Black horse
Black is a hair coat color of horses in which the entire hair coat is black. Black is a relatively uncommon coat color, and it is not uncommon to mistake dark chestnuts or bays for black.
| Black | |
|---|---|
Black Irish Draught horse | |
| Variants | Fading, non-fading, possibly genetic |
| Genotype | |
| Base color | Extension "E" |
| Modifying genes | none |
| Description | Solid black base color uniform over entire body other than markings |
| Skin | Black |
| Eyes | Brown |
True black horses have dark brown eyes, black skin, and wholly black hair coats without any areas of permanently reddish or brownish hair. They may have pink skin beneath any white markings under the areas of white hair, and if such white markings include one or both eyes, the eyes may be blue. Many black horses "sun bleach" with exposure to the elements and sweat, and therefore their coats may lose some of their rich black character and may even resemble bay or seal brown, though examination of the color of hair around the eyes, muzzle and genitals often will determine color. Black horses that do not sun bleach are called "true" blacks.
Some breeds of horses, such as the Friesian horse, Murgese and Ariegeois (or Merens), are almost exclusively black. Black is also common in the Fell pony, Dales pony, Ostfriesen and Alt-Oldenburger, Kladruber, and Groningen.