Bay horses are the most common. Animals with a monochromatic brown color or with darkened areas are widespread. Less often, you can see a chestnut color of a horse with lightened areas. Individuals of the bay color have been known since ancient times. The beauty and strength of animals is mentioned in many folk works. In addition, bay horses are considered hardy and fast, which was necessary in the distant past. Even now, more often than not, animals of this particular suit become absolute champions in races and races.
For the Slavic people, the bay color has long been characterized by fumes and fumes, which sounds like "nidor" in Latin. The mane and tail of the animals seem to have been touched by fire. In the villages, such horses were often affectionately called Gnedko and worshiped for their obedience, stamina and hard work. It is not without reason that the Arab nationality has such a judgment: one should not acquire a red horse; black is allowed to sell, take care of the white, and ride around on a chestnut horse.
The main hereditary factor in horses is color. The individual characteristics of the horse, color, eye color, character depends only on the suit and there are no disagreements in the characteristics of the animal. Over the course of time, due to some differences in individuals, the concept of "spreads" was introduced - various colors of a bay suit. Such an introduction became necessary, since in ancient times, four main suits were distinguished, according to which the distinctive features and characteristics of horses were determined:
- Bay.
- Black.
- Redhead.
- Gray.
In connection with the combination of such suits, others appeared over time. Now experts have at least 14 basic colors, and if we take into account their shades, then the score will reach 30.
Suit, swipe and swipe
Suit is understood as the color laid down at the genetic level of the horse. This is a combination of factors - hair pigmentation, skin and eye color.
For example, if you meet wild horses in their natural habitat, you can be surprised at their very unexpected protective color, which depends on the environment and the season. Man-bred (cultured) breeds are distinguished by a wide variety of colors. Experts have about fifty shades of fourteen suits.
And then, for some specialists who rely on the genetic code, this number seems large. Some suggest reducing the classification to three suits, leaving everything except the gray one. Other experts are ready to reduce the number to two - black and red. But attempts are still attempts and breeders and hippologists - experts in the study of horses, rely on the classification, which has been conducted since ancient times.
Cuts are different shades of colors, they can vary greatly. Sometimes only a specialist can determine a bay horse, because, because of the shades, they begin to confuse it with a different color. The word "otmastka" is rarely used among professionals, they usually say so - cherry bay.
Apprentices are the rest of the horse color options, often characterized by the presence of spots, markings and tan marks.
In addition to the main types of markup, there are 7 types of markup:
- Bucky apprentice. It is characterized by a basic yellow-brown color with a sandy or earthy tint.The suspension and limbs (above and up to the hocks) are coal. A "wild" gene can reward a horse with "zebroid" on the limbs and a black "strap" on the back. There are several varieties of this apprentice: the light-brown horse is almost milky in color. The legs and mane with the tail are black, they create a contrast with the main color;
- the dark-brown one is similar to the light chestnut suit. Black spots are scattered over the body of a sandy color;
- golden and silvery dun horses are distinguished by the ebb that appears in the sun. For golden ones, it is respectively gold, for another apprentice it is silver. In addition, the latter variety is characterized by a dark pattern on the withers, reminiscent of the wings of a butterfly;
- in bulan-piebald, white spots of usual large size are chaotically scattered over the body. This is considered a manifestation of albinism, that is, the animal lacks the melanin pigment.
- the chestnut legs are less light than the tail and mane. The silver gene mainly affects only the dewlap. The coat on the legs is brown in light shades;
A horse's color is not just about the color of the hairline. This is a genetically inherent type of distribution of pigment in the body of an animal - in the skin, in the iris of the eye. If two horses of a similar body color have different eyes or the color of the mane, tail and brushes, then these are horses of different colors.
The variety of combinations is so great today that, in addition to the concept of “suit,” the terms “about.
The four main
In the strict sense, only four are considered suits:
- redhead;
- bay;
- black;
- gray.
This classification has been adopted since the era of Hippocrates, but in recent years, attempts have been made to revise it from the point of view of genetics. So, the alternative classifications of Sponenberg and Bowling appeared. According to Sponenberg, the main colors are red, bay and black. Anne Bowling cut that list down to two, leaving only the black and red.
The concept of a bay suit, as one of the four main ones, has existed since the time of Hippocrates.
Variations and shades
The degree of saturation of hair color in animals of the same basic color is not the same. Different shades of the suit are called shades.
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All other variants of horse colors, other than the four basic ones, are apprentices.
Newborn foals have an indeterminate color. The foal acquires a permanent color only by the age of six months, after the first molt.
