• Coat Color: Golden brown, relatively even across the entire body.
• Mane and Tail Color: White. Subtly darker roots are acceptable.
• Skin Color: Gray.
• Eye Color: Brown.
• Hoof Color: Solid gray.

Genotype: ee/__/nCr (Cream on Chestnut)
Locus:  Cream, Tapestry, Pearl

Acceptable Variations:

• Isabella Palomino: A very light cream-colored coat, only slightly darker than the mane and tail.
• Chocolate Palomino: A rich chocolatey-brown coat, with white mane and tail.

Interactions:

• Silver: Silver is not visible on red-based (ee) coats.

Examples:

 

 

• Coat Color:  Heterozygous Cream (nCr) is not naturally visible on undiluted black, but you may make the horse a lighter "charcoal" color to show the presence of the cream gene if you wish. Tone should be relatively even over the whole body.
• Mane and Tail Color: Black. Subtly faded brownish or grayish tips are acceptable.
• Skin Color: Dark gray or black.
• Eye Color: Black or dark brown.
• Hoof Color:  Solid gray or black.

Genotype: E_/aa/nCr (Cream on Black)
Locus:  Cream, Tapestry, Pearl

Acceptable Variations:

• Sunburned/Faded: The topline of the horse may be a very dark brownish or grayish color. The faded color should be very subtle, and should blend into the base coat gradually.

Interactions:

• Pangare: unlike regular black, pangare will lighten Smoky Black.
• Sooty: Unlike regular black, sooty can darken Smoky Black.
• Flaxen: Flaxen is not visible on black-based (EE or Ee) coats

Examples:

• Coat Color:  Golden brown body. Black stockings that reach the knees/hocks (or higher) and blend into the coat color.
• Mane and Tail Color: Black. Subtly faded brown tips are acceptable.
• Skin Color: Dark gray or black.
• Eye Color: Brown or dark brown.
• Hoof Color: Solid gray or black.

Genotype: E_/A_/nCr (Cream on Bay)
Locus:  Cream, Tapestry,  Pearl

Acceptable Variations:

• Buttermilk Buckskin: Coat is a creamy tan color instead of golden brown. Legs, mane, and tail remain black.

Interactions:

• Pangare: Black stockings and mane/tail remain solid black.
• Sooty: Sooty may present as totally black instead of dark brown.
• Flaxen: Flaxen is not visible on black-based (EE or Ee) coats.

Examples:

• Coat Color: Vivid yellow, mostly even in tone across the entire body.  Should be robust in both saturation in value, and clearly a primary color; the coat should not appear too orange nor too green.
• Mane and Tail Color: Same color as the coat. Slightly lighter or slightly darker than the coat is acceptable.
• Skin Color: Brown or gray.
• Eye Color: Brown or golden.
• Hoof Color:  Solid gray or brown.

Genotype: ee/_/Tp_ (Tapestry on Chestnut)
Locus:  Cream, Tapestry, Pearl

Acceptable Variations:

• Dip-Dyed: The topline of the horse may be slightly darker or lighter, and/or slightly different in hue. The color shift should be very subtle, and should blend into the base coat gradually. The roots of the mane and tail may match the change and blend gradually to the base coat at the ends.

Interactions:

• Silver: Silver is not visible on red-based (ee) coats.

Acceptable Weld Color Examples:

Examples:

• Coat Color: Dark, deep blue, mostly even in tone across the entire body.  Should be robust in both saturation in value, and clearly a primary color; the coat should not appear too green nor too purple, and must be dark.
• Mane and Tail Color: Same color as the coat. Slightly lighter or slightly darker than the coat is acceptable.
• Skin Color: Black or dark gray.
• Eye Color: Black, gray, or indigo.
• Hoof Color:  Solid black or dark gray.

Genotype: E_/aa/Tp_ (Tapestry on Black)
Locus:  Cream, Tapestry, Pearl

Acceptable Variations:

• Dip-Dyed: The topline of the horse may be very slightly darker or lighter, and/or slightly different in hue. The color shift should be very subtle, and should blend into the base coat gradually. The roots of the mane and tail may match the change and blend gradually to the base coat at the ends.

