Judging Resources
Dr. Bray has done an exceptional job compiling fact sheets for all areas of equine studies. Check out Star Milling Co. for a great description of how to determine body condition.
Here is an excellent video on how to judge from Horse Channel.
Check out these equine judging oral reasons from Texas A&M.
Check out this great judging game.
Here is an excellent video on how to judge from Horse Channel.
Check out these equine judging oral reasons from Texas A&M.
Check out this great judging game.
Horse Colors
Want to know the outcome of breeding a palomino mare and a sliver buckskin stallion, or how about between a bay roan sabino mare and a grullo tobiano stallion, then check out the "Color Calculator" and find the outcome of almost any color combination. The website also offers equine genetic tests for colors and patterns, DNA profiling, as well as diseases like HYPP, HERDA, and PSSM. It also offers the same services for dogs and birds.
5 Basic Coat ColorsAppaloosa These are the 5 main appaloosa coat patterns:
1. Leopard: Large spots all over-dark spots on a light base coat. 2. Snowflake: Large spots all over-light spots on a dark base coat. 3. Blanket: White on hips and loins with or without spots. 4. Marble: Small dark sprinkles on a light base coat. 5. Frost: Small light sprinkles on a dark base coat. But not all appaloosas have spots. Here are some factors to help identify the breed. 1. Mottled or Parti-Colored Skin: skin is different from commonly found pink (flesh-colored or non-pigmented) skin. It normally contains dark areas of pigmented skin within its area--in a speckled or blotchy pattern of pigmented and non-pigmented skin. Do not confuse it with simple differences in pigmentation(patches of light and dark skin). 2. White Sclera: The sclera is the area of the eye which encircles the iris - the colored part. The sclera the human eye is white. Appaloosa's sclera is white and usually more visible than other breeds. All horses can show white around the eye if it is rolled back, up or down or if the eyelid is lifted. The white sclera can be a distinctive Appaloosa characteristic, unless in combination with a large white face marking (bald face). 3. Striped Hooves: Many Appaloosas will have bold and clearly defined vertically light or dark striped hooves. But light colored horses or those with white leg markings also tend to have thin stripes in their hooves. Striped hooves do not necessarily distinguish Appaloosas from non-Appaloosas in all cases. References: Equusite.com Appaloosa Horse Club Bay, Black, Brown, Chestnut (Sorrel), White (True/Dominant)
|
5 Major Variations of Coat ColorsDun (Buckskin), Pinto (Paint), Palomino, Roan, Grey
Pinto PatternsThis gives a basic overview of the 3 main patterns for horses of pinto coloring. I hope this will help someone learn more about horses or help them teach others! 1. Tobiano (tow be yah' no): The dark color usually covers one or both flanks. Generally, all four legs are white, at least below the hocks and knees. Generally, the spots are regular and distinct as ovals or round patterns that extend down over the neck and chest, giving the appearance of a shield. Head markings are like those of a solid-colored horse--solid, or with a blaze, strip, star or snip. A tobiano may be either predominantly dark or white. The tail is often two colors. 2. Overo(oh vair' oh):The white usually will not cross the back of the horse between its withers and its tail. Generally, at least one and often all four legs are dark. Generally, the white is irregular, and is rather scattered or splashy. Head markings are distinctive, often bald-faced, apron-faced or bonnet-faced. An overo may be either predominantly dark or white. The tail is usually one color. 3. Tovero (tow vair' oh): Dark pigmentation around the ears, which may expand to cover the forehead and/or eyes. One or both eyes blue. Dark pigmentation around the mouth, which may extend up the sides of the face and form spots. Chest spot(s) in varying sizes. These may also extend up the neck. Flank spot(s) ranging in size. These are often accompanied by smaller spots that extend forward across the barrel, and up over the loin. Spots, varying in size, at the base of the tail. (The horse in the photo above is a Tovero.) References: American Paint Horse Asscoiation This article gives also a great discussion on how to determine the pattern of a pinto colored horse. |
Blanket, Frost, Leopard, Marble, Snowflake
Is it Cremello or Albino?
