Color_Guidelines-IMEHA

IMEHA Color Guide and Reference Links Compiled By Stephanie Michel

Base Colors

Modified Colors

Dilute Colors-Cream

Dilute Colors-Dun

Dilute Colors-Other

Other Solid Colors/White

Patterned Colors

Other Color Modifiers

Face Markings

Leg Markings

Other/Miscellaneous Markings

General Color Information Sites

http://www.equinecolor.com/color.html

http://www.horsecolor.com/

http://duncentralstation.com/

http://www.colorfulhorses.com/

http://ultimatehorsesite.com/colors/index.html

**Note/Disclaimer: Depending upon where you live, some terms are interchangeable (example: Chestnut/Sorrel). The table below is a listing of horse colors and markings to help you identify the colors of your models. We are by no means geneticists and this is far from a complete list of colors. We have listed to the best of our ability and knowledge common colors/shades and their various regional names as well as which gene(s) make up those colors. There are also links to various examples for each color and marking. Credit is given to photos where possible but some submitted photos need proper crediting. If you know who should be credited for any of the Unknown Submitted photos please contact us so we may properly credit them (or remove them if permission was not properly obtained). These color definitions have been adopted by IMEHA, BMHR and SMHR photo shows.

Color Descriptions Base Colors All horse colors are based upon two Base Colors: Black and Red (Chestnut). There are at least 16 known factors that interact with these two Base Colors to produce each unique color and pattern.
Color	Class Number	Shade (Common Names)	Dilution/Modifier	Description	Link To Examples
Black				Black coat with legs, mane and tail also black.
	Class #81	Non Fading Black Jet Black Raven Black	None	A true black horse has a black coat, mane, tail, and legs. The hair around the eyes, muzzle and in the flanks are also black. The color does not become sunburned or fade from effects of sun and weather.	Examples From Equine Color.com Example 1 Examples From Colorful Horses.com Example 1 Example 2 Submitted Photos-Unknown Credit Example 1 Example 2
	Class #81	Fading Black Summer Black	None	Black that fades from the sun and weather and may have a reddish or “worn” look to it. The most notable areas of fading occur in the mane, back, flanks and head area.	Examples From Equine Color.com Example 1 Example 2 Examples From Colorful Horses.com Example 1

Chestnut				Red toned coat with legs the same color as body. The mane and tail can be a shade darker, same color as or a shade lighter than the body color or flaxen.	Silver, Sooty Palomino or Liver Chestnut?
	Class #82 Class #83 or Class #84 depending upon color of mane/tail	Flaxen Chestnut Chestnut Ruano	None	Red toned coat with legs the same color as body. The mane and tail are flaxen. Lighter tones not to be confused with palomino, which will have a yellow tint to the coat instead of red.	Examples From Equine Color.com Example 1 Examples From Icelandic Horse.is Example 1 Example 2 Examples From Ultimate Horse Site Example 1
	Class #82 Class #83 or Class #84 depending upon color of mane/tail	Red Chestnut Chestnut Alazan	None	Bright red toned coat with legs the same color as body. The mane and tail are normally the same color as or a darker shade of the body color and may also be flaxen.	Examples From Equine Color.com Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Examples From Ultimate Horse Site Example 1 Example 2 Example 3
	Class #82 Class #83 or Class #84 depending upon color of mane/tail	Liver Chestnut Black Chestnut	None	Red toned to almost black coat with legs the same color as body. The mane and tail may be the same color as or a darker shade of the body color. Sometimes the mane and tail are so dark as to appear black but usually has a red tint to it in different light. Mane and tail may also be flaxen, partially flaxen colored or some shade of dark red.	Examples From Equine Color.com Example 1 Example 2 Examples From Ultimate Horse Site Example 1 Example 2 Submitted Photos-Unknown Credit Example 1 Example 2 Silver, Sooty Palomino or Liver Chestnut?
	Class #85 or Class #86 depending upon color of mane/tail	Golden Chestnut	None	Coat is red-gold with the legs the same color as the body. The mane and tail may be the same color as the body, a lighter shade of the body or flaxen. The flaxen expression is not to be confused with palomino, which will not have the red tint to the coat.	Examples From Equine Color.com Example 1 Examples From Ultimate Horse Site Example 1 Examples From Shardell Arabian Stud Example 1 Examples From American Haflinger Registry Example 1 Submitted Photos-Unknown Credit Example 1
	Class #85 or Class #86 depending upon color of mane/tail	Sorrel	None	Gold-red toned coat with legs the same color as body. The mane and tail are the same color as or a lighter shade of the body color. Offen seen with some extent of Pangare (lighter coloration on the muzzle and soft parts of body). Not to be confused with palomino, which will not have the red tint to the coat.	Examples From Equine Color.com Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Examples From K&J Bridgeman Example 1 Examples From Living Being Example 1 Examples From DK Images Example 1 Examples From Horses And Horse Information Example 1

