Grey horses are not the same as a dominant white horse. Horses with the grey gene slowly start to grey out as they age, which causes a variety of different patterns, including dapple grey. Grey is a dominant gene and will overpower any other coloring the horse has.The easiest way to tell the difference between a white horse and a grey horse is the skin color; a white horse will be born white with pink skin and blue eyes, while a grey horse will be born like any other horse with skin to match, and will become white over time.
Grey can take on many forms, such as fleabitten and dappled. Grey horses are usually categorized based on the base coat color; black or chestnut.
Grey can show up in nearly every breed, but is most common in Arabian and breeds descended from Arabian. The Lipizzaner breed made the coloring famous, being comprised almost entirely of grey horses, solid colored horses being considered rare in the breed.
Grey can take on many forms, such as fleabitten and dappled. Grey horses are usually categorized based on the base coat color; black or chestnut.
Grey can show up in nearly every breed, but is most common in Arabian and breeds descended from Arabian. The Lipizzaner breed made the coloring famous, being comprised almost entirely of grey horses, solid colored horses being considered rare in the breed.
Grey or gray?
To answer this ye old question; Britain spells it "grey", the United States spells it "gray", and both are correct in the English language.
To answer this ye old question; Britain spells it "grey", the United States spells it "gray", and both are correct in the English language.
Genes that are in bold are active on the coat. Genes that are underlined are genes that the horse may carry, but will have no visible effect on the coat.
Chestnut Base
Gene sequence : ee · aa · G_ · crcr · dd · chch · ff · zz · stysty · rbrb · rn+rn+ · sb1+sb1+ · w+w+ · to+to+ · oo · splspl · lplp · patn1patn1 · patn2patn2
Black Base
Gene sequence : E_ · aa · G_ · crcr · dd · chch · ff · zz · stysty · rbrb · rn+rn+ · sb1+sb1+ · w+w+ · to+to+ · oo · splspl · lplp · patn1patn1 · patn2patn2