Content
All worries about keeping horses are reduced to equipping the stables and feeding. The stable area must be dry and warm. It should not be blown through by drafts. The floor of the stall is covered with hay. The stall must have a window, a feeder for dry food and a container for water.
Horses are fed in small portions 4-6 times a day. One hour before feeding and one hour afterwards, the horse must not be loaded. A horse's diet may include hay, grass, silage (differs from hay in the way of harvesting, because of which it contains more water), vegetables and fruits, grains and bran. One horse needs 40 liters of water per day.
Special attention should be paid to harness. It should be comfortable enough, not rubbing anywhere or causing discomfort to the horse.
What horse is called a bay
To understand what color characterizes the bay color of horses, one can recall the picture of the famous hippologist and genre painter Nikolai Yegorovich Sverchkov "Hunting with Greyhounds" (1889). It depicts a rider on a horse with a shiny chocolate skin, black legs and mane.
The classic representative of the bay suit.
Etymology of the name
There are two versions of the origin of the word "bay". According to one of them, it is related to the Czech lexeme, which means "swarthy" in translation. According to the second, it goes back to the outdated verb "oppress" - to ignite.
All bay horses have the following features in common:
- the color of the head, neck, body and legs up to the hock joint is brown;
- the color of the tail, mane and lower legs is black;
- the skin is gray;
- brown eyes;
- black edging of the ears.
Sometimes foals of this color with a light belly and legs appear, but after molting, the light hair goes away.
Bay foals have light legs. The color changes after molting.
Sweep
The brown color of the body is of varying degrees of saturation. Depending on this, several marks are distinguished.
| Light bay | The cover color on the body is light or reddish brown. Brown hair comes across in the mane or tail. |
| Dark bay | The shade of brown is very dark, the color of black coffee. This is especially evident on the head, shoulder blades and crest. |
| Deer-bay | It has a darker color of the upper part of the body (head, neck, back, croup, sides) and a lighter color underneath (muzzle, throat, abdomen). |
| Chestnut | The cover color is even, rich chestnut, shiny. |
| Golden bay | A variant of a light chestnut shade. The color is yellow-brown, slightly reddish. |
| Cherry (red) | Deep brown bright shade, with a transition to red. |
| Wild | Reddish brown color of the body. The black hair on the legs reaches down to a bind and then is thinned to brown. |
There is a gradation of apprentices from light to deep dark color.
Apprentices
From the main suit, various options for apprentices arise.
- Sodly. It is "bay", decorated with narrow lightened areas around the eyes, lips, nostrils or groin.
- Karakovy. A transitional variety between black and bay. These are horses with black mane, tail, legs, upper body and dark brown groin, muzzle and sides.
- Roan. The apprentice arises from all the main colors, including the bay one. It is characterized by a strong admixture of colorless hair in the outer coat.
- Chubary.A chestnut color with small spots, in which an admixture of colorless hair is concentrated.
- Silver bay. The body color is typical for the main suit, but the mane and tail are strongly lightened.
The division into suits, swipes, spotting and other classification methods is rather arbitrary. Disputes about them continue, and taxonomy is in constant flux.
Subspecies may have different parts lighter: mane, legs, back.
Interesting Facts
It is worth noting that the specific shade of the chestnut color of the horse's coat depends largely on the season. In the summer heat, the hair burns out in the sun, as a result of which it lightens by one or two tones. In addition, in summer, the shine of the hairline is also partially lost, which makes it look more matte. In winter, hair color and shine return to normal.
It is possible to partially preserve the quality of wool even in the hot season. For this, the living creatures should be kept in the shade for most of the day, minimizing the time the horse is in direct sunlight.
Another interesting fact is that apples can appear on the body of a chestnut horse. This usually happens if the breeder arranges proper housing and feeding conditions for the stallion or mare. But this feature is manifested not in all animals.
Bay horses have shown themselves to be advantageous in the sports field. Since the inception of equestrian sport as a separate discipline, most of the winners and champions in races have been bay. This contributed to the fact that even today many famous athletes choose horses with this color as a pair.
Of course, the high popularity of horses of this suit determines the corresponding price for them. The cost of eminent stallions with a good pedigree at auctions is estimated at millions of dollars.
Main characteristics of "bay"
There are several main characteristics of the bay:
- two-tone suit;
- the base is brown, the saturation and tone are varied - from pale sandy to almost black;
- dewlap (mane and tail) - black, not fading in the sun, as, for example, in the black suit;
- the ears are edged with a black rim;
- the coloration of the lower limbs is black;
- always black pasterns and fetters - keratinized bony growths located 20 cm above the hooves (except for wild dressing);
- the skin is gray, sometimes with pink blotches, typical of some apprentices;
- eyes are brown, hazel.
