What would you call this coloring?

[Pjmillion]

We have a yearling gelding and I am not sure what you would call his coloring -Before trimming the dun stripe was very pronounced. Now it is coming back along with lots of little spots on his back. He is such a sweety pie!

 

[elizabeth.conder]

Do you have any unclipped pictures? Clipping removes most of the colored part of the shaft.

 

[Pjmillion]

He has grown in some. The spots have appeared as the hair grows.

 

[Silver City Heritage Farmstead]

I'm going out on a limb here and guessing silver bay dun with a chance of appaloosa coloring in those extra spots. I don't see other appaloosa characteristics (mottled skin on lips or genitalia, striped hooves, eye sclera) so that one's a bigger stretch. Will be interesting to see how he changes.

 

[elizabeth.conder]

He’s a unique one. I’m going silver bay Appaloosa. Possibly silver Smokey black appaloosa as well. I don’t see dun since the dorsal clipped off. Likely nd1. Likely carries frame or splash with those blue eyes.

 

[Pjmillion]

I'm going out on a limb here and guessing silver bay dun with a chance of appaloosa coloring in those extra spots. I don't see other appaloosa characteristics (mottled skin on lips or genitalia, striped hooves, eye sclera) so that one's a bigger stretch. Will be interesting to see how he changes.

He does have black splotches on his penis

 

[Silver City Heritage Farmstead]

Looks like elizabeth.condor might be a better guesser than I.

She's a breeder, and does have some appaloosa if I remember correctly. I'd forgotten to mention the splash because of the blue eyes.

Appears that you might have some of just about every color there!

 

[Pjmillion]

One of his blue eyes has a spot of black on the iris.

 

[Pjmillion]

And his mother was a blue eyed frame.

 

[kimbalina]

I would have guessed taffy! but we all know I’m an amateur! Very beautiful

 

[Silver City Heritage Farmstead]

Kimbalina, remember that taffy is what much of the world calls bay/black combined with silver. So, the consensus is that he is silver SOMEthing.

https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/test/silver
Above is a link to UC-Davis information about color testing. I posted it because it contains information about the silver gene and it's relationship to MCOA, an eye abnormality. Below is the link to UC-Davis information on MCOA:

https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/test/mcoa
Since your little guy most likely carries silver, you'll want to pay particular attention to his eye health. If you notice any signs of light sensitivity, reactivity that might indicate sight deterioration or any little weepiness, discuss it with your veterinarian as soon as you can. MCOA is best treated earlier rather than later.

I hope I haven't scared you. I have a friend who bred silver horses before the connection between Z/Z and MCOA were discovered. I saw first-hand the eye issues. In your case, forewarned is forearmed.

 

[Pjmillion]

Thank you!

 

[elizabeth.conder]

I am no expert lol. The issue guessing his color is the Appaloosa gene causes color shifting. So that makes it very hard. Do you have baby pictures?

 

[Pjmillion]

No baby pictures They did say that he would get spots as he got older.

 

[chandab]

I'm going to go with what Elizabeth said above, definitely silver; but the appy color shift might be affecting shade. I'm leaning towards smoky silver black.

 

[Pjmillion]

Thanks for all the response! Lots of smart people on this forum!