What horse most commonly has a flea-bitten grey coat pattern?

Question

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28406267@N04/2651846216/

try this link everyone....this is her, as I said, she was rescued. I DID NOT PUT HER IN THIS CONDITION, so please no messages about horse neglect or abuse. She will not look like this for too long!!

Answer 1

The first horse that I ever rode was a flea-bitten gray and was a Thoroughbred his name was Joker.  Maybe that is why I am so partial to grays. I've seen Saddlebreds, Quarter Horses, of course Arabs...and alot of cross breeds as well as the english pony breeds.  Could be National Show Horse (Arabian & Saddlebred)..and Standardbreds, Tennessee Walkers...Morabs

Perhaps you could post a picture of her so we can see her conformation and take a guess.

Also, how "tiny" are her hooves???  A 17hh horse shouldn't have "tiny" hooves.  Is she very lanky and fine boned? Also, gray coat patterns change quite a bit as a horse ages..and most grays will turn whiter with age.

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So sorry to hear about her past...but thank goodness she has a brighter future.

Just take it nice and easy with her..get to know her and her know you. You gotta have a lot of empathy for her ways at this point.

Maybe the saddle is hitting her in a very sore spot.  When tightening the cinch..do it gradually and not all at once in case she bloats up her stomach and so she won't freak out from the all at once tightening which shouldn't be done anyhow. I would just let her relax a little and maybe not even be so concerned with the riding part right now.  Let her know there is more to life than working and being beat fortunately not to death.

Just give her lots of TLC and hopefully she will learn to trust again.  BTW- many Thoroughbreds have small dishy faces too.  And the body type does seem more TB or maybe even Standardbred but that's not important..the fact that you have given her a new chance at life is and I thank you for that!!

My thoughts and prayers are with you in establishing a healthy loving relationship.

Answer 2

The grey gene is pretty common in many breeds. Arabs are most notable for it but it's also very common in many other breeds as well.  (Many modern breeds can trace thier ancestry back to Arabian influence though so it's not surprising)

Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, Paints, Warmbloods, Morgans, ASB, TN Walkers, Andalusians, National Show Horses ect can all be grey along with a multutude of other breeds. Too many to list.

However, if the horse is 17hands as you say, she just can't be a purebred Arabian. They just aren't that big. A "huge" Arabian is 16 hands and they are generally between 14.2 & 15.2. Never heard of one that tall.

Considering the size and without seeing her I'd guess at a Warmblood of some type or a TB. I've saw QH's at 17h but they are pretty rare and most have a lot of TB blood or are in fact appendix QH's

Actually used to know some people who breed really nice Warmblood-type horses used for jumping & dressage by crossing a black Percheron Stallion on Arabian and TB mares. Many of those foals were grey. The Arab crosses were a great combination of both breeds, generally had the size of the sire with the lighter, but more dense bone of the Arab, with more bulk to the body but still retaining the quicker reflexes of the Arabs and with beautiful heads, most with a pronounced jibbah

Answer 3

Arabs are usually the most common for the flea- bitten grey.... But I have seen many TB's and Quarter horses that are too.

Answer 4

Arabians

Answer 5

Well, let me tell you right now. That is definitly not an arab. Arabs do not get to be 17 hands tall. Im going to  say if she has the arabs traits such as a dished face and daitny build, that she is an anglo-arab (thoroughbred arab cross). She could just be a random breed, however.

Answer 6

Oldenberg is a possibility.

I rode a 17hh flea-bitten grey oldenberg named Elfin. Just thought I'd throw that one out there too =]

Sounds like the majority votes Arab though. Perhaps she is an arab mix rather than pure arab?

Answer 7

Most commonly Arabians have that particular coat pattern, but at 17 hands, she's either not fully Arabian, or may be an Arab/Thoroughbred cross, as both breeds present that coat pattern.

Answer 8

I have two flea bitten grey Arabs, haven't measured yet they are both 15 hands at least.  I tried to post a picture but it wont let me.  I have never seen a 17 hand Arab, 16 hand yes.  I have a 17 hand TB, maybe yours is a cross breed.  Post a picture of your horse and someone here will be able to tell you color and breed.

Answer 9

The size makes it sound like a TB....and there are some out there this color, but just guessing!

Answer 10

Do you have a photo of your new horse?  Lots of Arabs are fleabitten, but I had a dapple gray TB mare who had fleabites, especially in the summer and especially as her coat and dapples lightened.  17h is pretty honkin' big for an Arab, though!  Is she a draft cross?

Answer 11

Arabians are the most common horse to come in white.

But do you mean the color called "dapple grey"?

The link below is the color:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/border_coll...

Answer 12

I can't believe ppl are saying ARAB!!! A 17 HAND ARAB??? No way. And I am surprised more ppl didn't say TB. We have a TB Farm near us and there are a lot of Greys.

If it has a dished face then I would say it is a X between an  Arab and TB.

Is it lame? Is something wrong with it? If so I would DEF say it is a TB because they sell them SUPER cheap after a track injury.

Answer 13

Do you have a photo of your horse?  All greys can become flea bitten at they grow older, I would like to see a photo of your horse.

Answer 14

Arabian,,

Quarter Horse Sometimes,,

Answer 15

There's no photo on your link. $225? What is wrong with her? Where do you live? I hope you post a pic of her.

Answer 16

Arabian

Answer 17

I looked horse for sale today that is a huge boned Quarter Horse that is really flea bitten. I have seen several others and had one of my own years ago. So, I would say most any breed that can have grey for a color can be flea bitten.

Answer 18

Arabians are known for being grey. And most grey horses will turn flea bitten as they age.

Answer 19

Welsh ponies or Arabians

Answer 20

Arabian

Welsh pony

Australian Pony

and

Connemarra