In small foals up to six months, the hair is soft and long, then it gradually changes and becomes hard and short. By this time, an individual color is already manifested. Therefore, it is difficult to say what color the cub was born in, it is necessary to wait a certain time.
Bay horses are constant participants in various sports and horse races, they win first places and often become record winners, whose names fit into the "horse" history:
- So, the long-liver record holder is a gelding named Billy. While the average horse lives for 25 years, he lived for a whopping 62 years. And his life was not strewn with roses, his whole life from birth to death, he towed a barge along the coast.
- The volcano is a heavy truck, which in the distant 1924 was able to carry luggage weighing 29.5 tons.
- The dark chestnut horse Nearco is the progenitor of many champions who win prestigious competitions every year.
- Picolo Ribot is an Italian horse who has never once learned what a loss is, since he has only one winnings in his piggy bank. He managed to come to the finish line, overtaking his rivals by several buildings.
- The best English racehorse officially recognized is the Frankel. It was valued at a record $ 200 million.
- Graceful and beautiful horse Poetin with a tragic fate, which received from fans the nickname "Ballerina" and more prosaic - "Million Dollar Baby".She has shone since 2000 at various exterior competitions, where she has always been in the favorites, and in competitions her canter, trot and step were highly rated by the judges, often setting the maximum score.
The generally accepted classification of horses was created in ancient Greece. It was customary to divide the horses according to the dominant color: gray, black, bay and red. Over the past century, the classification has been revised several times. Many scientists propose to supplement the list or exclude certain colors from the classification of the main suits.
Black
The black horse is distinguished by the black color of the coat. It got its name from its bluish-black tint, reminiscent of the shine of the black wings of a raven. Depending on the season and age, the color of the coat can change to dark brown. This color is also inherent in the eyes of animals. Some individuals may have apple markings on their bodies. The skin of animals is dark. The shade of the coat is affected by a sharp change in climatic conditions.
Horses of non-shedding breeds are born black. The wool of such animals does not fade in the sun. Molting rocks are born ash or dark brown. When individuals grow up, their wool in most cases does not reach a rich black color.
Blacks are not found in all horse breeds. The black color of the coat is not typical, for example, for heavy gafflingers. Some animal breeds, on the contrary, can only be black. Uplifted friezes are an example. It is permissible for freeze mares to have a white o).
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Kauraya
The cowray horse, according to scientists, is the distant ancestor of red horses. The animal's coat has a reddish tint. The mane and tail are darker than the hair on the rest of the body. The brown horse has hooves of the same color as the body. A distinctive feature is an auburn belt. The color is more typical for wild animals than for captive animals. In Europe, brown ponies are more common among Icelandic ponies.
Bulanaya
It is assumed that the name of the suit originated from the Tatar word "bulan" (deer). Bulanaya is considered to be the offspring of the bay. Most of the representatives of the suit are golden or sandy in color. However, there are horses of lighter or darker shades. Dark spots can be seen on the animal's body. But the legs often show stripes characteristic of zebras. The tail, mane and hooves of the buck is always black. Rare varieties include the silvery dun. A distinctive feature of the dressing is silvery hair in the tail and mane.
Nightingale
The animal's coat can have a light brown or light sandy hue. The horse's eyes are brown or amber. The mane and tail are lighter in color than body hair. The hooves are most often dark. But if there are light markings on the feet, the hooves will also have a lighter shade. Foals are born light.
Bay suit
Bay horses are distinguished by a brown color of various shades. The mane, tail, muzzle and fur closer to the hooves have a darker shade. There may be light spots on the face. The coat of newborn foals is lighter, but as the animals grow older, it begins to darken. Bay horses are distinguished by their docile nature and endurance.
Red suit
Representatives of the suit can have any shade of red. A distinctive feature of such horses is the absence of burn marks and marks. The color should be uniform throughout the body. The fur on the body of an animal often depends on the season: it brightens or darkens.
Gray suit
It is possible to determine that an individual belongs to a gray suit only when it becomes an adult. A foal may be born bay. However, he gradually develops hair of a light gray color, which becomes more after each shedding. Gray hair can turn white. Moreover, some individuals completely change color by the age of 4. Others retain dark blotches even when they are elderly.
