The black suit of a horse belongs to the basic ones along with red and bay. Horses with this coat color look very impressive. Some breeds have only this color, for example, the Friesian. In general, this suit is considered common among other breed lines.
Black horse
General characteristics of the black suit
The term “black horse” is found only in Russian, while in others it sounds like “black”. If you remember what the crow’s wing looks like, it will become clear why this suit is named that way. The raven is not just jet black, its feathers have a beautiful blue sheen. In black horses, the wool also shimmers in the sun, shines and seems blue-black.
Black horses are characterized by signs:
- jet black mane and tail;
- Brown eyes;
- dark skin pigment.
Attention! Contrary to popular belief, the horny layer of the hooves of these horses does not have to be black. In some individuals it is gray.
Black foals are born with an unevenly colored brown coat, but with age, the color changes to charcoal. When molting, even in adults, the hairline becomes heterogeneous and dull. Scientists believe that the beauty and brilliance of the skin directly depends on the quality of nutrition and the conditions in which animals are kept.
Features of the gene responsible for color
The black suit is one of the main colors in the classification. It is determined by the presence of the E (extension) gene, while the red color gene is designated e. Horses of this color can have 2 different genotypes:
If you cross a black horse with a red one, the offspring can inherit both the characteristics of the father and the mother. The result will depend on the genotype of the black parent. For example, if a crow-wing stallion has both genes in the genotype – E and e, and the mare that happened to him is red (her genotype), then the probability of getting black foals is 30%.
Red and black horse
The probability of having a black foal will increase to 50% if both parents have the Ee genotype or one of them has the EE genes and the other has the ee genes. One hundred percent obtaining black offspring is possible only from a stallion and a mare, in the genotypes of which the E gene (extension) predominates.
Black color options
There are several varieties of black suit. Each of them has certain characteristics.
Классический
Horses classified in this category are characterized by a clean, uniform and rich coat color. Their hairline almost does not shed and does not fade in the sun due to the persistent pigment. The classic black suit is distinguished by a characteristic overflow to blue, if you look at the animal in bright light.
Tan shade
The peculiarity of black horses in tan is that their hairs have an unstable black pigment. In summer, under the influence of sunlight, their tips burn out, become red. Animals appear dirty brown throughout the hot season. In winter, hair color is completely restored.
Ash-black
This type of suit differs from the classic one in a lower saturation of the pigment. The coat of such horses in bright light casts a slight chestnut tint. Scientists believe that the ash-black color at the genetic level is associated with the nightingale, bulan and isabella suit.
Ash-black color of horses
silver black
Another version of the black color is silver-black. It is characterized by the presence of light gray apples with a silvery overflow scattered over the body of the horse. In this case, the head of the animal is always darker than the body.
Raven-piebald
Horses with this color are unusually beautiful. In their genotype there is a piebald gene inherited from one of the parents. Their fur is jet black with large spilled white spots.
Raven roan
Thanks to the roan gene, an unusual effect occurs – black and white hairs grow mixed on the horse’s body. From the side, such horses seem smoky gray or mousey.
The variety of options for the black suit is amazing. This color is especially attractive in the classic version. Friesian horses, which are only black, are proof of this. They are considered among the most beautiful in the world.
At all times, people treated black horses with trepidation and endowed them with magical properties. For example, the inhabitants of India believe that a horse with black hair brings death and misfortune. Breeders from developed countries are sure of the opposite – black horses are noble, have high efficiency and a subtle mind.