Did you know that there is no such thing as an albino horse? Read the following article quoted exactly from the Cremello and Perlino Education Association.
Is it a Cremello, or is it an Albino? By Lana Sibley
"For a printable version of this page, click HERE. I told my friend that there are no albinos in horses and he looked at me like I was nuts. "I have seen them!" he said. I tried to explain that what he saw was probably a "cremello" and not an "albino". He just shrugged. His basic stand was this: I was calling it one thing and he was calling it another, but it was still the same horse, and in his book... an albino.
So my point here is to explain why albino and cremello are not the same thing. I'll make this brief without any genetic letter combinations to confuse and confound. I just want to explain what an albino actually is, and how it comes to exist. And then I'll point out the differences between it and a cremello horse.
There are several different genes that cause albinism in the species in which it exists. We say it does not exist in horses because have never found a horse that meets the criteria to be considered an albino, not because it is impossible in one species while possible in another. In my understanding, even the experts don't know why it doesnt exist in horses. Its existence has just never been proven.
Albinism is created when an offspring receives two recessive genes from its parents... one from each parent. The parents do not exhibit any signs of albinism... a recessive gene is completely masked or "overpowered" by the dominant gene in the pair. So the parent carries the gene without being albino. The different types of albinism all affect pigmentation, and also carry with them some other genetic problems including eye problems, blood clotting problems, and hearing problems.
But the creme gene, which causes a cremello, is not a recessive gene. It is what is referred to as an incomplete dominant gene. This means that it shows even when there is only one copy in the gene pair (because it is dominant) but shows more strongly when the horse carries two copies! A horse that carries one creme gene is a very popular animal in today's horse world! He is usually either palomino or buckskin. The single creme gene dilutes the chestnut or sorrel basecoat to a gold or cream color and the mane and tail to white. But it does not affect black pigment, so on a bay basecoat, it creates the same golden color, but leaves the mane, tail and points black. There are also horses who have no red hair on their bodies and the gene can be hidden there... these are called smoky blacks. Only on true blacks is the gene totally masked, because any brown or red hair will be turned to gold and give those horses a "glow".
When the horse receives a copy of the creme gene from each parent, you have a cremello (on a chestnut basecoat) perlino (on a bay basecoat) or smoky creme (on a black basecoat). But, just as it is not a recessive gene like the albino gene, it also does not carry the associated genetic defects. There is no indication that cremellos, perlinos or smoky blacks have the eye problems, blood clotting problems, or hearing problems that come with an albino gene. This is because the creme gene is a totally different type of gene.
Albino is one thing, caused by one genetic factor. Cremello is another, caused by a completely different genetic factor. So you see that its not just an argument over what we call them!"
Is it a Cremello, or is it an Albino? By Lana Sibley
"For a printable version of this page, click HERE. I told my friend that there are no albinos in horses and he looked at me like I was nuts. "I have seen them!" he said. I tried to explain that what he saw was probably a "cremello" and not an "albino". He just shrugged. His basic stand was this: I was calling it one thing and he was calling it another, but it was still the same horse, and in his book... an albino.
So my point here is to explain why albino and cremello are not the same thing. I'll make this brief without any genetic letter combinations to confuse and confound. I just want to explain what an albino actually is, and how it comes to exist. And then I'll point out the differences between it and a cremello horse.
There are several different genes that cause albinism in the species in which it exists. We say it does not exist in horses because have never found a horse that meets the criteria to be considered an albino, not because it is impossible in one species while possible in another. In my understanding, even the experts don't know why it doesnt exist in horses. Its existence has just never been proven.
Albinism is created when an offspring receives two recessive genes from its parents... one from each parent. The parents do not exhibit any signs of albinism... a recessive gene is completely masked or "overpowered" by the dominant gene in the pair. So the parent carries the gene without being albino. The different types of albinism all affect pigmentation, and also carry with them some other genetic problems including eye problems, blood clotting problems, and hearing problems.