A uniform color in gray horses is considered a rarity.A distinctive feature is the presence of apples and a smaller pattern, which is called "buckwheat".
White suit
White horses are rare. The reason for this is their high susceptibility to various diseases. Some individuals may be sterile. 1/5 of newborn foals do not live to adulthood. Horses are distinguished by matching coat colors, light-colored hooves and pink skin. Horses are not considered albinos due to their brown eyes. The animal is born with white hair that does not change color during its life.
Some zoologists claim that light gray horses are mistakenly called white. Due to the insignificant content of gray pigment, animal hair looks completely discolored.
A bit of history
Horses light gray color - aristocratic animals. It has always been considered that the stallion, which has an iridescent delicate ash color, is "noble". From English the term "dunny" is translated as "deer skin", from Tatar - "elk". In the languages of Turkic origin, “bulan” means “darkening”, as a result of which it is applied to dark-brown stallions. They have a light yellow background of mane, withers and head, which is like loose coal dust. Horses of this color look catchy, in particular, when they are outlined with "apples" - circles around the entire perimeter of the body.
The origin of the dun horses to this day remains a mystery, since there is no data directly about the time and place of origin of this species. Nevertheless, in some ancient documents it is noted that in Parthia, horses were exclusively yellow in color.
Did you know? Horses are able to recognize themselves in photos or pictures. If a horse sees his fellow in the photo, he can greet him with a sniff or a quiet neigh.
The first facts about the appearance of such horses belong to XVI century, when exotic species appeared on the territory of Europe of the New Time: brown and salted. It was during this period that the "aristocracy" of these animals was formed, since they were available only to noble persons. Only over time, closer to the era of romanticism, the nobility began to use horses of dark colors, since the latter were considered more hardy and strong.
Back in the nineteenth century. believed that it is possible to determine the temperament and abilities of a horse only by looking at its suit. At that time, it was argued that black horses are vicious and wild, and light gray colors are submissive and meek, red ones are “explosive” and nervous. Of course, these characteristics did not always fit a particular horse and over time turned into stereotypes.
The eastern peoples had a very strong belief in omens, as a result of which they always associated the character of a horse with the fate of their masters. The Indians argued that the "dunny" is absolutely any horse, and the close pagans dedicated such animals to different gods, since the belief in the totem was dominant.
How not to confuse
It happens that shades of different stripes are so close to each other that it is difficult to distinguish them. Most often, bay horses are confused with black, red and brown horses.
Bay and black
Black color from brown is not difficult to distinguish. But a dark chestnut horse from a funnel in a tan is already more difficult. The black color in tanning has a characteristic feature: the coal-black color of the hair of these horses burns out under the sun and turns red at the ends. As a result, the skin of the animal acquires an ebb, similar to a dark brown chestnut shirt.
You can recognize the "repainted" funnel on closer inspection. His hair will be darker at the roots, lighter at the ends. In winter, after molting, this horse will turn black again.
Bay and redhead
Horses of light chestnut, red or wild color are sometimes taken for red. The difference is in the color of the mane, tail and lower legs. If the color of these areas is not black, then the horse is red.
Bay and brown
Brown shade is a shade of red color.Sometimes horses of a dark brown color are confused with bay ones. You can also distinguish them by their legs. Brown horses will have an even color, without black "socks". The mane and tail are the same color as the body.
When determining the suit, the change in color must be taken into account when it burns out in the sun or after molting.
Distinctive characteristics of dun horses
A dun color is typical for aboriginal and ancient breeds of horses, mainly for riding purposes. These animals have shown themselves to be hardy and unpretentious to food and maintenance.
The riding group of breeds is characterized by:
- light type of bone;
- elongated body;
- low or medium height.
Animals are accustomed to long journeys in conditions of lack of food and water. The brown suit allows the knight not to overheat in the sun. Light colors in coloring dictate careful care of the pet's coat.
Varieties and description of bay horses
The color of the coat is very important for the existence of horses in the wild. Horses exist in different colors: red, gray, black, piebald, bay and others.
When horses live in the forest, their color can be the most unexpected. It will depend on the color of nature around them or the season of the year.
Cultured horse breeds have a variety of colors, which makes them stand out from the wild.
Chestnut horse
Horse suits
What does the color depend on? The greatest influence is exerted by the color scale of skin and hair.
To determine the horse suit, you need to know what color the horse's eyes and skin are, because this is combined with each other, creating a special flavor.
Horse breeders have about thirty shades of fourteen colors. Some of them are characteristic of certain breeds, while others are found everywhere.
