Black
Black is one of the three main base coat colours in horses, alongside bay and chestnut.
Looks Like (Phenotype)
A black horse has a coat that is entirely black, including the mane, tail, lower legs and ear tips. Some stay deep black all year, while others lighten slightly in the sun.
If you’re unsure whether a horse is black or dark bay, look at the muzzle and soft areas around the eyes. These stay dark on black horses, while they appear warmer or reddish on bay.
Variations
Some black horses may “sun fade” to a brownish shade in summer. For example, Friesians often show reddish tones in their mane during summer. If you want to see such variations in action, try breeding black horses in our game Horse Reality.
Foals
Black foals are often born with a softer greyish colour that darkens as they grow.
Behind the Colour (Genotype)
The E-allele allows black pigment, and with the a-allele the black is not restricted and gets spreaded across the entire coat. If it would be the dominant allele: A, then the black would get restricted to the points, and the coat would be bay instead.
E/e + a/a
Related Colours
Bay | Chestnut | Seal Brown | Wild Bay