Bay and Brown






















Bay (A) is a dilution of black by the agouti gene. Agouti restricts the black to the horse's points while the rest of the body is a shade of brown. The shades of bay can go from near black to red to light sandy brown, but all have black manes and tails and black legs. Bay foals will not have black legs until they shed the foal coat. Bays can be homozygous for black (EE) and can only produce bays and blacks. Bays can also be homozygous for bay (EEAA) and can only produce only bay. If a pony carries agouti it will express it. Manes, tails, and bay foal coats can bleach in the sun.

Wild Bay (A+) is bays where the black points are noticeably shorter or are not present. The body color us usually very light. Manes and tails on wild bays are more prone to sunbleaching than regular bays.

Brown (At) is another form of agouti, but is genetically different from bay. Browns have a black or near black coat with with brown on their muzzles, flanks, inner forearms, and inner thighs. There is a genetic test for brown.


Typical shade of bay. Ocean Star, Picture by Amanda Geci.


Bay tobianos. Rainbow Swirl and Shy Anne, Picture by Amanda Geci.


Bay minimal tobiano. Lightning of Chincoteague, Picture courtesy of Lisa Christian.


Dark bay tobiano. Miracle Man, Picture by Amanda Geci.


Brown tobiano, sunbleached. Witch Doctor, Picture by Amanda Geci.


Brown tobiano+sabino as a foal and as a 3 year old. Wildest Dreams, Picture by Amanda Geci.


Bay foal coat. Note the lack of black on his legs.Wild mare and foal, Picture by Amanda Geci.


Sunfaded bay mare and foal. Wild mare and foal, Picture by Amanda Geci.


Bay tobiano. Sock it to Me, Picture by Amanda Geci.


Brown mare and foal. Dreamcatcher and Colt, Picture by Amanda Geci.