Once upon a time horses came across exclusive and strange shades of wool. People perceived them as valuable, not even knowing the breed. More recently, many herd books have appeared, which describe the types of suits depending on the breed of the animal.
The color begins to appear in a small animal from birth, subsequently the color may change.
In horses, which are still about six months old, the soft and long hairline gradually turns into a shorter one, forming an individual color.
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All over the world there is a huge number of bay horses.
Wild horses are black in color, but at the end of the legs they acquire a brownish tint of hair.
Horses usually come across chocolate color with red or any other shades. The mane and tail are coal, sometimes with a brown sheen, the limbs are of the same color. Young horses have white legs, but darken with age.
Young chestnut horses usually have white legs.
There is a large palette on the basis of which the suit is identified. Dark Bay: The body color is rich chocolate with black areas. Light chestnut: the mane and tail are brownish, the body is lighter.
Shades of brown, red, white and black are the basis of the entire spectrum of colors.
The first ones are the most popular, they can be found more than others in images and films.
Bay horses at the forefront in rentals and sports. This phenomenon is not accidental, because the whole secret lies not so much in the color as in the character of the animal.
Bay horses are very popular in sports
There are several types of bay suit:
- Cherry bay or red. The hair is bright red. The coat of such animals is usually red-red, red-brown, sometimes cherry-colored. Horses that are darker have a cherry hue. The presence of black hair on the hock joints, interspersed with white hair is noticeable.
- Dark bay. Due to their dark color, they are mistakenly considered black or karak. The chestnut breeds differ from these breeds in that they are black-brown in the area of the neck, head, croup, back and with a coal-colored body, tail, mane and legs, in the area of the hocks, and all the remaining hair is dark brown. This shows the beauty and grace of the horse.
- Light bay. The color of these horses is dark-damask, so no specialist can not distinguish them from the dark damask suit. The overlay is usually visible on the head, tail, mane, because in these parts of the body there is a white tint.The legs are dark brown with zebra stripes, on the ridge there is a coal-colored belt that was passed on to them from their wild ancestors. The eyes and mouth are surrounded by light tan marks. White spots appear in the gluteal and groin areas.
- Chestnut. Horses have a colorful and bright shade of chestnut peel throughout the animal's body. It looks incredibly beautiful in the sun. The color is even and rich. Only the mane, tail and hocks can be different shades.
- Deer bay. The body of such horses is dark above and light below. The body in the area of the back and croup is painted in dark tones, but the area of the abdomen and muzzle is lightened. There are light-bay and dark-bay varieties.
- Sour. In the area of the eyes, mouth and groin (occasionally on the buttocks and elbows), white markings. Typical brownish color. Received a large number of folk names that are found in ancient legends and traditions.
- Golden. The hair of these horses is predominantly golden or sandy in color. What looks like a dun suit.
- Karak. The charcoal-colored body, mane and tail of some can be confusing, since there is an external resemblance to the bay and black. Many parts of the body have reddish or chocolate-colored hairs.
It has been noticed that the horses are dominated by the bay color, from which the savras, isabella, silver-bay, dun color of horses are formed.
Horse of a dark chestnut suit
Bay horses have a wide variety of shades of brown, almost black, deep red. Bay and red color have a similar color. The fur on the legs, as well as the mane and tail, are painted black in these animals.
On the body of animals there are specks of charcoal color. There are many offcuts in clean suits. From wild horses, some bay horses are characterized by a longitudinal strap on the ridge and stripes at the end of the legs.
Bay color marks are common in all breeds, and also indicate the grace and attractiveness of horses.
Nervous system
The color of the horse is determined by a special pigment, the presence or absence of which depends on the genotype. 4 main types of colors are easily identified, with their own type of inheritance.
However, each of them has shades and variations. The color scheme can consist of two colors or differ in different parts of the body. Most of the animals begin to turn gray by old age. The appearance of this changes dramatically.
The exception is the dark bay suit.
The bay horse gets lighter with age
Hue is a distinctive feature of different breeds. Color has a close relationship with the nervous system and possible diseases. Gray horses are at risk for melanosarcoma.
Weak bones can be assumed in animals with a lot of white. There is evidence that a gray tint indicates tenderness and weak endurance.
Blacks are considered hot and vicious.
In contrast to them, the bay ones are quite balanced, hardy and reliable. These words are confirmed by the fact that most often the horses of this suit win in the competition.
The horse's coat has a brown color with different shades. Among others, there are a lot of dark hairs, but this does not change the overall picture.
