Smoky Black
Smoky Black is a black-based coat with one copy of the cream gene. The coat often looks the same as a regular black horse, which makes smoky black very hard to identify by appearance alone.
Looks Like (Phenotype)
Most smoky black horses look solid black or dark brown-black. Some lighten slightly in summer, which may give the coat a softer brown or sun-faded look. However, this fading can also happen in regular black horses, so appearance alone is not enough to identify smoky black.
You cannot reliably recognise Smoky Black just by looking. A true black horse can sun-fade and look brownish, while a smoky black can look deep black. The only way to know for sure is through genetic testing!
If the pedigree hints at cream, or the horse produces diluted foals unexpectedly, smoky black may be present.
Variations
The smoky black variations overlap with normal coat changes seen in black horses.
- The coat could stay deep black year-round
- The coat could lighten in summer and appear brownish around the nose, flanks or shoulders.
Behind the Colour (Genotype)
One copy of the cream allele is present, but it does not necessarily lighten black pigment.
Related Colours
Black | Smoky Cream | Buckskin | Palomino