Colour experts: difference between brown and bay?

[Abi90]

She's very nice (just my sort), and looks bay to me .

Thank you very much and she probably is and is pretty regardless

 

[Sussexbythesea]

I've always wanted to know whether my boy was brown or bay. I think he may have sooty. He looks bay with black mane, tail and legs but had a mealy muzzle in winter.

Winter head

Summer

Spring

Thanks.

 

[Wagtail]

I've always wanted to know whether my boy was brown or bay. I think he may have sooty. He looks bay with black mane, tail and legs but had a mealy muzzle in winter.

Winter head

Summer

Spring

Thanks.

I'm very torn on this one. What a lovely, shiny boy! I think he looks dark bay with sooty in the middle picture but more brown in the top and bottom picture. However, I'm going to say dark bay on balance.

 

[JJS]

I'm very torn on this one. What a lovely, shiny boy! I think he looks dark bay with sooty in the middle picture but more brown in the top and bottom picture. However, I'm going to say dark bay on balance.

I'm leaning towards brown, but he is a tricky one.

 

[Sussexbythesea]

Thanks Wagtail and JJS

One vote for bay and one for brown so far. This is why I've never been able to decide. Perhaps I should start a poll

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Looks Brown to me without a doubt.

 

[ester]

The thing is, as it is (at the moment) a shade term not backed up by any genetics it is very subjective and open to opinion, certainly plenty of geneticists therefore just prefer to stick with bay, the same as they do for all the chestnut shades until we know more.

I would only tend to use brown for those who were it not for their brown muzzles (etc) would be called black.

 

[Spiritedly]

My girl in Summer, Winter and clipped. She is passported as bay but to me seems more seal brown....Excuse the lack of hat I had been doing work with her in the field and was too lazy to walk back so hopped on for a lift :-/

 

[Wagtail]

My girl in Summer, Winter and clipped. She is passported as bay but to me seems more seal brown....Excuse the lack of hat I had been doing work with her in the field and was too lazy to walk back so hopped on for a lift :-/

Lovely example of seal brown.

 

[Wagtail]

Thanks Wagtail and JJS

One vote for bay and one for brown so far. This is why I've never been able to decide. Perhaps I should start a poll

Do you have any pictures of him in winter coat as often this shows up brown the best?

 

[ester]

spiritedly yours is the shade I do call brown. Even in summer coat if you chopped the head and stifel off she could still pass for a black

 

[Leo Walker]

The thing is, as it is (at the moment) a shade term not backed up by any genetics it is very subjective and open to opinion, certainly plenty of geneticists therefore just prefer to stick with bay, the same as they do for all the chestnut shades until we know more.

I would only tend to use brown for those who were it not for their brown muzzles (etc) would be called black.

Same here. As this shows, photos can be very deceiving.

 

[Pippity]

I've always wanted to know whether my boy was brown or bay. I think he may have sooty. He looks bay with black mane, tail and legs but had a mealy muzzle in winter.

Yours looks a very, very similar colour to my share horse - complete with summer dapples - so I was hoping the thread would come up with a definitive answer! I think I'll stick to calling him dark bay. (Or 'conveniently poo-coloured'.)

 

[ester]

Lol calling someone's new horse an excellent colour should it decide to lie in poo got me a defriend a few weeks ago! I'm pleased other people see it as a distinct advantage too

 

[Sussexbythesea]

Do you have any pictures of him in winter coat as often this shows up brown the best?

Full winter coat in February. Never clip as he doesn't have a thick coat. He does look different to other colours imo as his lighter bits are very chestnutty. His coat is a mix of brown and chestnut coloured hairs in winter and looks quite chocolatey. I call it brindle although I technically know it isn't brindle. Imo the his colour deserves its own name as 'brown' sounds boring

 

[Pippity]

Lol calling someone's new horse an excellent colour should it decide to lie in poo got me a defriend a few weeks ago! I'm pleased other people see it as a distinct advantage too

I have no idea whether B. is a naturally very clean horse, or if it's just that none of the stains show. Either way, it's a fantastic time-saver! Give me a poo-coloured horse every time!

 

[Wagtail]

Full winter coat in February. Never clip as he doesn't have a thick coat. He does look different to other colours imo as his lighter bits are very chestnutty. His coat is a mix of brown and chestnut coloured hairs in winter and looks quite chocolatey. I call it brindle although I technically know it isn't brindle. Imo the his colour deserves its own name as 'brown' sounds boring

What about walnut? He's lovely.

 

[Sussexbythesea]

What about walnut? He's lovely.

Thank you I'm biased but I think so too. I think walnut sounds a great description, I think I'll use that in future.

 

[Bojingles]

Two brown Irish jobs.

One is a son of the famous Cornet Oblensky, SJ stallion. The other is just famous in her own right

Ooh FW, your coloured, what a gorgeous, gorgeous chunk of a beast

 

[Abi90]

The winter fluff is starting to come out now, someone requested a photo. She's got a bit darker but not much so think she is definitely bay, she is on a slope so whilst she is still bum high she's not that bum high :

And apparently pictures aren't working hmmm

 

[FfionWinnie]

Ooh FW, your coloured, what a gorgeous, gorgeous chunk of a beast

Ha ha thanks. I prefer her hogged and clipped out myself!!

 

[ester]

The winter fluff is starting to come out now, someone requested a photo. She's got a bit darker but not much so think she is definitely bay, she is on a slope so whilst she is still bum high she's not that bum high :

And apparently pictures aren't working hmmm

I can see it if I copy the link so quoteing to see if it comes up.

ETA nope

bay for me though.