The legs, mane and tail are often black at the ends. A similar phenomenon can occur on the face. With "Savrask", light areas are visible on the body.
White limbs in newborn foals, which darken with age, are considered normal.
Horse of Savras suit
Today, horse lovers are increasingly looking towards animals with a complex color (for example, playful ones). However, dark bay horses remain at their peak of popularity. In this suit, people are attracted by many features.
These include a beautiful appearance, a devoted disposition, calm demeanor, and a desire to faithfully serve their master.
Everyone knows the expression: a rider on a chestnut horse.These horses, with incredible strength and good temperament, will always be at the forefront of the races and in the field.
The bay color of horses is quite diverse and has a large number of tailings. Each of them has its own color of the horse's coat. It should be borne in mind that some of the marks of the bay horse are very striking in their difference from the "original".
The following shades of a chestnut horse can be distinguished:
- Light chestnut suit. The shade of a horse is similar in color to a dark bulan. The characteristic features are that the hair around the eyes, muzzle, as well as the lower abdomen has a light shade. There is a dark belt on the back of the representative of this sweep. A significant amount of brown hair can be seen in the tail and mane.
Light bay suit
- The dark bay color is characterized by the presence of a dark color on the back, croup, head, and neck. The coat of the parts of the body that is not included in the above list is lighter in color. Very often confused with the karak suit, as their similarity is strong enough.
- Light hair in the area of the eyes, mouth, markings, groin and elbows is characteristic of the underdressed suit.
Forging a smear
- Deer-bay and chestnut colors are quite similar to each other. Both horse suits are insignificant, and their allocation is purely nominal. In the deer-bay color, you can find brown sides and a light brown muzzle, and representatives of the chestnut color have a rich chestnut color of wool. But these swings can be compared to the classic bay.
- Gold is similar to isabella or silver. The shade of the coat of such horses has a golden tint.
- Amber or champagne color is one of the most common. She is a cross between a bulan and a pearl suit. It is based on an illuminator gene that gives it a similar color.
Amber sweep
- The bay roan suit is one of the rarest and most unusual colors.
There are 7 main varieties of baying:
- Chestnut horse. Differs in an even color - rich chestnut, reminiscent of a chestnut peel, shimmers in the sun. The dewlap and the lower part of the limbs are black.
- Red and bay representative. Dense brown with a reddish tint. This combination gives the coat a fiery color, and in the sun it seems that the animal is in "tongues of flame". The “cherry” stallion holds the palm in beauty - the darker the coat, the better this luxurious shade is visible. The dewlap and limbs have a brown tint. A horse with such a color scheme is a rare occurrence and is considered a real "pearl" of the stable. In sunny weather, wool glows with fiery flashes and looks luxurious. It is this sweep that corresponds as closely as possible to the name "bay".
- Gnedo-savrasovaya (wild) offhand. It is rather difficult to see, it is very rare. The animal is of a pale brown protective color with a reddish tinge; dark spots may be present on the body. The color of the dewlap and limbs does not correspond to the general characteristics of the bay. They are not charcoal, but brown in color, as black hairs mix with light brown. The eyes of an animal are occasionally yellow-amber.
- A dark bay, karak or black horse. Their color is very dark, almost coal-black; in the black, it is purely saturated black. In a dark bay, it matches the color of black coffee or dark chocolate. And the charcoal legs characteristic of the suit and the suspension are difficult for a layman to distinguish. The back, part of the head - the cheeks and neck are much darker than the entire body. The animal has no bleached or bleached areas. This horse is the very beauty and grace, since the color scheme favorably emphasizes its exterior.
- Light chestnut horse. This is the opposite of the previous hue and has a lighter brown color that looks like a dark brownish color.It is not surprising that even experienced hippologists on the move cannot tell who is in front of them - a light chestnut or a dun horse. Some representatives of light color have a red brick or "rusty" shade. Whitened eye areas are acceptable. The dewlap and legs are black with an admixture of brown hair.
- Deer-bay suit. The upper part of the animal is the most darkly colored, the tone gradually brightens downward and the lightest areas in the horse are the throat, belly and muzzle.
- Golden bay. The lightest horse, its color is yellow-brown or sandy, a slight reddish shade is possible. In the sun, the wool shines gold. This excuse is similar to the bulan.
Breeding
Depending on what goals the breeder pursues, there are several possible crossing methods.
- Purebred crossing. It involves mating animals of the same breed. It is used to strengthen the breed of breeding horses.