Interactions:

• Pangare: Unlike regular black, pangare will lighten Woad.
• Sooty: Unlike regular black, sooty will darken Woad. Sooty can appear black instead of darker blue.
• Flaxen: Flaxen is not visible on black-based (EE or Ee) coats

Acceptable Woad Color Examples:

Examples:

• Coat Color: Deep and vivid red, mostly even in tone across the body.  Should be robust in both saturation in value, and clearly a primary color; the coat should not appear too purple, and should not contain brown or orange at all. Black stockings that reach the knees/hocks (or higher) and blend into the coat color.
• Mane and Tail Color: Black.
• Skin Color: Black or dark gray.
• Eye Color: Black or dark red.
• Hoof Color:  Solid black or dark gray.

Genotype: E_/A_/Tp_ (Tapestry on Bay)
Locus:  Cream, Tapestry, Pearl

Acceptable Variations:

• Dip-Dyed: The topline of the horse may be slightly darker or lighter, and/or slightly different in hue. The color shift should be very subtle, and should blend into the base coat gradually.  The legs, mane, and tail must remain black.
• Wild Madder: Like wild bay, the black on legs is visible only on the joints. The coat must be brighter red, rather than dark.

Interactions:

• Pangare: Black stockings and mane/tail remain solid black.
• Sooty: Sooty may present as totally black instead of dark brown.
• Flaxen: Flaxen is not visible on black-based (EE or Ee) coats.

Acceptable Madder Color Examples:

Examples:

Cuirass is a white marking that appears on a Courser's chest and resembes an armored breastplate.
It is always present on the upper half of the chest, but can spread over the shoulders, neck and barrel.
Cuirass will never touch the mane or cross the topline. It will never touch the belly or "connect" behind the forelegs.
Scalloped edges and unnatural patterns and shapes are possible, but should not be so intricate as to resemble Filigree.
Though large cut-outs are possible, Cuirass will never have holes, spots, or disconnected areas.

Cuirass markings are always perfectly symmetrical.

Genotype: Cu_
Locus:  Shares a locus with Crowned.

• Coat: Cuirass is a white marking.
• Mane and Tail: Not affected.
• Skin: Not affected.
• Eyes: Not affected.
• Hooves: Not affected.

Range:

• Minimum: White marking covering the upper half of the chest and extending at least to middle of the shoulder.
• Maximum: White marking covering entire chest and front of the neck, from the bottom of the pectorals to the throatlatch. Will never reach the top of the neck/mane, the belly, or past the front third of the barrel.

Interactions:

• Filigree: All modifications made to a Cuirass marking by Filigree will be symmetrical.

Crowned is a white marking (or group of markings) on top of a Courser's head.

Crowned is always vaguely symmetrical, and may be made of a single marking (with or without cut-outs) or an arrangement of small markings.
The shapes making up Crowned may be "unnatural" should be simple: stripes, spots, or splotches.
Crowned should not appear overly intricate so as to resemble Filigree. Crowned will never resemble religious symbols or lettering.
The edges of Crowned may be crisp or gradually blended into the base coat.

Genotype: Cw_
Locus: Shares a locus with Cuirass.

• Coat: Crowned is a white marking.
• Mane and Tail: Not affected.
• Skin: Pink under marking.
• Eyes: Not affected.
• Hooves: Not affected.

Range:

• Minimum: A symmetrical marking on the forehead, at least the size of the horse's eye.
• Maximum: A symmetrical marking that covers the forehead, ears, and cheeks, but does not reach the muzzle.

Interactions:

• Filigree: All modifications made to a Crowned marking by Filigree will be symmetrical and have crisp, unblended edges.

(Images from left to right: Chestnut Overo with a more minimal visual expression, Chestnut Overo with a more maximum expression, Chestnut Overo with a more mid range expression)

Overo is a white marking that spreads from the center of the body.

