Talk about color changes threw the year

[christina_ski]

I have always called him a silver smokey black, as he looked black when we got him but he has pink/mottled skin on his lips and privates. I was also told his sire is a proven silver smokey black based on what he has produced (Marystown Mercedes) Mercedes dam is a chestnut pinto. I thought about having him color tested but since I planned on gelding him never did (and good thing because it would have been with shelterwood) Anyways, whatever color he is he sure has gone through alot of changes so far this year, and its only August lol.

When we first got him in April

Full clipped a week later

A week before our second show in May

Begining of July

End of July

And just yesterday

You wouldn't believe its the same horse, but trust me it is! I was thinking about showing him in color at Nationals, but didn't pre enter it as who knows what color he will be by then lol.

 

[Laura Leopard]

This might be a dumb question, but are you sure he isn't just sunbleached? I know that black horses are notorious for that.

 

[hobbyhorse23]

He may very well be a smoky black, but all I see there is regular sunbleaching and clipping. He's a cutie though! Love him. Where did you get the bitting rig?

Leia

 

[christina_ski]

I figured alot of it was sunbleaching. When we first got him the person had kept him in a stall almost 24/7, not to mention he had not been clipped yet. And as time has went on he keeps turning this funny color. It's gourgeous in person. And his mane and tail are a dark chocolate color, and then they turn this yuck color in the sun. I hate to keep him stalled as he loves being outside so much, So i guess I just get to deal with sunbleaching. Better then sunburn.

The bitting rig is from Double Diamond. Its has the most supple leather and its a joy to work with. Wanted to mention that the bitting rig comes with the bridle with noseband (not the caveson), side check (I have a different check on it now tho) snap side reins, and the back saddle/crouper. Also comes with training reins, the long flat cotton white ones, but I don't use them.

 

[Laura Leopard]

You can always dye his mane back to black if you want to show him. Not quite as easy to do his body. One thing that helps is black oil sunflower seeds. You could also put a sun shade fly sheet on him. Could you put him in a shady paddock during the sunniest part of the day and turn him out at night?

 

[justjinx]

You may want to consider letting him out at night and stalling him during the daylight hours. this helps keep our black horses from sun-bleaching. jennifer