Coat Colors of the Morab

Tags: Morab, Coat And Colors

 

The Morab tends to inherit specific physical traits from Arabians and Morgans. For example, the Morab always inherits the shorter back of the Arabian and the longer croup of the Morgan. But while some characteristics seem to be set in stone, one characteristic can be quite varied, that of the horse's coat color. Not only does the horse inherit the standard coat colors of the Morgan, but also the blending of lighter colors. White markings are often found on the face and can appear on any of the four legs. However, any kind of Pinto or Paint Horse patterns are highly discouraged. Here we'll take a look at the possible color and pattern combinations that can be found among Morab horses.

The color definition of the Morab is as varied as one would expect the result of a cross of two different breeds would be. Chestnut can range from shades of golden red to dark reddish brown. While the mane, tail and legs are not black, they are the color of the body and can also be shades darker or lighter. A brown coat is basically a black coat with lighter, mealy areas at the muzzle, eyes and inside the legs. A bay coat can be anywhere from a reddish tan to a dark mahogany brown. What sets the bay apart from the chestnut is that the bay will always have a black mane, tail, and legs below the knees and hocks. A black horse is truly black in color with no lighter spots.

Grey is the coat color name given to those coats that have both dark and white hairs, are dapple grey, or are white. Palomino coats can be anywhere from a creamy yellow to a deep, golden yellow. This coat color is usually seen with a flaxen, silver, or white mane and tail. Dun can be defined as a yellowish coat with a dark dorsal stripe. Stripes are sometimes seen on the legs as well. Buckskin is very similar to dun in that it is a little darker than the dun color but with a black dorsal stripe. As opposed to the dun, buckskin will have a black mane, tail, and lower legs.

There are six different leg markings that are considered acceptable for the Morab. Pastern is a white color that extends up to the pastern, or the two bones that extend downwards from the fetlock. Fetlock is a white color that extends up to the top of the fetlock, or what we would think of as the ankle. A sock marking extends up to the middle of the cannon, or the bone that is found between the knee and the fetlock. The stocking marking extends up past the mid-length of the cannon. The coronet is a white marking that only extends up to about one inch above the hoof, and the heel is a white marking that is only found on the back of the hoof.

The three facial markings include the star, a white marking found above the line running between the eyes, the strip, which extends from the eye line to the line between the nostrils, and the snip, which is a white or flesh colored mark between the nostrils or on the upper or lower lip.

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