Buckskin Horses and Ponies

Traditionally, genetic bay, brown and black horses that carry one copy of the code responsible for diluting red coat pigment to gold have been referred to as buckskin horses.

Welcome to Buckskin Horses and Ponies, a page for everyone who loves this gorgeous member of the cream dilute family.

On this page you'll find

• tips on feeding dilutes
• advice for showing buckskins
• the different shades of buckskin

With advances in genetic knowledge and the ability of owners to test for various coat colour and pattern modifiers, and the realisation that because cream does not modify black pigment so can be carried almost invisibly by black horses, there is now considerable debate over what the name 'buckskin' applies to ....

Buckskin, smoky brown, brown buckskin, smoky black, dilute black, black buckskin ....?

 

So....which is correct and what is the difference?

 

There is a more detailed explanation of these terms in the Colour Genetics page. 

 

In some countries 'buckskin' refers specifically to black based horses that carry agouti and one copy of cream whilst 'smoky black' or 'dilute black' is used to refer to black based horses that carry one copy of cream but do not carry agouti.

In other countries, including Australia, the term 'black buckskin' has traditionally been used instead. 

 

I guess they are all 'correct' because ultimately they are all black based horses that carry one copy of cream. Just depends on where you live and what terminology you're used to.

In countries where smoky blacks are eligible for registration with buckskin associations they compete in the same classes as standard buckskins.

To recap on the basic genetics of the buckskin....

• a standard buckskin (cream to tan coat with black points) carries cream and bay agouti on black
• a brown buckskin (smoky brown) carries cream and brown agouti on black
• a black buckskin (smoky black) carries cream only and does not carry any agouti