- Linear crossing. It involves the mating of horses of the same kind. A mare that is used for breeding is called a brood mare. This method is suitable when it is necessary to improve the characteristics of the genus. Linear crossing is divided into two more methods (homogeneous crossing - within the same genus or heterogeneous crossing, which implies that the mare and horse will come from different genera of the same breed).
Relative crossing involves crossing individuals with closely related relationships (for example, a brother and sister). However, most often they take animals with a common ancestor no closer than in the third generation.
This is due to the fact that even when crossing animals that are related in the second generation, foals are born very weak and with genetic abnormalities. The industrial method is used to produce workhorses. The criteria for speed, beauty and pedigree are not taken into account. To get healthy and beautiful offspring, you must adhere to several rules.
- The horse and horses must be healthy (no genetic abnormalities). At the time of mating, they should not have any diseases.
- The weight of the animals is of great importance. If the mare is heavier than the horse, then the foal will turn out to be short and small. If the horse weighs more than the mare, then the foal will take only the best qualities from the parents.
- Most often, animals are selected so that they are of the same height.
- The main criterion, from which one must proceed when selecting individuals for mating, is the goal pursued by the breeder (you need a foal for riding and performing, a workhorse or breeding horse).
- A month before the mating is planned, special vitamins are added to horse and mare feed.
Direct insemination of a horse can occur in two ways: artificial and natural. The artificial method is used if it was not possible to inseminate the horse in a natural way. There are 3 options for artificial insemination.
- Fresh. It is considered the most effective, but this option is completely unsuitable for transportation. It is recommended to carry out this operation in the same stable where the stallion is.
- Frozen. The most expensive way. The horse material is frozen with liquid nitrogen and delivered to the desired corner of the earth. The material retains its properties for 30 years.
- Chilled. It is used when the horse and the mare are in different stables. The horse material retains its properties for 30 hours.
The natural way also implies several options for insemination.
- Pasture. It consists in the fact that a herd of horses of 12-15 heads is created for a horse-producer (among which there is a dominant mare). During the period of sexual activity, the horse is able to fertilize 3-4 mares per day. With this method, the vast majority of mares from the herd are fertilized in a short time.
- Warkovy. It is used when it is necessary to cover a violent, obstinate mare.The whole procedure takes place under the supervision of a special trainer, who prompts and teaches the horse how to cover the mare. This method is extremely rarely used, since there is a risk of injury and infection with sexually transmitted infections.
The gestation period for mares ranges from 11 to 12 months. At this time, the mare is relieved of heavy loads, they do not sit on top of it. Vitamin supplements are added to the diet.
If there were no complications during pregnancy, then labor is quick (about 2 hours).
Character
Each horse has its own individual disposition and habits. Character and color have nothing to do with each other, this has been proven by scientists who have conducted many studies and debunked this myth. So a horse can be kind and aggressive, calm and quick-tempered, playful and lazy.
In the mass representation, there are persistent stereotypes about the connection between the color of the horse and its character. The crows are credited with restiveness and even aggressiveness, redheads are considered unbalanced, gray ones are good-natured, and the chestnut horse is a symbol of reliability.
Neither scientific studies nor observations of horse breeders confirm this connection. It happens that in three neighboring stalls there are three bay horses, each with its own disposition. As de La Gueriniere wrote in The Equestrian Bible, “the color is nothing more than a play of nature,” emphasizing that among horses of different colors there are both evil and good-natured.
The opinion about the dependence of the character of the horse on the color is not supported from a scientific point of view.
Diseases and their treatment
There are over 40 types of diseases that horses are prone to. There are 3 ways the disease appears.
- Infectious... Such diseases include rabies, Aujeszky's disease, tuberculosis, pasteurellosis, smallpox, tetanus, paratyphoid fever, etc.
- Parasitic... Such diseases include anthrax (it is dangerous for humans as well), leptospirosis, listeriosis, botulism, trichophytosis, etc.
- The consequence of external damage (for example, a horse starts to hurt if its hooves crack).
It is worth remembering that many of the equine diseases are dangerous to humans. As with humans, don't try to heal the animal yourself.... If you suspect a disease, you need to call the veterinarian to the stable. This is due to the fact that most diseases have serious consequences. Incorrect or inopportune treatment may not help the pet.
To reduce the likelihood of the animal feeling unwell, you need to keep the stall clean, do not forget to feed and water the horse, carry out regular hygiene procedures and walking.
For more information on bay horses, see the video below.
Health
The health of a horse and its color, on the contrary, are related. It has been proven that gray horses are more susceptible to the development of solid tumors - "drafts" (melanosarcomas) and allergic rashes.
