Equine Terminology: Age, Sex, Measurement, and Colors

Study Tip: When identifying a horse, always check its age first. A "filly" and a "mare" might look similar, but the distinction lies entirely in whether the horse has passed its third birthday.

Measurement and Anatomy

To compare horses of different breeds, we cannot use standard feet and inches because the scale of the animal varies so significantly. Instead, we use a specialized unit called the hand.

Measuring Height

A "hand" is a unit of measurement equal to 4 inches. To find a horse's height, you do not measure from the ground to the top of the head; instead, you measure to the withers. The withers are the highest point of the horse's body where the neck joins the torso.

For example, if a horse is measured at 15 hands, you can calculate its height in inches using the following equation:

$$\text{Height in inches} = \text{Hands} \cdot 4$$ $$15 \cdot 4 = 60 \text{ inches}$$

Equine Colors

A horse's coat color is determined by how pigment is distributed across its body and its "points." In equine terminology, points refer to specific areas of the body, including the lower legs, the face, and the ears.

Common Coat Colors

Understanding color requires looking beyond the primary body color to see how the mane, tail, and points are shaded:

• Bay: This is a very common color characterized by a reddish-brown body paired with black points. This means the mane, tail, lower legs, face, and ears will all be black.
• Chestnut: These horses range from light to dark red. Typically, the mane and tail are the same color as the body, though they can sometimes be flaxen, which is a blond or light color.
• Black: A true black horse is solid black throughout. There should be no brown hairs visible on the body, and the mane and tail are also black.
• Seal Brown: This color can be tricky to identify. A seal brown horse appears nearly black at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it features brown hairs around the muzzle, flanks, and elbows.

Exam Note: If a question asks you to distinguish between Black and Seal Brown, look specifically at the "points" like the muzzle and elbows. If there is brown hair present in those areas, it is Seal Brown.

Summary Table of Terminology