/gelding is a minimal rabicano because of the scattered white hairs on his flanks and a couple of skunk tail white hairs in the summer. Other than that, he's solid bay with no white markings.

But today I noticed that the long, very long winter hairs around his genital area inside his flanks are so light, either fawn or white, that they shine white in full sun. The long winter hairs on the back of his front legs ARE light fawn.

He's nearly four, and I've had him since he was six months old. This winter coloration has not been present before; and it isn't on any of my other solid bay horses--I have two others, one of which is the same age by the same sire, who was also plain bay.

What is this odd coloring?

[goodpony]

I am uncertain it is the correct term but I have been told it is called "wild bay"--the only photos Ive seen do not seem to quite right to me. I have one that is exactly as you describe....but does have white markings and is a very attractive bright red bay. He also has during different times of the year an unusual black undercoat-almost like countershading in reverse. His mother has an interesting coat as well...she is grey from bay but in winter has an iridescent sheen to her coat...I am told the unusual 'iridescence' is a trademark of this particular line.

[JB]

Do you have a picture? How light is his muzzle? How dark, and how far up, is the black on his legs? My guess is he's a bay with pangare, which lightens the muzzle, flank area, and to some extent, also the elbow area.

if he's got nice dark black leg markings that go to the knees/hocks, or close, he's a normal bay. Wild Bay would usually have the black only coming up around the fetlocks.

[vineyridge]

Photos
#1 is a full body shot.
#2 is his front legs.
#3 is his belly.

I pulled some of the long belly hairs, and some of them are definitely white.

[grayarabpony]

The coloring doesn't look unusual; my bay rabicano mare had a peppering of white on her legs as well as her flanks..

[vineyridge]

What's odd to me is that the light color patches are ONLY in very long--well over an inch long--winter hairs. His summer white consists of normal length, very scattered and sparse hairs. This is all new this year.

[Simkie]

I think ALL of my bay horses have had these very light hairs in the winter when allowed to grow a coat.

[grayarabpony]

I had a chesnut TB gelding who had blond (but not white) winter hair. In fact it was kind of ridiculous -- he got long blond hair on his legs and stomach and that was it -- otherwise he didn't grow enough hair to keep him warm in the winter.

If your horse's white hair is due to rabicano, the amount of white often increases as your horse gets older. My gelding has minimal rabicano; just a few white hairs at the tail head, and white flecking on his sides. The tail white didn't come in until he was 5 or 6 years old.

[columbus]

It is pretty common that the long guard hairs on some areas of their bodies(like the belly and tuck up of the loin, under the jaw, between the legs) are not the same shade of color as the base coat. Certainly it is determined by genetics but I can say more what it is not and that is pangere or rabicano. I think it is just blonder guard hairs. Pretty much it is too soon to say it is a permanent part of the color pattern for this horse as he will change with a full adult coat. Some youngsters change every year as they age and with each coat change before they are consistant usually after 5 or 6. I agree that is is a component of wild bay though wild bays are usually lighter bays with less black on the legs. Nice youngster. PatO

[JB]

Just a normal bay with light tan guard hairs :)

[LivviesMom]

What's odd to me is that the light color patches are ONLY in very long--well over an inch long--winter hairs. His summer white consists of normal length, very scattered and sparse hairs. This is all new this year.

How funny. I hadnt really thought about it until you posted but my bay rabicano mare has the same thing.

[vxf111]

My dark, non-reddish bay grows distinctly chestnut colored guard hairs. Every year. Then sheds them out and has NOT A TRACE of red in his coat once the winter coat goes. Looks like your colt does the same, but with tannish hairs.

[vineyridge]

Some of those belly hairs are WHITE. I pulled some to make sure. They are as white as the hair on my own head--and I grayed out very early on. I tried to take a photo to show how white the ones I pulled are, but they are so fine the camera couldn't deal with them.

I'm glad to know this is normal, that he isn't suffering from malnutrition, and that every winter will be something to look forward to as far as his coat goes. :)

[LivviesMom]

I went through and found some photos with the brindling.. some of them are kind of faint. Hopefully you'll be able to see what I mean.. they are faint little lines.It is way more prominant when standing next to her. It shows more right on her barrel. You can also see lots of scattered roaning in her depending on the picture.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1118969&l=0d0e3b29ff&id=514471362

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=969678&l=539c307c7a&id=514471362

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=303896&l=c797d9902d&id=514471362

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=563297&l=8e52839111&id=514471362