Appy question

[Becky]

Clpped this 4 yr old stallion today. I was happy to see his white blanket increasing in size, but I also noted the black spots all over his butt. He doesn't have them anywhere else on his body. So, are these appy spots?

 

[Lost Spoke Ranch]

YES!

Dawn

 

[Molly's Run Minis]

cool markings!

they certanly look like spots to me!

 

[ruffian]

Pretty coloring! What are Ben d'or spots?

 

[Becky]

Thanks, Dawn, for your opinion! I'm very happy to see these spots and the increasing white blanket.

Here's an explanation of Ben d'or spots. Random dark spots on horses, usually seen in chestnuts and palominos.

Bend-Or spots (or Ben d'Or, Smuts, or Grease Spots) are a type of spotted marking found on horses. They are fairly rare and range in color from slightly darker than the horse's coat to an almost-black shade. These random spots are most commonly seen on palominos, chestnuts, and darker horses, and may not appear until the horse is several years old. It is still unknown what causes these markings, as they do not appear to be related to other spotting patterns. However, they are often correlated with horses showing sooty traits.

 

Unrelated patterns may be confused with Bend-Or spots. Some roan horses have patches of darker hairs called "corn marks" or "corn spots." While these resemble Bend-Or spots, they are linked to solid-colored hair growing in over minor cuts or scratches to the skin, and thus the underlying genetic cause appears to be unrelated. Another pattern seen primarily in some gray horses is dappling, the presence of darker hairs in round shapes against a lighter hair coat. However, dapples are an intermediate stage of the graying process, and will only last a few years.

 

These markings were named after the Thoroughbred stallion Bend Or, a chestnut who had such spots. Bend Or's pedigree includes several horses with such spots.

 

[REO]

My red pinto stallion Sonny has those just like that. He also carries Sabino. So with his rump was roany-white and those spots on his rump, People thought he was a pintaloosa! But he has no appy.

I'm not an expert but they look just like all the Bend-Or spots I've ever seen!

Cool markings!

 

[Jazzysmom]

I Breed Appaloosas, and I will say , these are common to see on a horse who has a blanket, granted, genetic studies on the Appaloosa LP gene is limited, if he is an LP Carrier, then I would say these may be "stray" spots

does he come from appaloosa-patterned/LP carrier horses??? as I will say, his white marking are peculiar, and ALMOST looking like a sort of brindling, or chimara effect...

 

[Field-of-Dreams]

If they're just on his butt I'd say yes! Elvis has them all over- one right on the back of a cannon that looks like hoof polish....

and he does NOT carry Lp.

Lucy

 

[bluerogue]

The dark appy spots like that are called reverse spots (that's what I've always heard them called). Our Orion granddaughter has spots like that. She's a light silver dapple varnish roan appy, and has white spots, as well as very dark spots.

They could be Ben D'Or spots, but they could just as likely be reverse appy spots. Either way, he's got cool markings!

 

[Ashley]

I say they are not appy spots. We once had a sorrel that had those spots and he wasnt appy bred at all. None of my appy horses big or small had those spots.

 

[Becky]

Jazzysmom, yes, he is appaloosa bred top and bottom. Sire and dam are both patterned appaloosas. He has an intense Orion pedigree.

Thanks, everyone for your opinions!

 

[REO]

I was thinking more on this

I've seen many sorrels and some silvers with Bend-Or spots. (both solids and pintos) But not all sorrels and silvers have them. Like some horses have Sabino and some don't. ETC Can't those Bend-Or spots be just a thing like dapples, Sabino, Splash, etc etc. Just another "gene" (pattern or whatever) that can show up on solid horses, pinto horses or appy horses? Because they DO.

Those dark spots are common in red/pinto horses, can't they be sort of common on appies without them being appy spots? Lots of appies carry pinto patterns (socks, stars, blazes etc) So why couldn't they also carry whatever Bend-Or spots are too?

Because they look exactly like the spots that my horses have! (mixed pinto-Sabino patterns-no appy)

Not sure how clearly I'm writing this. I know what my thoughts are, but not sure how well it came out LOL.

Just like Lacing. IMO just another interesting thing!

I was just wondering & thinking about all the neat stuff that goes with horses colorings!

 

[ohmt]

I think they are spots and will stay as the white spreads and he gets his blanket. You can see how the white outlines or fits around some of the spots and that's what makes me think so

 

[chandab]

I think they are spots and will stay as the white spreads and he gets his blanket. You can see how the white outlines or fits around some of the spots and that's what makes me think so

I know little about appy spotting, but can see both "sides"... Both what is said in the above quote, or that they are just Bend-or spots and nothing to do with appy; so probably only time will tell, and when his blanket grows you'll know one way or the other.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Yes, Becky, those are appy spots! My 3 year old stallion was born with a blanket much like your boy's. He stayed the same till last spring, as a 2 year old he shed out with a huge white blanket with dark spots, which I think is what's happening to your boy. Dude's black, so his dark spots didn't show till his white spread out.

Melba

 

[HGFarm]

At first glance I say no, not appy spots because they are usually a more definite spot, not colored 'underneath' like those are.... but...... that's an awful lot of spotting for Bend D'Or spots and more concentrated so I have to lean towards Appy spots after studying the pics.

 

[Becky]

Laurie, that's what I thought too on the location. The horses I've seen with Ben d'or spots, had them randomly on their bodies. The only dark spots on this horse are all concentrated to his hip. Pretty evenly spotted on both sides.

 

[HGFarm]

Yeah that's what I was thinking Becky, there is almost a pattern going on there... usually horses with the Bend D'Or spots juat have some random ones anywhere- not like an entire butt pattern.

Yes, they are just like the box of chocolates! Never know what you will get. I have a mare that is about 9 now that is STILL changing from year to year, LOL

 

[frostedpineminis]

My colt that had bend or spots got them at a later age and they were not uniform in shape or placement.

 

[Jazzysmom]

Blankets don't "Grow" a correct blanket, should be, when the horse is stripped of hair should have a differing pink area, where the blanket is, vs the black skin were the base coat color will be. granted, LP carrier appies, that aare carrying the "greying" gene, should slowly, overtime collect more white hairs, but those typically start around the shoulder, and over the hind end. even as they age and their coat color may turn them to practically white, their blanket pattern underneath on their skin typically does not change drastically.

do you have some pictures of the parents? Im interested to see them