A look at fading black horses around the world and on a variety of different breeds.
Most black horses are of the fading black variety (also called barn black). Although not different genetically from non-fading black, their coat can turn a reddish brown color with exposure to sun and sweat. Keeping black animals well-fed, blanketed, out of hot sunlight and washing sweat off immediately helps to preserve their color. Fading blacks are often born a smoky color and sometimes as light as dark bay or brown.
