I actually didn't think that spots could appear over time but saw pics (I think on here) of a foal with no spots on back end I think then the same horse years later that was spotty all over! There was a woman and a dog ????? I think sitting on the horse lying down...
They can change colour. Mine was born roan but developed into a few-spot appaloosa. He was white with brown spots (and one black one!) in summer, and in the winter he got a lot of ginger hair on his legs, belly and beard. The older he got, the less ginger he got.
He was by a very well-marked leopard-spot and out of a blanket-spotted mare so I'm not quite sure what happened!
Yes they can. A few are born bay but then get spotty, it's normally the snowflake pattern or lacey blanket that this happens with. A leoprad spot is normally born either completely leopard spotted or with a blanket.
Ours is out of a chestnut tb & by a leopard spot stallion. The breeder was very surprised that a spotty foal wasnt born as he usually throws them (unknown if he is homozygous, it was just assumed! not the best of breeders - & i use the term breeder loosely!) We arent bothered that shes bay,but she would make a very nice spotty pony!
My mare was born solid chesnut, but is now at 12 chesnut roan with varnish marks, both her parents are VERY loud spotted creatures. She is the first offspring from them and all the subsequent ones are solid colour sadly. I did hear of one that was bought as a solid coloured (bay) who at 13 suddenly started showing spots, so it seems it can happen at any time. The old Appy was quite roan when we bought her as an 8/9 year old, she got more of a white base coat with black, chesnut and one palamino spot
Her coat changed colour daily I think
We used to play count the spots, but never managed it
we bought her very cheap as she wasnt a spotty & she had also been neglected because of this
she came to us worm ridden (iv never seen such large worms even come out of a neglected horse!) seriously underweight, rain scald & 'weaned' the night before by being taken from her mum & shoved in with a nasty yearling colt. Shes also very small because of all this.
Will just add that i didnt buy her just because she was cheap, i was genuinly looking for a compainion for my foal & honestly thought she would end up dead if i left her there. Shes now a happy, almost healthy foal & the breeder has been reported to the relevant authorities for neglect.
Passport for my appy says bay filly and she's a chestnut roany colour now, with spots on the hindquarters, and changing every day! I cant say 100% that she was born bay as i never saw her and have reasons to believe the passport i was given for her isnt actually hers (verrrrrry dodgy dealer!!!!) but i have heard others say their foals have been born solid colours and have spotted out later on.