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Part-colored or odd-colored horses are known
as either Pintos or Paints. In England they are called either piebalds, which
are black and white, or skewbalds, which are any other color and white. This
coat coloring is an ancient color, similar to the spotted coat, and is
frequently seen depicted in cave art. The color probably originated in Europe or
Russia, but there are now more colored horses in America, which is, therefore,
termed the country of origin.
They were highly prized for their color amongst the Indian
culture. The colored horse has little conformity in physical aspects, being
simply a color, although in recent years, there have been efforts to create a
type. There is an important distinction that should be made between the Pinto
and the Paint. There are two organizations in America - the Pinto Horse
Association of America and the American Paint Horse Association. Any
part=colored horse can be registered with the Pinto Horse Association, and they
are divided into stock type such as hunter type, pleasure, saddle, and so on.
However, with the Paint Association, only colored horses with Thoroughbred,
Quarter Horse, or Paint bloodlines may be registered, so that they are an
association primarily concerned with bloodlines. Any Paint horse can be on the
Pinto register, but not every Pinto can be on the Paint register.
Within the colored horse category, there are two distinct
color patterns that occur, called the tobiano and the overo. The tobiano has a
white base with large colored patches, the legs are usually white and there are
usually white markings across the back. The overo is a colored base with white
patches that tend to start under the belly and spread upward, but rarely across
the back. The overo often has a white face with blue eyes. Many of the early
Spanish horses exhibited part-colored coats, and it is generally considered that
many of the part=colored horses of today may have developed from the Spanish
Horse. There are often Spanish characteristics evident in the part-colored
horses.
As a rule, these horses are generally stocky, well-built,
and powerful animals with a quality head and muscular quarters. On the whole,
they have good conformation nd make very good riding horses. They stand between
14 and 15.2 hh, although there are of course also part-colored ponies, which
stand up to 14 hh.
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