Equine Science - Griffiths Ch. 3

Question 1

When talking about horse colors, the term “points” refers to what?

Answer 1

mane, tail, lower leg, and ear rims

Equine Science - Griffiths pg. 36

Question 2

What color is always a “Covering over” of the base coat color?

Answer 2

White

Equine Science - Griffiths pg. 36

Question 3

This term refers to a modification of a basic dark coat color in which areas of lighter color are seen on the flanks, girth, lower belly, inside of the legs, muzzle, or above the eyes.

Answer 3

Mealy

Equine Science - Griffiths pg. 37

Question 4

What is a dorsal stripe?

Answer 4

A stripe of color down the center of the animal’s back.

Equine Science - Griffiths pg. 37

Question 5

Give another name for a dorsal stripe.

Answer 5

Back stripe, lineback, eel stripe

Equine Science - Griffiths pg. 38

Question 6

Give 4 examples of primitive markings.

Answer 6

Dorsal stripe; wither stripe or cross; zebra marks around the knee, hocks, or lower legs; cobwebbing or spider-webbing on the forehead

Equine Science - Griffiths pg. 38

Question 7

A circular pattern or ring-shaped pattern in the horse’s coat.

Answer 7

Dapples

Equine Science - Griffiths pg. 38

Question 8

Small flecks of color (which are usually brown or red in color) over the base coat color of an animal are known as what?

Answer 8

Flea bits

Equine Science - Griffiths pg. 39

Question 9

A dark-colored “splotch” on the basic coat color is known as a what?

Answer 9

Blood mark (or handprint)

Equine Science - Griffiths pg. 39

Question 10

What are the 3 basic dark colors for horses?

Answer 10

Black, bay, and chestnut

Equine Science - Griffiths pg. 39

Question 11

Describe the coat color of a bay horse.

Answer 11

A reddish-brown base coat color with black points (black legs, mane, and tail). Bays are not mealy, but can have white markings.

Equine Science - Griffiths pg. 39

Question 12

Chestnuts are also called what?

Answer 12

Sorrels

Equine Science - Griffiths pg. 39

Question 13

If a chestnut has a mane and tail that are very light in color, they are referred to as what?

Answer 13

Flaxen

Equine Science - Griffiths pg. 41

Question 14

Brown coat color is a modification of what two base coat colors?

Answer 14

Black or bay

Equine Science - Griffiths pg. 41

Question 15

Name three dilutions of the basic dark coat colors.

Answer 15

Buckskin, dun, grullas, palomino, cremello/cream

Equine Science - Griffiths pg. 42-3

Question 16

In which coat color are white hairs individually scattered among and intermixed between the base coat-color hairs (not to be confused with all-white patches of hair)?

Answer 16

Roan

Equine Science - Griffiths pg. 45&47

Question 17

Small dark-colored spots on a roan coat are called what?

Answer 17

Corn spots

Equine Science - Griffiths pg. 47

Question 18

What is the difference between a piebald and a skewbald horse’s color?

Answer 18

Piebald is white on a black horse, while skewbald was used for white on any other color than black.

Equine Science - Griffiths pg. 47

Question 19

What 3 coat patterns are included in the term Overo?

Answer 19

Frame, Sabino, and splashed white

Equine Science - Griffiths pg. 48

Question 20

What are the two main types of coat patterns seen in paints/pintos?

Answer 20

Tobiano and overo

Equine Science - Griffiths pg. 48

Question 21

Some horses with the leopard spotting pattern have sparse manes and tails, a trait known as what?

Answer 21

Rat-tailed

Equine Science - Griffiths pg. 51

Question 22

The leopard white spotting pattern includes several decriptively named sub-patterns. Name 4 of them.

Answer 22

Mottled, frost, snowflake, varnish roan, speckled, blanket, leopard, few-spot leopard

Equine Science - Griffiths pg. 51