Brown

A brown-haired horse, having a very durable hide, is subject to the "sunburn" appearance. Standard brown and seal brown are the most clearly defined shades of brown and are the best known.

Standard Brown

The pigment pattern of this shade deflects and refracts light, a variance that may cause varying shades of brown. The pigmentation runs in solid rows for the length of the hair shaft, which allows no straight course for light to pass through.

Seal Brown

The reddish cast to this pattern is created by occasional gaps in the rows of brown pigment. The spacing and arrangement leaves the ends of the rows barely overlapping, thus more greatly refracting than reflecting light.

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.
See also:
  • Sponenberg, Dr. Phillip, DVM, PhD. Equine Color Genetics. Iowa State University Press. 1996.

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© Copyright 1998-2002 NorthWest Breyer Horse Club.
Published August 1998 in the NorthWest Breyer Horse Club newsletter. (em)

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