What color were primitive horses? What markings did they have? Although there is no ironclad proof, it has long been presumed that the early horses were probably dun or grulla (grulla is Spanish for crane-the sandhill crane in particular which is slate-grey in color). The primitive horses still in existence (Przewalski's horse and the re-bred Tarpan) sport these colors with dun factor markings (dorsal stripe, shoulder stripe, leg barring). There has been conjecture that the early horses could have been striped to some degree. Many wild species have coloration similar to dun and grulla such as elephants, rhinos, wildebeest, kangaroos, deer, koalas, mice, etc. Some have the coloration plus striping such as brindled gnu (wildebeest), striped-backed duikers, striped mongoose, striped hyena, and the extinct Quagga and Thylacine, to name a few.

Could the dun factor markings on some modern horses be remnants of the intense striping of primitive horses? This has long thought to have been so. However, the appearance of brindle horses show that the patterns are totally different than the dun factor markings. Brindle is not to be confused with horses sporting heavy/extreme dun factor markings.

Although extremely rare, there are documented cases of true brindle horses....and not just in present day. A Russian cab horse that was extremely brindled was mounted in the early 1800's and put on display in the Zoological Museum of Academy Sciences in Leningrad. Not all of the brindle horses are of the dun color. In fact, the Russian cab horse was a seal brown. Though, at first, most of the documented brindles seemed to be red duns and grullas, there are now brindles that have base body colors of bay, brown, chestnut, palomino, and even grey. Thus we now know that the brindle pattern and the dun factor markings are probably unrelated and inherited separately. These true brindle horses just appear with no record of such a color pattern in their family tree. One of the most attractive brindles known today is a mule! To further add to the confusion, there are horses in Mongolia that have a "netted" striping pattern on the shoulders and rear quarters. The pattern closely resembles a fishnet and has appeared on a wide variety of colors as well.

While the brindle pattern can be produced with seemingly no trouble at all in cattle and dogs, it is not that easy with horses. The brindle gene has been isolated and identified in canines. The gene for brindling in equine has not yet been isolated since research would require cheek swab samples from at least 25 brindles to make it feasible. It is difficult to track the brindle horses in pedigrees because most registries will note the base color and exclude the fact that they are brindle. This important information is then lost to those who are researching the pattern in order to try and retrieve it The common colors and patterns of horses today have been selectively bred for, and the brindle pattern has been almost entirely lost. It has cropped up in Quarter Horses, Criollos, Arabians, Warmbloods, Thoroughbreds, Paso Finos, Miniature Horses, donkeys and mules. The fact that there are true brindle donkeys has further added to the mystery.

The true brindle horses that now exist are few and far between. It is hoped that the known brindle horses can be documented, and that, when there are enough available, research can begin in order to isolate the gene and study heritability. Such research could lead to DNA testing to show whether certain horses are carriers of the gene to benefit those who wish to breed for the pattern. Brindle horses are certainly eye catching. Those who own brindle mares and stallions of breeding age are doing their best to preserve this rare equine coat pattern and increase their numbers. Hopefully, with the help of the anticipated research, the brindle pattern can be readily retrieved through selective breeding. The Brindle & Striped Equine International was founded in order to have a database on the known brindle horses. Those who think they might own or know the whereabouts of brindle horses are encouraged to contact the registry.

Brindle & Striped Equine International
Anita Garza, Registrar & Founder
11819 Puska
Needville, Texas 77461
979-793-4207
cascabel@consolidated.net
http://www.elcascabel.net/

Photos of Brindles

Here are some of the Brindle horses registered with the
Brindle & Striped Equine International

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