Base Coat Colors
There are only two basic horse coat colors, black and chestnut. From these two colors stem the wide variety of color modifications, dilutions and white patterns we see today in domestic and feral horses the world over.
Color Modifiers
There are at least six known genes which modifying base colors, including grey, bay, seal brown, mealy, sooty and flaxen. The can also affect other modifiers, dilutions and white patterns creating a range of each coat color.
Dilution Genes
There is a number of dilutions that affect color, including dun, silver, champagne and cream. They have an effect on bases, modified colors, other dilutions and can be double diluted for more extreme expressions.
White Patterns
White patterns can affect any color and produce some of the more spectacular horse coats, like pinto, appaloosa and roan. Some breeds are bred for their spotted patterns, while others discourage and won’t register them.
Rare
Unusual color variations and markings can affect almost any base, dilution or modification. Most rare colors or markings are difficult to find in the equine world and some of them are still left unexplained by equine geneticists.
Horse Markings
White markings on the face or legs can occur in all colors and are not related to grey modifiers or white patterns. Like fingerprints, no two markings are the same and often animals can be identified solely by their markings.