It usually appears on the side of the barrel and spreads outwards to the "edges" of the body.
Overo rarely affects the legs, and tends to spread on the side of the leg closest to the belly.
Overo causes irregular spreading of face markings, and can create bald face or badger face markings.
Overo should have crisp edges, which may be smooth or jagged. Overo should not have holes within it's markings.

Notable Interactions:

• Tobiano: When Tobiano and Overo are both present, it is often colloquially known as 'Tovero'.
• ❗ Lethal White: Homozygous Overo (OO) and/or the combination of Overo and Ossuary (nO nOs) result in a fatal condition known as 'Lethal White Syndrome.'  If a breeding results in a foal with OO or nO nOs, that foal cannot be born. Slots and items will still be consumed, so plan your breedings with care!

Additional Notes:

• Badger Face: A distinctive marking that resembles a "reverse blaze" with the base coat showing on the front of the face and white on either side.
• Bald Face: A white marking that covers most or all of the face.

                       
Badger Face

                           
Bald Face

 

Overo's effects on:

• Coat Color: Overo is a white marking.
• Mane & Tail Color: Mane will be white where marking touches. Overo cannot touch the tail.
• Skin Color: Overo will turn skin light pink underneath the white marking.
• Eye Color: Overo can make the eyes blue, even if the marking does not touch them.
• Hoof color: Overo will turn hooves cream or light tan where touching.

Overo Range

Minimum Range:

Overo can be hidden entirely. Minimal expression will result in an irregular white marking somewhere on the barrel or neck of the horse.

Minimum Maximum out of range

Maximum Range:

Irregular white that spreads out from the belly. White markings should not touch the topline or "cross" the center of the horse anywhere but the belly.

Blanket is a white marking that expresses as a spotted patch of white on the horse's croup.
Blanket spots are randomly placed and vary in size, but in general should not be larger than the horse's hoof.
Blankets may be surrounded by patches of coat that are lightened (resembling Roan) or occasional spots darker than the base color (see examples below).

Genotype: nLp patn
Locus:  Blanket is part of the Leopard Complex group of patterns, along with Snowflake, Snowcap, Leopard, Varnish Roan, and Fewspot.

• Coat: Blanket is a white marking.
• Mane and Tail: Typically unaffected, though white hair or white roots where touching are acceptable.
• Skin: May cause pink speckled skin.
• Eyes: Not affected.
• Hooves: May cause tan-striped hooves.

Range:

• Minimum: A spotted white patch visible on the top third of the hindquarters.
• Maximum: Spotted white that covers the hindquarters and barrel as far forward as the withers. May affect the legs in irregular strips/patches or cause irregular white markings. The base coat will show on the face, neck, chest, and shoulders.

(Images from left to right: Chestnut Sabino with a more minimal visual expression, Chestnut Sabino with a mid range expression, Chestnut Sabino with a maximum expression)

Sabino is a white marking that spreads from the underside of the body, specifically from three areas: the throat, the elbow area, and the stifle area.
Sabino has jagged, speckled edges.  Minimal Sabino has crisp, clear edges,
but higher-coverage Sabino causes Roan-like lightening and gradual edges.
As Sabino spreads, it remains more dense/extensive on the underside of the body.
Sabino causes irregular spreading of face markings, and can create bald face markings.

Additional Notes:

• Badger Face: A distinctive marking that resembles a "reverse blaze" with the base coat showing on the front of the face and white on either side.
• Bald Face: A white marking that covers most or all of the face.
• Gulastra Plume: A white or partially-white tail with no other white visible on the body.

Badger Face

Bald Face

Gulastra Plume

Sabino's effects on:

• Coat Color: Sabino is a white marking.
• Mane & Tail Color: Mane will be white where marking touches. Gradients or white roots are acceptable.
• Skin Color: Sabino will turn skin light pink underneath the white marking.
• Eye Color: Sabino does not affect the eye color.
• Hoof color: Sabino will turn hooves cream or light tan where touching.

Sabino Range

Minimum Range:

Sabino can be hidden entirely. Minimal expression will show in irregular white at the throat, elbow, and stifle.

Minimum Maximum out of range

Maximum Range:

Irregular white that spreads out from the throat, elbow, and stifle, with roaning and speckling around the edges. White cannot touch the ears.

