Colour experts: difference between brown and bay?

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
KLaWX86.jpg


Summer
k1FQC3Y.jpg


Spring

dmEgsjG.jpg


Thanks.
 
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
KLaWX86.jpg


Summer
k1FQC3Y.jpg


Spring

dmEgsjG.jpg


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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
Last edited:
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 :-/

11148502_1622287814721944_4711621749704130670_n.jpg


14657446_1820472881570102_6775277647101033820_n.jpg


10401133_1716885098595548_2816683632548292784_n.jpg
 
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
 
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.
 
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'.)

DE9KVuZWsAAOErn.jpg
 
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 :D :D
 
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 :)

ciXeoPK.jpg
 
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 :D :D

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!
 
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 :)

ciXeoPK.jpg

What about walnut? He's lovely.
 
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 :

Ea5jj


And apparently pictures aren't working hmmm
 
Last edited:
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 :

Ea5jj


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.

nIMMrj6.jpg
 
Top