Gray is common in many breeds. Today, about one horse in 10 carries the mutation for graying with age. The vast majority of Lipizzaners are gray, as are the majority of Andalusian horses. Many breeds of French draft horse such as the Percheron and Boulonnais are often gray as well.
In Western riding, sorrels, bays, and buckskins are preferred; in English riding disciplines, bay, grey, and chestnut colors are considered the best – but the rarest color across all breeds is true-white or brindle. To a layman, a horse's color may simply be a cosmetic detail.
Gray horses are found in many breeds.
The color is commonly associated with the Lipizzan breed, but it is also very common in Andalusians, Arabians, Welsh Ponies, and is accepted as a color by most breed registries.
While no strong connections between color and winnings emerged, there was a tendency for some color characteristics to be associated with top performing horses. The results were clear that whether or not a horse is grey or turning grey has no bearing on its racing performance.
A grey horse is born coloured (black, brown or chestnut), but the greying process starts already during its first year and they are normally completely white by six to eight years of age, but the skin remains pigmented. Thus, the process resembles greying in humans, but the process is fast in these horses.
According to University of California at Davis – one of the leading equine genetics labs – grey horses typically complete the depigmentation process and become fully white by age 6-8, though some horses may turn white more rapidly or remain grey past the age of 10.
However, owners of grey horses often face a far more serious problem than mud. On average, grey horses have an 80 per cent chance of developing a melanoma (skin cancer) during their lives. Melanomas develop when skin cells that contain melanin deposit excessive pigment, leading to abnormal production.
Grey horses are thought to bring luck to a bride and groom if seen on the way to their wedding. A horse shoe from the hind leg of a gray mare is supposed to be particularly lucky. In Hungary and Spain, black horses are believed to be unlucky.
Many colors are possible, but all variations are produced by changes in only a few genes. The "base" colors of the horse are determined by the Extension locus, which in recessive form (e) creates a solid chestnut or "red" coat. When dominant (E), a horse is black.
Gray is dominant, therefore a single copy of the gray allele will cause a horse to turn gray. If a horse has two copies of gray, all offspring of this horse will be gray.
In theory, almost any horse could have a gene that causes dapples. Horses that are gray, bay, palomino, or buckskin are the most likely to have this trait, while it's extremely rare in chestnuts. This is because dapples are caused by variations in the red and black pigments along their hair shafts.
We all agree that grey horses look the best in dark colors. Don't prefer light or neutral colors as these will blend in. We can advise some matte dark colors such as charcoal black or navy blue, as well as some dark and glittery colors.
Most horses that are commonly referred to as "white" are actually "gray" horses whose hair coats are completely white. Gray horses may be born of any color and their hairs gradually turn white as time goes by and take on a white appearance.
The Akhal-Teke horse is so beautiful that it can be compared to a golden statue. With his thin skin, it looks almost metallic in sunlight. The Akhal-Teke is considered the most beautiful horse in the world by buzzfeed.com.
Akhal-Teke
Cream-colored horses may appear golden, while silver horses have more of a silvery glow. The Akhal-Teke breed is the fastest horse breed and exhibits extraordinary ability in long-distance competitions.
Surround him with color
For a particularly edgy or nervous horse, simply painting the inside of his stall a soothing green or blue will help calm him. For a low-energy ungrounded steed, the color red might be most beneficial.
Preferences for the colors, from highest to lowest, were turquoise, light blue, light green, green, yellow, and red. Horses chose the blues over other colors and light-toned colors over darker tones.
Grey Horses Have Higher Risk Of Developing Illness
From the age of 10 onwards they are genetically more likely to develop tumours on their skin, called melanomas, due to a biochemical link between coat colour and this illness.
Many experts agree that horses do, in fact, remember their owners. Studies performed over the years suggest that horses do remember their owners similar to the way they would remember another horse. Past experiences, memories, and auditory cues provide the horse with information as to who an individual is.
Equally true is that a Greying horse will always produce at least 50% Grey foals (and 50% non-grey) if it has ONE Grey allele, but if it has TWO Grey alleles it will produce 100% Greying foals.
Grey tends to be a more common coat color in horses; however, not every grey horse will have dapples. Age, genetics, and health play an important role in determining whether your horse will be a dapple grey.
In total, eight gray horses have won the race: Determine (1954), Decidedly (1962), Spectacular Bid (1979), Gato Del Sol (1982), Winning Colors (1988), Silver Charm (1997), Monarchos (2001) and Giacomo (2005).
This flea-bitten pattern is commonly seen in heterozygous (Gg) Greys. These horses become flea-bitten grey over time and are not born with this coat pattern. We commonly see the flea bitten pattern on many mid to older grey horses, but not every grey horse becomes flea bitten grey.