NWBHC Equinealities, Sorrel Color

Sorrel

Having less pigment in the hair and hide than other self colors, sorrel is usually considered to belong to draft breeds. Drafters have thicker hides, thus withstanding more abuse than thinner hides of the light-boned chestnut breeds. However, the color sorrel itself is not as durable, and pigmentation in all shades is less than comparable shades of chestnut. Not having as much pigment as other self colors in the top three layers of dermis tissue, sorrels are more subject to affects caused by Sunrays, pressure, and sweat. Horses of the lightest shades must receive more attention when fitting harness and other trappings so as to prevent as much scuffing and chaffing as possible because their hides are not as durable.

A sorrel horse may have black hooves like those of intense colors, but usually the hooves are amber-colored. As a consequence, they require more care and shoeing than horse with darker hooves. A horse that is chestnut sorrel, dark sorrel or standard sorrel should have a mane and tail that is the same shade as the rest of the coat to be a true representative of the shade. However, to be a true representative of their shades, horses of all lighter shades mut have flaxen manes and tails. There is a lighter shade of hair on lower legs from knees and hocks to the ground in all shades. Inside the hair shaft, pigment deposits are in a circular pattern around the wall of the hair. the lightness or darkness of the shade is determined by the number of circles of pigment. There is never any pigment circle in the exact center of the hair, so than when refracted light passes through the deposits and strikes the non-pigmented cneter, it will create a glow that causes the buff tone to show through. This will explain the light cast of the undertone chestnuts have and why the hair becomes lighter on the legs from the body to the hoof. A chestnut will have legs that become darker than the top coat from the knees and hock to the ground.

Chestnut Sorrel

Though it has a confusing description, the darkest shade of sorrel has long been described as chestnut sorrel. The horse should have a matching mane and tail. Also to be a true sorrel, the hair on its legs will be of a much lighter shade, portraying the buffing effect of the pigment pattern. The most durable hide of the sorrel shades is found in the chestnut sorrel. There are heavy pigment deposits around the outside wall of the hair, and a small opening in the center which runs the entire length of hair.

Dark Sorrel

As the name implies, it is a dark shade, but its underbelly is considerably lighter than chestnut sorrel and more buff shows in the hair on the lower legs. The hide is serviceable and in some instances there may be black hooves. This shade usually begins to show dark amber pigmentation in the hooves. It has a thinner pigment layer inside the wall of the hair shaft, the center consequently wider, than the chestnut sorrel.

Standard Sorrel

Uniformly the same color all over the body, the standard sorrel has legs a still lighter shade from the middle joints to the hoof. The mane and tail of a standard sorrel horse can be a shade lighter than the horse’s overall body color, which is caused by lighter hair with body-colored hair. The center opening is wider and pigment layers less in number in the hair shaft.

Bright Sorrel

Having a lesser pigment pattern, the Bright Sorrel has an appearance of a glow. There should be a flaxen mane and tail, and the leg coloring from the middle joints is considerably lighter. There is less durability in the hide when compared to darker shades. More than two-thirds of the central shaft is open, and the pigment layer thinner than that of chestnut sorrel.

Light Sorrel

Also a uniform color with flaxen mane and tail, light sorrel lacks the glow of bright sorrel due to the difference in quantity of pigment. This causes a lesser refraction of light. The hide is slightly more durable than that of bright sorrel, but still not as durable as the darker shades. The central core is even larger and the pigment layer is extremely thin just inside the shaft walls.

Blonde Sorrel

This shade must have a flaxen mane and tail, and the lighter the better. Also the upper regions of the body should have slight sorrel coloring much lighter on the shoulders and underbelly. There is little pigment within the hair, but it is still of the sorrel pattern and should not be confused with palomino. The coloring continues down the legs to the hoofs in its lighter pattern. The hooves should have sufficient pigment to have a slight amber color. This horse’s hide requires a good deal more attention than other sorrel when fitted with harness and trappings. This is to prevent scald, chaffing, and other skin and hair impairments. Verging on a dilute, when blonde horses are bred to each other, a high percentage of the offspring will be dilute.

Look for an update on this article with genetic information soon.

Source:

Green, Dr. Ben. The Color of Horses, The Scientific and Authoritative Identification of the Color of the Horse. Northland Publishing. 1974.