Color Descriptions Modified Colors Color Modifiers are genes that modify or restrict body color, mane and tail color or both. These modifiers can range from very subtle to very extreme. (Difference Between Bay, Wild Bay and Brown)
Color	Class Number	Shade (Common Names)	Dilution/Modifier	Description	Link To Examples
Bay/Brown				Red toned coat with black legs, mane and tail.
	Class #87	Brown Seal Brown	Agouti(t) on Black or Agouti(t)/Pangare on Black	Coat is dark brown to NEAR black. The hair around the eyes, muzzle and flanks are normally a shade of red/brown or tan. The hair around the eyes, muzzle and flanks may be lighter (like a mule) when the Pangare Modifier is present. The mane and tail are black but the legs are the same color as the body, a shade darker or NEAR black.	Examples From Ultimate Horse Site Example 1 Example 2 Examples From Shardell Arabian Stud Example 1 Examples From Mustangs 4 Us Example 1 Examples From Horse Colors Site Example 1 Examples From Colorful Morgans Example 1 Examples From Robertson Quarter Horses Example 1
	Class #87	Black Bay Seal Bay	Agouti on Black or Agouti/Pangare on Black	Coat is dark brown to NEAR black. The hair around the eyes, muzzle and flanks are normally a shade of red/brown. The hair around the eyes, muzzle and flanks may be lighter (like a mule) when the Pangare Modifier is present. The mane, tail and legs are black.	Examples From Irish Draught Horse Society, Ireland Example 1 Examples From American Grade Horse Registry Example 1 Examples From Cleveland Bay Horse Society Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Examples From Robertson Quarter Horses Example 1
	Class #87	Brown Bay	Agouti on Black	Coat color can be any shade of red hued brown. Mane, tail and legs are black.	Examples From Cleveland Bay Horse Society Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Example 4 Examples From Horse Colors Site Example 1
	Class #88	Blood Bay Cherry Bay Copper Bay	Agouti on Black	Coat color is a bright shade of red hued brown. Mane, tail and legs are black.	Examples From Icelandic Horse.is Example 1 Examples From American Grade Horse Registry Example 1 Examples From US Trotting Association Example 1 Examples From Equiandalusian Example 1 Examples From Beams Ridge Rocky Mountain Horses Example 1 Submitted Photos-Unknown Credit Example 1
	Class #88	Mahogany Bay Burgundy Bay	Agouti on Black	Coat is a dark red (mahogany) color that may have an almost purplish (burgundy) cast. Mane, tail and legs are black.	Examples From Cleveland Bay Horse Society Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Example 4 Examples From Horse Colors Site Example 1 Examples From Ultimate Horse Site Example 1 Submitted Photos-Unknown Credit Example 1
	Class #89	Sandy Bay Light Bay Gold Bay	Agouti on Black	Coat is a golden toned reddish brown. Mane, tail and legs are black. Not to be confused with Buckskin which will not have the red tint to the coat.	Examples From Equiandalusian Example 1 Examples From Ultimate Horse Site Example 1 Examples From Icelandic Horse.is Example 1
	Class #90	Wild Bay	Agouti (+) on Black	Coat color can be any shade of red hued brown. Mane, tail and legs are black. The black on the legs of a Wild Bay is restricted to the lower part legs in varying degrees and sometimes as little as a ring around the coronet.	Examples From Equine Color.com Example 1 Examples From American Grade Horse Registry Example 1 Examples From Ultimate Horse Site Example 1 Examples From Forest Horse/Color Freaks Example 1 Examples Of "Wild" Leg Markings From Dun Genes.org (Note: Non-Dun Factor Colors Will Not Have Barring) Example 1 Example 2 Example 4