  Flaxen on Chestnut (Maximum)

Flaxen on Chestnut

Flaxen on Liver Chestnut

Flaxen is a lightening of the mane and tail, giving a blonde appearance.
Flaxen can appear cream, gold, or red-gold. Gradients and base-colored roots are acceptable.
Flaxen does not appear on black manes/tails, and will have no affect on horses with black- or bay-based coats.

Genotype: ff
Locus:  Not shared with any known genes
Flaxen is recessive, and will not be visible unless a horse inherits Flaxen from both parents (ff). Horses with 'nf' will be noted as 'Carrying Flaxen' but will not show the gene.

• Coat: Not affected.
• Mane and Tail: A light gold or cream color compared to base color.
• Skin: Not affected.
• Eyes: Not affected.
• Hooves: Not affected.

Range:

• Minimum: Subtle gold or red-gold tinted lightening of mane and tail. A base-color gradient from the roots is acceptable.
• Maximum: Light near-white cream color mane and tail.

  Silver Black

Silver Bay

Silver Woad

Silver Grullo

Silver is a lightening of the mane and tail that appears white or ashy gray.
Silver can be nearly white, slightly cream, or gray. Gradients and base-colored roots are acceptable.
Silver is only visible on black-based manes and tails, and will not be visible on horses with chestnut-based coats.

Genotype: Z_
Locus:  Not shared with any known genes

• Coat: Not affected.
• Mane and Tail: A light gray, white, or blond color compared to base coat.
• Skin: Not affected.
• Eyes: Not affected.
• Hooves: Not affected.

Range:

• Minimum: Subtle grayish lightening of mane and tail. A base-color gradient from the roots is acceptable.
• Maximum: Nearly white mane and tail.

  Illuminated Bay

Illuminated Woad Champagne

Illuminated Chestnut

Illuminated is a lightening of the skin and hooves, regardless of coat color.
Skin and hooves will appear pale and uniform in color regardless of markings.

Genotype: Lu_
Locus:  Not shared with any known genes

• Coat: Not affected.
• Mane and Tail: Not affected.
• Skin: Pink, cream, or tan. Uniform in color, with no freckles or change underneath markings.
• Eyes: Not affected.
• Hooves: Cream or tan. Uniform in color, with no stripes or change by white markings.

Range:

• Minimum: Visible lightening of the skin and hooves.
• Maximum: Very light pink or cream skin and hooves.

Interactions:

• Gilt: When Gilt and Illuminated are both present, skin and hooves will present as a bright version of Gilt.
• White Markings: Illuminated will affect the skin of the entire horse, including skin underneath white markings.

This trait is attached to horses that Carry Ether.
Ether is a base coat dilution that causes a silvery-blue to purplish tone throughout the coat.

Ether is recessive; a horse needs to be homozygous with two copies of the gene (erer) for it to be visible.
A carrier with only one copy of the gene (ner or Cher) will not express Ether.

Genotype: ner
Locus:  Not shared with any known genes
Horses with 'ner' or 'Cher' will be noted as 'Carrying Ether' but will not show the gene.

Expression of heterozygous (carried) Ether:

• Coat: Not affected.
• Mane and Tail: Not affected.
• Skin: Not affected.
• Eyes: Not affected.
• Hooves: Not affected.

This trait is attached to horses that Carry Pearl.
Pearl is a base coat dilution that causes a shiny warm saturated brown color throughout the coat.

Pearl is recessive; a horse needs to be homozygous with two copies of the gene (prlprl) for it to be visible.
A carrier with only one copy of the gene (nprl) will not express Pearl.

Genotype: nprl
Locus:  Shared with Cr and Tp; horses with 'Crprl' are Cream Pearl. Horses with 'Tpprl' are Tapestry Pearl.
Horses with 'nprl' will be noted as 'Carrying Pearl' but will not show the gene.

Expression of heterozygous (carried) Pearl:

• Coat: Not affected.
• Mane and Tail: Not affected.
• Skin: Not affected.
• Eyes: Not affected.
• Hooves: Not affected.