But the creme gene, which causes a cremello, is not a recessive gene. It is what is referred to as an incomplete dominant gene. This means that it shows even when there is only one copy in the gene pair (because it is dominant) but shows more strongly when the horse carries two copies! A horse that carries one creme gene is a very popular animal in today's horse world! He is usually either palomino or buckskin. The single creme gene dilutes the chestnut or sorrel basecoat to a gold or cream color and the mane and tail to white. But it does not affect black pigment, so on a bay basecoat, it creates the same golden color, but leaves the mane, tail and points black. There are also horses who have no red hair on their bodies and the gene can be hidden there... these are called smoky blacks. Only on true blacks is the gene totally masked, because any brown or red hair will be turned to gold and give those horses a "glow".
When the horse receives a copy of the creme gene from each parent, you have a cremello (on a chestnut basecoat) perlino (on a bay basecoat) or smoky creme (on a black basecoat). But, just as it is not a recessive gene like the albino gene, it also does not carry the associated genetic defects. There is no indication that cremellos, perlinos or smoky blacks have the eye problems, blood clotting problems, or hearing problems that come with an albino gene. This is because the creme gene is a totally different type of gene.
Albino is one thing, caused by one genetic factor. Cremello is another, caused by a completely different genetic factor. So you see that its not just an argument over what we call them!"
Zoe the White Zebra
Please vist Three Ring Ranch Exotic Animal Sanctuary for more details. The following is quoted from their page.
"Her [Zoe] unusual color is due to her having "amelanosis*". She is not an albino. She has striking gold stripes and blue eyes. In horses, there is a similar condition called "Lethal White Foal Syndrome" which is associated with the occurrence of other serious birth defects. Although this color variation occasionally occurs in wild herds, the animals would likely survive only a few days at best. This is probably because zebras use their stripes as camouflage to blend in with the rest of herd. This then allows the herd, to confuse predators with the changing patterns formed by the movement of a large group. Animals that stand out from
the herd are easy targets for predators. In nature, having a color variation that makes you stand out is not a good thing!
There have been reports of at least two other "white" zebras in captivity. One in Germany about a hundred years ago and another at a zoo in Tokyo in the
1970's. At this time we know of only one other zebra like Zoe alive. If anyone has heard of other "white" zebras, we would be very interested in hearing about
them.
Although Zoe may have health complications as she ages, for now we notice only poor night vision. Because we are concerned about other health problems she
could have (for example, kidney problems), we feed her a low protein diet and monitor her for signs of sunburn or skin cancer. As with our other non-endangered animals, she will not be bred."
*Amelanosis is when the animal lacks the pigments called melanins which causes abnormal pigmentations, like what is seen in the zebra above. Amelanism can affect mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and amphibians. When the animal is unable to chemically produce any melanin in their body, making it completely pigmentless, it is called an albino. An albino mammal has white fur, pink skin, and pink, red, or violet colored eyes.
"Her [Zoe] unusual color is due to her having "amelanosis*". She is not an albino. She has striking gold stripes and blue eyes. In horses, there is a similar condition called "Lethal White Foal Syndrome" which is associated with the occurrence of other serious birth defects. Although this color variation occasionally occurs in wild herds, the animals would likely survive only a few days at best. This is probably because zebras use their stripes as camouflage to blend in with the rest of herd. This then allows the herd, to confuse predators with the changing patterns formed by the movement of a large group. Animals that stand out from
the herd are easy targets for predators. In nature, having a color variation that makes you stand out is not a good thing!
There have been reports of at least two other "white" zebras in captivity. One in Germany about a hundred years ago and another at a zoo in Tokyo in the
1970's. At this time we know of only one other zebra like Zoe alive. If anyone has heard of other "white" zebras, we would be very interested in hearing about
them.
Although Zoe may have health complications as she ages, for now we notice only poor night vision. Because we are concerned about other health problems she
could have (for example, kidney problems), we feed her a low protein diet and monitor her for signs of sunburn or skin cancer. As with our other non-endangered animals, she will not be bred."
*Amelanosis is when the animal lacks the pigments called melanins which causes abnormal pigmentations, like what is seen in the zebra above. Amelanism can affect mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and amphibians. When the animal is unable to chemically produce any melanin in their body, making it completely pigmentless, it is called an albino. An albino mammal has white fur, pink skin, and pink, red, or violet colored eyes.