30 ANIMAL MANAGEMENT. 



Colours and Markings. 



It is necessary to note colours and markings exactlyas they are recorded 

 for the purpose of identification. 



The colour of horses is markedly influenced by breed, and is also to 

 some extent an index of character, though to this latter there are 

 numerous exceptions. Breed, however, has a very general effect on 

 colour, which is, of course, the more marked where selection is practised 

 with a view to maintaining a peculiarity. The Cleveland bay is a well- 

 known example, and also there may be cited the whole colour chestnut 

 of the Suffolk punch, the black Belgian horse, the cream-coloured 

 Hanoverian, and the dun Kattywar of India. Whatever the horse's 

 colour it should be good of its sort and not ^^was/iy." This term is used 

 to indicate the faded or washed out appearance of the coats of some 

 horses, and it may be generally noted that the hair on the legs of such 

 gets lighter towards the extremities — Jiiealy legs. When a choice is 

 possible such colours should not be selected as they indicate a general 

 want of hardiness. There is truth in the saying, " A good horse is never 

 a bad colour," whichever way you apply it. 



The colours usually purchased for the service are bay, brown, black, 

 and chestnut ; others which are not so commonly seen in the ranks being 

 dun, grey, roan, piebald, and skewbald. 

 Bay, ^.'?j horses vary from a light, golden or yellowish, which might almost 



be called a dun, to a very dark rich shade which merges into brown, and 

 midway between these extremes we have the bright, blood bay with a 

 coat the colour of polished mahogany. If it is a question as to whether 

 the animal is bay or brown, the fine hair on the muzzle will show most 

 distinctly which is correct. 



Whatever the shade, whether light, bright or dark, it should not be 

 "washy," and where there is a change of colour towards the feet, it 

 should become deeper than that of the body or black. Bay with black 

 points is universally esteemed as a hardy colour, and usually associated 

 with good working qualities. White markings are extremely common 

 both on the faces and legs, but they do not as a rule become so 

 exaggerated as is often the case with chestnuts, and occasionally a leg 

 with a pepper and salt mixture of black and white hair from below the 

 knee or hock downwards may be noted. 

 Brown. Brown^ though usually a sufficiently distinctive colour to admit of 



ready description, may sometimes be difficult to distinguish from bay or 



