Question about markings?

Question

kind of a dumb question...but we just had a little appy born at out barn...she only has one spot lol...but striped hooves, and her owner commented on them saying how at least you can tell shes an appy by her hooves... so is striped hooves just an appaloosa thing or can any breed have them? never really thought about it ....

also... you know where a paints (say black and white) 2 colors meet, and its not solid black to white where the 2 colors meet... theres a gray "stripe" in between the black and white... what is that called and is this just a paint thing or can any breed have this marking...like on a sock or something?

i know these are kinda dumb questions but pretty much of the horses at my barn are appys... lol the only 2 that arent are my friends paint and my draft

Answer 1

Nope, striped hooves can be on any breed. It depends on the white markings that are right next to their hooves that dictate the color. Ever notice how a horse with a white sock will have a pink hoof? Well if the white isn't even all around, it will be striped. My Thoroughbred has a few striped hooves.

The gray stripe there doesn't always happen, and it also isn't breed dictated. But I have seen paints with and without the gray stripe. It's just different with different horses.

Answer 2

Any breed can have striped hooves

Answer 3

you can tell it's an appy because the stripes on the hoofs are vertical. for the "convergence zone" (couldn't think of anything else to say... lol!) on a pinto, there is no real name for it i believe. and that can happen not only on paints but on several other pinto breeds.

Answer 4

1.  No, this is not a dumb question. Other horses have stripped hoofs as well.  

2.  First a Paint is a breed whose Sire and Dam must be either Quarter Horse, Thoroughbred, or Paint ancestors.  A Pinto is a color and can be a breed other than a Paint. There can be the color grey within the colored spots or outside the spots also.

Answer 5

no any breed can have striped hooves i have a shetland pon with striped hooves

Answer 6

Appaloosa's have four characteristics: patterned coat, white sclera(white around the iris of the eye), striped hooves, and mottling of the muzzle, eye, genitals.  To be registered with the ApHC (regular papers), a horse must exhibit three of the four characteristics as other breeds may have mottling, white sclera, or striped hooves.  If the foal is a true "few spot" leopard (white with only a few spots), she would be valuable to the breed for reproduction as true few spot leopard are 100% color producers.  If she's another color such as black or bay with one white spot she may still color out in the next few years. If she's a few spot leopard, they should see about getting her registered with the ApHC.  I'd pursue it even if the parents aren't registered horses and if the ApHC won't register her, try the Colorado Ranger Horse Association, or one of the other registries with those characteristics.  True few spots are hard to find and necessary to the breed.

Answer 7

The striped hooves can be in any breed. I had a Rocky Mtn mare that had striped hooves, and I also have a Spotted Draft filly now with striped hooves.

The line where the two colors meet is usually an indication of the horse being homozygous for color. If you breed this mare/stud the have a really high chance of throwing a paint foal.

Remember that no question is a dumb question. These are actually very good questions.

Answer 8

Any breed can have them.  You'll probably notice that if the hair around the coronet, or coronary band is white, you have a light hoof.  If it's dark, you have a black hoof.  If the horse has a split color, or Ermine spots, you'll see a striped or two colored hoof.

For the little grey stripe between the black and the white on a tobiano, it has been called a "blue zone."

Answer 9

I know the appy association people make a bigger deal out of stripped hooves than other associations but it not just an appy thing. I think the shows have rules about not covering them or something. I am way not an Appaloosa person though, one summer camp..... nasty little bugger.

I think the grey stripe you are talking about it where the skin color changes under the hair. and I dont think it has a commonly used name....  I dont think they are dumb questions AND I am going to steal your draft in the middle of the night. What breed is s/he? I have no reason to have one but love them.

Answer 10

Striped hooves can happen to any horse in any breed. Generally, when they have dark lines in a light colored hoof, they also have ermine spots on the leg. (Ermine spots are little black or brown spots on the leg at the base of a white marking). If the horse has dark colored legs, you won't see them, but the marking extends from the hoof UP into the leg, not down as you might think.

Answer 11

Appaloosa are required to have mottled skin around the eyes, muzzle, genitals, and a**s; white sclera in the eyes, and striping in the hooves.  The striping is caused by the same mottling seen on the face.  

Appaloosas don't just have a couple of stripes in the hoof color, they have many vertical stripes of varying width, dark and light.

The grey area you speak of happens where the pigmented skin shows through the white hair on the horse.  It's not just a paint/pinto thing. It's seen on Appaloosas as well.  It's called 'halo'.  It can and does show up in other breeds, stockings, blazes, etc.

Answer 12

xxbamagirl is correct.  

I've owned many.

Answer 13

Striped hooves are not just an Appy thing.  I have a KY Mountain Saddle horse with striped hooves and a registered TWH with striped hooves.

I believe people call the coloring you're asking about a pinto.  My friend had a TWH like that, so I'm going to say it isn't breed specific.  However, different breeds MAY call it different things.  But I call it a pinto.