Horse Breeds and Colors

Breed Definition and Color

• A breed is a group of animals of the same species that share common traits.
• Bay: any shade of brown with a black mane and tail, and often black on the legs.
• Chestnut: generally a darker brown with a mane and tail of the same color.
• Sorrel: a lighter brown with a mane and tail of the same color.
• Grey: usually has dark skin, with a coat that can be any shade of grey with dapples or flea-bitten.
• Black: black coat and skin must be black.
• White: very rare, with a white coat and skin, and often referred to as an albino if it has pink eyes.
• Palomino: coat is the color of a new-minted penny, with a white mane and tail.
• Buckskin: yellow color coat with black mane, tail, and legs.
• Dun: can be various shades of yellow, always with a dorsal stripe.
• Roan: can be strawberry (red and white) or blue (black and white).

Health

• Normal temperature: 99.5-101.5 °F.
• Normal heart rate: 32-48 beats per minute.
• Normal respiratory rate: 8-20 breaths per minute.
• Body condition/weight: should be monitored for fatness or thinness.
• Hair coat: should be shiny and glossy.
• Hoof growth: should be normal, smooth, and uncracked.
• Eyes: should be bright, fully open, clear, and without discharge.
• Normal hydration: should be monitored.
• Normal feces and urine: firm fecal balls, wheat-colored clear urine.
• Healthy pink mucous membranes: should be present in gums and lips.

Body Condition Score

• Most horses should be in a body score of 5-6.
• Broodmares should be a 5-7, and not allowed to lose condition during breeding season.
• Horses over a condition score of 7 may be at a greater risk for developing metabolic disorders.

Nutrition

• All feeds include six basic nutrients: protein, carbohydrates, lipids, minerals, vitamins, and water.
• Protein: an essential nutrient.
• Carbohydrates: an essential nutrient.
• Fats: an essential nutrient.
• Minerals: an essential nutrient.
• Vitamins: an essential nutrient.
• Water: an essential nutrient.

Signs of a Sick Horse

• Bowel changes: a sign of illness.
• Cranky with other horses: a sign of illness.
• Unsteady gait: a sign of illness.
• Depression: a sign of illness.
• Head shaking/tossing: a sign of illness.
• Restless: a sign of illness.
• Rapid breathing: a sign of illness.
• Unexplained sweating: a sign of illness.
• Excitability: a sign of illness.

Digestive System

• The digestive system consists of a single compartment stomach.
• Food is swallowed directly into the stomach, where it is mixed with digestive juices.
• The cecum is a blind pouch or cul-de-sac at the first portion of the large intestine.
• The cecum acts like a rumen and is involved with microbial digestion (fermentation).

Selecting and Judging Horses

• Requires knowledge and information about breeds, conformation/structure, soundness, and movement.
• Breeds: need to be identified and understood.
• Conformation/structure: need to be evaluated.
• Soundness: need to be evaluated.
• Movement: need to be evaluated.

Breed Definition and Color

• A breed is a group of animals of the same species that share common traits.
• Bay: any shade of brown with a black mane and tail, and often black on the legs.
• Chestnut: generally a darker brown with a mane and tail of the same color.
• Sorrel: a lighter brown with a mane and tail of the same color.
• Grey: usually has dark skin, with a coat that can be any shade of grey with dapples or flea-bitten.
• Black: black coat and skin must be black.
• White: very rare, with a white coat and skin, and often referred to as an albino if it has pink eyes.
• Palomino: coat is the color of a new-minted penny, with a white mane and tail.
• Buckskin: yellow color coat with black mane, tail, and legs.
• Dun: can be various shades of yellow, always with a dorsal stripe.
• Roan: can be strawberry (red and white) or blue (black and white).

Health

• Normal temperature: 99.5-101.5 °F.
• Normal heart rate: 32-48 beats per minute.
• Normal respiratory rate: 8-20 breaths per minute.
• Body condition/weight: should be monitored for fatness or thinness.
• Hair coat: should be shiny and glossy.
• Hoof growth: should be normal, smooth, and uncracked.
• Eyes: should be bright, fully open, clear, and without discharge.
• Normal hydration: should be monitored.
• Normal feces and urine: firm fecal balls, wheat-colored clear urine.
• Healthy pink mucous membranes: should be present in gums and lips.

Body Condition Score

• Most horses should be in a body score of 5-6.
• Broodmares should be a 5-7, and not allowed to lose condition during breeding season.
• Horses over a condition score of 7 may be at a greater risk for developing metabolic disorders.

Nutrition

• All feeds include six basic nutrients: protein, carbohydrates, lipids, minerals, vitamins, and water.
• Protein: an essential nutrient.
• Carbohydrates: an essential nutrient.
• Fats: an essential nutrient.
• Minerals: an essential nutrient.
• Vitamins: an essential nutrient.
• Water: an essential nutrient.

Signs of a Sick Horse

• Bowel changes: a sign of illness.
• Cranky with other horses: a sign of illness.
• Unsteady gait: a sign of illness.
• Depression: a sign of illness.
• Head shaking/tossing: a sign of illness.
• Restless: a sign of illness.
• Rapid breathing: a sign of illness.
• Unexplained sweating: a sign of illness.
• Excitability: a sign of illness.

Digestive System

• The digestive system consists of a single compartment stomach.
• Food is swallowed directly into the stomach, where it is mixed with digestive juices.
• The cecum is a blind pouch or cul-de-sac at the first portion of the large intestine.
• The cecum acts like a rumen and is involved with microbial digestion (fermentation).

Selecting and Judging Horses

• Requires knowledge and information about breeds, conformation/structure, soundness, and movement.
• Breeds: need to be identified and understood.
• Conformation/structure: need to be evaluated.
• Soundness: need to be evaluated.
• Movement: need to be evaluated.

Learn about different horse breeds and their characteristics, including color classification and variations.