FAO Faracat / colour experts- Ben d'or spots?

sheep

sheep

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Just been going through the other thread there relating to colour and genetics and you seem to be a bit of an expert :D Do you know much about these mysterious patches?

My gelding has a few; one on his shoulder- its about the size of the palm of my hand. He is bay. He also has another on his hindquarters, and another smaller one on his face- all more visible in the winter! Unfortunately for him people tend to assume they are poo stains and that he is a neglected soul :rolleyes: Can you shed any light on why they appear? Or can anyone else? Unfortunately no decent pics actually showing them!
 
From your description, they appear to be Bend Or spots. Best wait for Faracat, she's the expert. If you can post a photo showing the spots it would be very helpful.
 
My filly had one on her nose and a couple of others in other parts of her body.

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My chestnut has a few, they have become bigger as she has got older. Quite large smutty looking black irregular slodges :D

I suspect she is half TB, & like to use the Ben 'dor spot as 'proof' :D
 
My chestnut mare has Bend 'Or and Birdcatcher in her pedigree ID/TB

She has the black AND white spots, she's 4 now but she gets more and more each year.

The white ones are smaller and the black ones almost appaloosa like, she has a lot showing on her hindquarters already this year.

I quite like them :)
 
Oooh just went through the TB side of my boy's pedigree and sure enough there is Mr Ben D'or himself.. I wonder if its purely a weird genetic thing for horses linked to him? Perhaps they are all just freaks :D
 
They sound like Bend-Or spots to me too. :) I have read that they are more common on chestnuts and palominos (which is a chestnut based colour) but they do sometimes occur on black based horses too. I have read that they may be related to Sooty which is very complicated and not fully understood. Hopefully some more research will be done on the subject.

White spots on a horse without LP (spotting gene) are called Birdcatcher spots. ;) Again named after a TB that had them. They can appear and then fade as the ages. If white spots appear on a grey, they are called Chubari spots and the horses that have them are often related to the Tetrarch.

Sabino can cause roany spots on a darker coat.
 
How interesting, I never knew there was a name for these types of spots - both my mares have one, same place same side - like a small oil stain ! They are chestnut and palomino half sisters
:)
ETA Mine are both welsh/WB tho ....
 
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