by Daylene Alford December 6, 2013 Updated July 10, 2018
Most of us are familiar with gray horses. Horses that are born a solid color but then slowly (or sometimes not so slowly) turn white as they age. We've seen them as the majestic “white” Lipizzaners and the “white” horses in many Hollywood productions including the Lord of the Rings movies. Recently however, it has been discovered that not all gray horses turn white as they age. In fact, some don't look “gray” at all even when at an advanced age. Often these horses have been labeled as Rabicano or even roan but at least one of the more famous has been confirmed to carry the Gray mutation. This horse is Comico IV.
by Daylene Alford September 19, 2013 Updated July 12, 2018
Most horses have brown eyes but other eye colors are seen. These eye colors can include blue, green, yellow, amber, or hazel. Most variation in eye color is the result of a white pattern or dilution.
Silver in horses affects areas that would otherwise be black, changing the color from black to gray or brown. It has it’s greatest effect on a horse’s mane and tail. In horses that are heavily affected the mane and tail can be almost completely white or silver. If the horse also has feathers (the hairs on the horse's pastern), the feathers will be affected to the same extent as the mane and tail.
by Daylene Alford August 13, 2013 Updated September 5, 2018
Like Dun, Champagne horses have certain characteristics that can be used to identify them as Champagne. This are light eyes (usually amber), pink skin that is mottled or freckled, and a diluted body color. When identifying Champagne horses all three of these characteristics must be present. Light eyes, speckled skin, or dilute body color (even two out of three) can be present in a horse who is not Champagne.