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Grey is a pattern of individual white hairs intermingled with colored hairs. It can occur on any base color. Grey foals are born colored and become progressively lighter with age until the horse appears white, but the grey horse retains its dark skin, unlike a true white horse, which has pink skin.
Grey is caused by a dominant gene, G. GG and Gg horses are grey; gg horses are not.
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These three horses are dapple grey. Dappling -- a pattern of round white spots in the coat -- is common in greys. It's also found in other colors and is a sign of good health. |
Let's take a trip through the greying process...
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Grey foals. The one at left was born bay, and the one at right was born chestnut. They will eventually resemble their dams, but it'll take years for them to become that light. A telltale sign that a foal is going to turn grey is a silvery appearance around the eyes and muzzle, as in the colt below.
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This colt is grey, born bay. He is about a year old and mostly shows greying around his eyes and muzzle. |
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This grey filly, born bay, is about eighteen months old. |
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This is actually not the same horse... This is another grey yearling, clearly showing the silvering process around her eyes and muzzle. |
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This young horse, also born bay, is a bit further along in the greying process. |
More fairly young greys:
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The horse at left was born red dun and is turning grey. A horse born a reddish shade (chestnut, light bay, red dun, etc.) who turns grey is often called a "rose grey." |
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Older greys:
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The horse on the right is a shade often called white, but note the dark skin on his muzzle, around his eyes, and inside his ears.
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This horse is what is called a "fleabit grey." Old grey horses often develop tiny brown flecks in their coats. |
