Palomino Horses - Facts To Know

 

The Palomino horses are one of the most favorite breeds among the royalty, thanks to their golden glistening coats and beautiful blonde manes. They are revered highly by the horse-lovers for their brilliant colors and hues since ancient times. They are all around the world and it should not come as a surprise to see them winning accolades at local horse shows, taking their place at the center stage among high-wigs, and even running wild among mustangs.

Palomino horses are hands down, one of the most beautiful breeds in the world. If they take your fancy, keep on reading the article to know more about them.

It’s A Color Thing

The primary thing you need to know about these horses is that Palomino refers to the color and not to the specific breed itself. They are the most easily recognized horses, but it is identified by the color of the coat and not its breed.

Any horse breed can produce a Palomino. There are two standards that every horse needs to pass in order to qualify to become a Palomino:

1. Gold-colored Coat

2. White Mane & Tail

In the end, everything that is related to its appearance comes down to genetic traits and not the breed itself. Keep in mind the color of the coat, mane, and tail.

Almost Half Of The Palomino Horses Are Quarter Horses

There is a long list of potential candidates that can produce Palomino horses. So, there is no question if being a horse breed that is incapable of producing Palomino horse in the meantime. Out of this crowd, Quarter Horses are at the advantage of others. According to an estimate, around 50% of all Palomino Horses are Quarter Horses.

American Saddle Horses, Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds, and Tennessee Walking Horses are among the breeds that commonly produce a Palomino.

It Takes Two Specific Genes To Produce A Palomino

Even at broad breed or pedigree level, it’ all about the genetic makeup of the horse that makes it fall into one or the other category.

To achieve the regal coloring of a Palomino, it takes a chestnut base coat coupled with a unit allele of a “cream” dilution gene. There are many other coat colors and shades that fall close to the category of Palomino, but it cannot be one without this gene. So, you need to confirm the base before purchasing one through pedigree and proper paperwork. Appearances can be deceptive.

Pro Tip: There is a breed called Cremello that resembles much with Palomino. If you are in the market to buy one, make sure to consult professionals before buying a horse.

There Are Look-Alikes

A horse cannot be an authentic Palomino in the absence of this cream gene. It is hard to distinguish a true Palomino from a look-alike because there are a number of horses that produce chestnut-colored coats, whitetail, and mane. Some are so close to the original Palomino that it can deceive a professional.

A good example of this phenomenon is the Haflinger horse. This breed does not carry this special gene in their DNA. But taking a look at this horse, it’s hard to think otherwise because of the golden blonde color and white mane and tail. However, they are genetically Chestnut Horses which are confused for Palominos.

Palominos Come In Different Shades

There is an established premise that Palominos are golden horses, but there is some room for variety, which only adds to the wild popularity of the breed. Essentially, when it comes to the exact coloring, their shades can range from pale gold to creamy, brassy, and deep gold.

On their mane and tail, a Palomino horse must have mostly white hair, but some dark locks here and there are just fine.

Read more about the Palomino Horse

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