Grey				Grey slowly removes the pigment from the base color, other modifiers and dilution genes that make up the original color of the horse. Grey has the unique ability to mask everything including any Pinto or Appaloosa patterns. No color is safe when Grey is present, as all horses that carry the Greying gene will end up a shade of grey or white.
	Class #91 Class #92 or Class #93 depending upon overall shade of horse	Dappled Grey	Grey on any color	Any shade of grey with 30% to 80% of dappling over the body.	Examples From Irish Draught Horse Society, Ireland Example 1 Examples From Equine Color.com Example 1 Example 2 Examples From Mustangs 4 Us Example 1 Examples From Equiandalusian Example 1 Submitted Photos-Unknown Credit Example 1 Example 2 Example 3
	Class #92 or Class #93 depending upon overall shade of horse	Flea-Bitten Grey	Grey any color	Coat is light grey with small flecks of black or red scattered throughout. Color of mane, tail and legs depend upon the base color of the horse and the stage of graying it is at.	Examples From Equine Color.com Example 1 Example 2 Examples From Ultimate Horse Site Example 1 Examples From Icelandic Horse.is Example 1 Examples From Herradura Andalusians Example 1 Examples From Dana Arabians Example 1 Submitted Photos-Unknown Credit Example 1
	Class #92 or Class #93 depending upon overall shade of horse	Blood Spots Bloody Shoulder	Grey any color	A large concentration of flea-bite marks on a graying horse. The most common areas where they are found are on the shoulders and/or neck but may be found elsewhere on the horse. This marking is most common in the Arabian breed but can be found in any breed that has the grey gene.	Examples From Equine Color.com Example 1 Example 2 Examples From Ultimate Horse Site Example 1 Examples From Jocarta Egyptian Arabians Example 1 Examples From Alfano Arabians Example 1 Submitted Photos-Unknown Credit Example 1
	Class #91	Steel Grey Iron Grey	Grey on Black	Coat is dark grey, sometimes with a bluish tint. Mane, tail and legs are black.	Examples From Equiandalusian Example 1 Examples From Equine Color.com Example 1 Examples From Colorful Morgans Example 1 Example 2 Examples From Forest Horse/Color Freaks Example 1 Examples From Rockin Bar H Nokota Horses Example 1 Example 2
	Class #91	Dark Grey	Grey on any dark pointed color	Coat ranges from medium to very dark grey. Mane and tail ranges from medium grey to almost black. Legs may retain color longer than body.	Examples From Equiandalusian Example 1 Examples From Colorful Morgans Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Examples From Forest Horse/Color Freaks Example 1 Examples From Rockin Bar H Nokota Horses Example 1 Examples From Ultimate Horse Site Example 1
	Class #91	Dark Rose Grey	Grey on any color	Coat retains a slightly lighter shade of the base color as it greys many times giving it a dark reddish/pink coloration. The mane, tail and leg color may lighten later than the body.	Examples From Cedar Ridge Quarter Horses Example 1 Examples From Ultimate Horse Site Example 1 Examples From Forest Horse/Color Freaks Example 1 Examples From Karma Farms Example 1 Examples From Ultimate Piaffe Example 1
	Class #92 or Class #93 depending upon shade of points	Burgundy Rose Grey	Grey on Bay	Coat retains a slightly lighter shade of the base color as it greys giving it a burgundy/red wine coloration. The mane, tail and leg color may lighten later than the body.	Examples From Ultimate Horse Site Example 1 Examples From Colorful Morgans Example 1 Example 2 Examples From Rio Rondo Example 1 Examples From Huffmans Arabians Example 1
	Class #92 or Class #93 depending upon shade of points	Light Rose Grey Medium Grey	Grey on any color	Coat retains a light shade of the base color as it greys giving it a reddish/pink coloration. The mane, tail and leg color may be lighter than their original color as they start to grey.	Examples From Cedar Ridge Quarter Horses Example 1 Examples From Equine Color.com Example 1 Examples From Equusite Example 1 Examples From Windt im Wald Farm Example 1
	Class #92 or Class #93 depending upon shade of points	Mulberry Grey	Grey on Chestnut	The coat is white with red shading on the knees/legs. The mane and tail are a dark red often with lighter almost white tips. This coloration is found most often in the Andalusian breed.	Examples From The Permanent Venture Example 1 Examples From Fallen-Leaves Example 1 Examples From DK Images Example 1 Submitted Photos-Unknown Credit Example 1
	Class #93	Light Grey	Grey on any color	Coat is light grey, almost white with a light grey/white mane and tail.	Examples From Icelandic Horse.is Example 1 Examples From Cedar Ridge Quarter Horses Example 1 Examples From Laughing Water Ranch Example 1 Examples From Equiandalusian Example 1 Submitted Photos-Unknown Credit Example 1

Color Descriptions Dilute Colors - Cream *Dilution Genes do not block* red or black from showing itself, but changes it to make it lighter ... or "diluted", like adding cream to coffee. Cream causes the base coat color to be lightened or diluted. Red colors are lightened to tan or yellow which causes Bay to become Buckskin and Chestnut to become Palomino.**
Color	Class Number	Shade (Common Names)	Dilution	Description	Link To Examples
Palomino				Coat is yellow toned ranging from Isabella (almost white) to gold to a dark smutty palomino that is almost black. Mane and tail are light colored with at LEAST 85% of the hair being white. The eyes are brown or amber. Not to be confused with flaxen chestnut which will have a red tint to the coat instead of yellow.	Silver, Sooty Palomino or Liver Chestnut?
	Class #94	Isabella Light Palomino	Single Cream on Chestnut	The lightest shades of Palomino, the coat is almost white. Mane and tail are light colored with at LEAST 85% of the hair being white. The eyes are brown or amber.

Color Descriptions

Base Colors

Color Descriptions

Color Descriptions

Dilute Colors - Cream