Is my "bay" Miniature Horse turning grey?

Question

I wish I had a recent picture of him but I will try by best to explain it.

I don;t know if he is turning grey or if he is just changing to a lighter bay?

He was nearly black, then we clipped him and we found darker spots along with some grey hairs (just random not enough to see unless you get right next to him) It is possible he is turning into an Appy. to because his father was.

Anyways, it has been a few months since that clip and we clipped him again yesturday...an know his bellieand flanks? are a silverish light brown. Aaround his eyes and nose have ALWAYS been a light bay color (we joke he looks like a mule lol)

Also, after we shaved him he had light daples on his back/withers. He has few more grey hairs :) and NO darker spots o.O

Can anyone guess what his miystery color might be?

He is 1y/o so I know his color can still change xD

This si what the dapples look like, but ony on his back and down his withers.

http://www.c-zone.net/wheelgat/Rambler.jpeg

Answer 1

A bay by definition has black points... black ears, black below the hock and knee, black mane, black tail.  The first photograph of a mature horse is a dapple bay..

The second photo at this time appears to be a sorrel, or some derivation of it.  He's not a bay anything He's not a bay appy, not a bay paint, nothing bay.... his mane and points on his ears are not black.  Whether or not he gets grayer as he ages, can't tell.  He may just end up a solid color, with appy breeding.  And if he never develops a blanket, you can't show him in an appy show.

So, looking at this photo, the best I can guess is his color would be regarded as a sorrel.

Answer 2

that color is considered a bay roan, roan is when there are little white or gray hairs on the top coat this will not go away ( if i'm right witch i sure that i am)

Answer 3

he may just turn Chocolate in the Summer heres my mini and he is Chocolate with silver mane and tail

http://s159.photobucket.com/albums/t133/...

Answer 4

He very well could turn grey. I had a bay quarter horse mare that turned almost white with a jet black mane and tail by the time she was 5 or 6.  

Answer 5

If your horse is turning gray, you will usually first see white hairs around the eyes and ears. The horse in the first picture has the silver dapple gene. In the picture of the mini, the light points on the nose is usually indicative of a brown horse. Brown horses will have these light points. It is also possible for a bay with the silver gene to have light points where a bay is supposed to be black because the silver gene only expresses itself in diluting black.

This is a picture of a brown horse. Notice light points on his nose.

http://spotted.horsecity.com/pages/big_p...

Answer 6

Well, he could be what you would call a roan....

or, he might turn gray..I don't think there is a definite answer..you just have to watch the transformation!!

I love dapples..and especially on a bay as in the picture!!

Enjoy him no matter what color he turns out!!  I would start to take pictures so you have something to refer back to as it happens as a reminder of what was to what is!!

-----add----

actually in the picture he looks like a liver chestnut!!  He's adorable!!  What breed?  You said his dad is an Appy...what was his mother?  Is it possible that the dad is a Pony of Americas POA which is a pony with appaloosa coloring.

Answer 7

The picture of the mature horse is a true  bay with dapples, the foal appears to be a liver chestnut. It is very possible that your colt will grey out if any of his parents  or grandparents were grey. Most greys start out as black or very dark grey, but a number of them start out with a chestnut or bay coat as a foal which then sheds into  grey. If this is the case with your guy, he will probably be completely grey by the age of 3-4

Answer 8

no its because of the sun tire putting sunscreen on him  

Answer 9

I don't see any change in colour on his ears, legs, etc.  I've body shaved a LOT of horses and they normally still show their black points.  Looks like you've got a brown baby.