Buckskin (horse)
Buckskin is a colour of horse that is commonly misconceived for being a breed of horse. Buckskins coloring is a
black base coat to the points, and one copy of the cream gene
(CCr), which lightens the red/brown color of the bay coat to a tan/gold.
Buckskins should not be confused with
dun-colored horses, which have the dun dilution gene
, not the cream gene. Duns always have primitive markings (shoulder blade stripes, dorsal stripe, zebra stripes on legs, webbing). However, it is possible for a horse to carry both dilution genes; these are called "buckskin duns" or sometimes "dunskins." Also, bay horses without any dun gene may have a faint dorsal stripe, which sometimes is darkened in a buckskin without a dun gene being present. Additional primitive striping beyond just a dorsal stripe is a sure sign of the dun gene.
A buckskin horse can occur in any number of different
true-breeding
trait.
See also
References
- "Horse coat color tests" from the UC DavisVeterinary Genetics Lab
- "Introduction to Coat Color Genetics" from Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis. Web Site accessed January 12, 2008
Media related to Buckskin horses at Wikimedia Commons