Horses affected by the roan color pattern display a rainbow of colors from almost pink to almost blue depending on the base color. Although they are often mistaken for other color combinations, roan horses can most easily be recognized by the fact that they retain their base color on their mane, tail and points.
Roan White Pattern
Roan patterns can affect any color and cause white hairs that mix throughout the base color, creating a slightly mottled effect. They look similar to grey animals, except in reverse. Dark points are retained and many roans grow darker with age. Plus, when injured hair regrowth is often the base color. Roans are born with the pattern and it remains through their life
Types
There is a distinction between types of roans. True roans have a classic roan gene and will have white hairs evenly distributed throughout the coat. There are other roaning patterns (not including rabicano) that can mimic the coloration, but tend to have more uneven patches of white hairs and aren’t as uniform. The inheritance of this second roaning type is undefined.
Classic Roan
Roaning
Roan Shades
Roaning can affect any base color and creates a huge rainbow of amazing colors that range in variety from pink to blue. A foal may be born their base color and show the pattern upon first shedding, but the pattern remains consistent from year to year.
Blue RoanOn a black base, roan coats can range from deep steel grey to almost blue in color. Their mane, tail and points remain mostly black.
Strawberry RoanOn a chestnut base, roan coats range from deep red to an almost pink color. Their mane, tail and points remain the base chestnut color.
Bay Roan
Seal Roan