If Chestnut and Sorrel are Genetically Identical, then

[rabbitsfizz]

They are Chestnut

ALL shades of Chestnut/Sorrel test the same genetically- that is what I was trying to explain.

It is as silly as saying "I have a Rose Grey"

No- I accept it is slightly different as the Chestnut does not often change shade during it's life- OK I shall accede that, but, basically, the coat shade is not inherited, the colour is.

Rocky Mountain Horses are predominantly SILVER- a lot of the so called Flaxen Chestnuts are Silver Bays in this bred.

There are a couple of Arabs with splendidly blond manes and tails on rich, dark bodies but, again, this is just Flaxen acting on the mane and tail and we do not know how Flaxen is inherited, yet.

Tostado is a self coloured Chestnut, Ruano is a Flaxen Chestnut- again, just shades and modifiers at work, nothing magical that needs a separate name or clouds of mystery around it- it sounds nicer in Spanish, maybe???

 

[sdmini]

. The AQHA does not recignize chestnut as a color.

Yes they do. The horses standing side by side, one is registered sorrel the other chestnut.

 

[Dona]

Well, in Standardbreds they are chestnut or sorrel. In the description on the papers they are registered as a chestnut if the main and tail are red, a sorrel if the main and tail are flaxen. I owned and raced them years ago. I don't know how things have changed since then since they did not DNA then. But to me that is how I would describe the two colors (and to me they are two colors). I hace also heard Mini horse people say their horse is a chocolate palamino. AMHA says there is no such color. They told me they were silver dapple. So I guess you just call them as "You" see them"

: and go with the flow.

That's fine, if you aren't breeding for color.

:

There is a BIG difference between a "chocolate" Palomino and a Silver Dapple!

Silver Dapples may "resemble" the shade of a Chocolate Palomino....but they are two completely different color genes. A Silver Dapple does not have the creme gene necessary to produce Palominos. So if you are sold a Silver Dapple but told it is a "Chocolate Palomino"......don't expect it to throw any any palomino babies. :no:

I also agree with Rabbit. Red is Red....not matter what the "shade". Whether you call it Sorrel or Chestnut...genetically, they are the same.

:

 

[Little Wee Horse Farm]

And we have a very fast-draw winner. :risa8: All right Rabbit! Your prize is getting to share my popcorn. Oh heck, here, have a box of your own. :lol:

I'll just add that tostado can put on the darker red down the legs, thus confusing things just a little further. I don't believe the ruano always has a flaxen mane or tail, but can, whereas the tostado has a mane/tail same color as hide.

 

[chandab]

In ranch country here, since the beginning of time (yes, I am old, lol) the sorrels are the lighter, or 'regular' red, the chestnuts, or liver chestnuts are the darker deeper red. If the boss told you to go saddle up the sorrel and use him for the day, and you saddled the chestnut instead, you would be laughed off the job (but probably fired first). Terms differentiate between the two shades of red. Just like a smutty buckskin does not look like a regular buckskin. A 'bay' does not look like a 'brown'.

Some breed registries have different rules about what they call them and what they accept.

Someone else who was raised around the same kind of people I was. [i wasn't on a ranch, but knew these kind of people.] So, did you have "filly colts" and "stud colts" too?

:

The AQHA does not recignize chestnut as a color.

Since when? My 1989 AQHA mare is registered as a chestnut (well technically I sold her, but I owned her for 11 years). [she was deep red with red mane and tail.] I can e-mail you a copy of her papers where is says "chestnut" for color.

 

[sdmini]

So, did you have "filly colts" and "stud colts" too?

:

I don't know if Laurie does but I do. I also have "own sons of". :bgrin