Buckskin Horses
A Brief Guide To The Color Breed
Buckskin horses are what are known as a color breed. The term buckskin refers to the coat color of these horses, which is typically a tan or golden coat with black points on the mane, tail, and lower legs.
Below we will be talking about the different shades of coat color that qualify a horse as one of the many registered buckskin horses.
The Genetics
The buckskin coat color is present due to genetics at work. The creme dilution gene acts on a bay horse. A bay horse has the traditional "black base coat" (E) gene and the agouti (A) gene.The creme dilution gene acts to lighten the coat to the buckskin color you are familiar with, while restricting the black base coat to the black points you see on buckskin horses.
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Color Requirements For Registration
In order to have a registered buckskin horse, the American Buckskin Registry Association (ABRA) and International Buckskin Horse Association (IBHA) both have standard color requirements.Here are some color basics and descriptions on those coat colors.
Buckskin: Described as having a coat in a shade of tan which might range from a lighter creme to a darker bronze. Black points are present over the mane, tail, legs, and around the ears. Some may have a dorsal stripe, but it is not a requirement.
Dun: Described as having a coat color also in a shade of tan, but possibly slightly different. The coat can range from a lighter creme to a dirty brown. To be considered a dun, a dorsal stripe is required.
Red Dun: Described as a red or red/brown color. A
dorsal stripe must run the length of the tail on a red dun.
Grulla: This is described as coat color that is slate in tone with a blue-gray hue. Coat colors can range from a lighter blue-gray to even a brownish shade. A dorsal stripe is required for this coat color and it is also considered the rarest of equine coat colors.
Dun Factor Markings: Dun factor markings are considered primitive markings matching the shade of the mane and tail.
- The dorsal stripe is the most common and runs along the spine from the mane to the tail.
- Shoulder and neck stripes are dun factor markings on the neck and can consist of one or many lines
- Leg barring markings are found over the front and back legs. They give the appearance of tiger stripes
- Mottling are darker areas over the coat, giving a smoked appearance to the coat
- Frosting occurs at the edge of a buckskin horse’s mane and base of its tail
- Masking is the appearance of darker shades over the muzzle moving up towards the eyes
- Cob webs are darker lines starting on the forehead and moving down over the eyes
- Ear tips are a darker outline around the outer part of the ears
To be registered by the ABRA or IBHA a horse must not be a draft horse. However, ponies may be registered in a different section of registry for each association, but may not be allowed to compete in horse classes.
Allowed White Markings
White markings are allowed in registered buckskin horses. The markings can be present over the head and legs as long as:- On the legs it does not extend up farther than the center of both knees and hocks
- On the face it does not extend past the line point from the center of the ear to the corner of the mouth
- On the chin it does not extend from one corner of the mouth to the other
