What does 'Bred in the purple' mean?

[Paint it Lucky]

As the title says! Sorry if this is a dim question!

 

[volatis]

purple is a colour associated with royalty, so bred in the purple implies 'royal' bloodlines or at least superior bloodlines

 

[MrsMagoo]

ahhh im glad someone asked that...somone was going to take my mare for breeding but then said they didnt want as wasnt bred in the purple...thought it was something like that!!!

 

[S_N]

Yes what Volatis said. The colour purple, esp Royal Purple was esp hard to mix and dye into cloth in olden days lol. So the cost of cloth this colour was exceptionally high, really only affordable by royals and nobility. Hence the saying.

 

[BSM456]

It's one of those classic subjective comments made in the horse world. Often used as a put down or an overstatement.

 

[SpruceRI]

Similar to all those people who think the horse they're selling is 'stunning' !!!