In doing my research for the horse color posts, I discovered that there are some horse colors that actually have a metal-like sheen to them. It turns out that this can actually come from more than one source.
It’s All Genetic
Usually this extra sparkle is associated with the champagne dilution gene, which is rather new and rare in the world of horse genetics.
However, it can also be displayed in desert breeds like the Akhal Teke (which is the subject of most of the images below). On these breeds the sheen is due to the way their hair shaft reflects light.
Really, there was no trick photography, no photoshop, these horses actually glow like they were metal. Not to mention that there are two different types of glowing horse!
Be sure to learn more about the rainbow of horse colors.
The Akhal Teke is a very beautiful horse. But did you know that the reason they have that metallic shine is because they are very rarely unblanketed. They are blanketed in wool blankets year round day and night. Often they wear multiple blankets even on the hottest of days.
Actually the sheen results from the nature of the hairshaft. It is hollow and thus refracts light. It is a genetic trait of the Akhal Teke breed.
Akhal Teke Horses are born with this to help defelct sunlight ( or so it says) but they are gorgeous horses with a very pretty light surrounding them from the glow of their marvelous coat sheen
I have tried to read up about it, and it seems the general consensus is that it’s not genetic, but with the hair shaft reflecting light. No one seems to know how it’s carried – to my mind it must be some form of genetics. I have a Quarter horse (from the poco line) and both him and his 1/2 brother are buckskin with a stunning metallic shine. Ever since I saw a golden Akhal Teke, I wanted that colour, never thinking I would actually own a horse! and a QH to boot! The shine is only obvious in sunlight – and looks like molten metal. It’s too beautiful.