Horses of rare white color often develop hereditary defects. Among them - low fertility, or even infertility. This destroyed the once famous line of white Hanoverian horses, still depicted on the coat of arms of Hanover.
The bay suit is not associated with any vices. "Nests" are usually strong and hardy.
If the color does not affect the character, then health is just associated with it. Animals with a brown color do not have a predisposition to genetic diseases. Nature gave them endurance, strength and speed of legs, which is why they are often participants in various competitions and competitions.
Care and maintenance
Bay horses, like others, should be kept in clean and dry stables, free from drafts and dampness. The latter can provoke serious fungal diseases that are difficult to treat.
Daily hygiene is a prerequisite for good horse health. Every day, the animal needs to be brushed, wiped, and the hooves should be examined for cracks. The horse should receive regular physical activity, with the constant presence in the stall, it will simply wither away.Clean water should always be available for the horse. Horses are well-known water lovers, they can drink up to 10 liters per 100 kg of weight per day, and up to 30 liters at a time.
Bay horse suit: description, color, breed and photo
In each breed there are representatives of the bay suit, and this is no coincidence. It is popular with breeders and horse breeders. Standing apart is the Cleveland bay breed. There are only animals of this color. They are powerful, chestnut colored. The breed is very old and originated in medieval England.
Bay horses are found in all breeds. This is one of the most common colors.
But there is a breed of horses, inside which there are no individuals of any other colors. It is called that - Cleveland Bay. It includes powerful universal horses, bred in England back in the Middle Ages.
Representatives of the bay suit are found in many European breeds.
Black, brown, bay, brown, piebald - many words have been invented to determine the color of a horse. To the uninitiated, they are incomprehensible and seem almost incantations.
For example, a bay horse is an animal of what color? Understanding the intricacies of equestrian terminology and collecting complete information about bay horses is the task of this material.
Representatives of the bay breed have a chocolate coat color, black legs and mane.
Color variations
The chestnut color of the horse is one of the most common and popular. The body and head of the horse are colored brown in different shades with different impurities.
The color is brown, coffee, chocolate, brown, karak, brown, chestnut brown, mukhorty, nut brown, light brown, dark brown, chestnut with many shades. Hair of the mane, tail, lower limbs, black. Breeders of chestnut-colored horses prefer strong, persistent, hardy, hardened animals.
Horse chestnut suit
As for such parts of the body as the tail, mane and limbs, they are most often black. The description presents a classic model of a bay horse, the color of which is brown, with an admixture of black hair.
Most famous
Among the world champions, many have a bay color. These include, for example:
- Volcano. The famous heavy truck, which carried a load of 29.47 tons during trials at Wembley in 1924;
- Piccolo Ribot. Legendary horse, who has never lost in the races in his "career";
- Poet. A bay mare, a stunning beauty who, since 2000, has made a splash at competitions and exhibitions. At the prestigious Perforance Sales auction, they paid 2.5 million euros for it.
Horse photographers have observed that these animals are aware of their beauty and love to pose in front of the camera.
Where does the name come from?
In Russian, for the color of horses, their own names of colors have long been used, which in ordinary life or for other animals were not used, or they had time to become outdated.
A thousand years ago, our ancestors compared horses of this color with flame and child. That is what they called - horses of fire with burning.
In Latin it sounded like "nidor", which was transformed in our language into "nidor". This name can be found in many folk tales and epics. Already in the Middle Ages, peasants affectionately called such animals "bay" or "karko", appreciated and loved. As a result, the adjective "bay" was formed in the Russian language, which is used exclusively for horses of a certain color.
The most expensive horses
Thanks to statistics, it is known that in the list of the most expensive animals in the top ten there are a large number of bay ones.
Forty million American dollars was exactly the same amount that was given for the bay stallion of Sheriff Dancer back in 1963, and at the end of the 20th century this record was broken by the Prince of Dubai, who gave 85 million dollars for the stallion Monju. There is no need to doubt the profitability of the purchase, since the Arabs know a lot about horses.
Speaking of prices, it is worth noting a statistical fact: all the most expensive horses are bay.
The winner in this “nomination” is the stallion Monju. The prince of Dubai once bought it for $ 75 million. It is followed by:
- Sheriff Dancer - $ 40 million
- Green Monkey - $ 16 million
In this kind of competition, Monju would have been only second if the prince of Saudi Arabia decided to part with his favorite horse, Frenkel. Experts have estimated this horse at $ 200 million.
Bay horses, according to statistics, are the most expensive.
