| ugh not a specific breed, the Buckskin is a common | | | | involved, although to anyone but a breeder who would |
| color found in many breeds of horses. In the simplest | | | | like to either produce Buckskins or avoid them; it may |
| sense, a Buckskin horse should be the color of tanned | | | | be a bit confusing. |
| deer hide with black points. Somewhat like the | | | | Those who studied genetics used to believe that the |
| Siamese cat or the Himalayan rabbit pattern, but on a | | | | Dun horse was the result of a dilution gene, and that |
| horse. In the more complex description, Buckskins are | | | | breeding Duns to Buckskins often resulted in the birth |
| horses with a base coat color of either bay or brown | | | | of an albino foal. However, this has been proven to be |
| that varies in shade from pale cream to a deep rich | | | | in error. It is the agouti locus that affects the shade of |
| golden color, with dark legs, dark manes and dark tails | | | | the Buckskin horses. Different alleles of the agouti |
| that are either black or very dark brown. The coat | | | | locus seem to be responsible for the different shades |
| may change shades with the seasons. | | | | of yellow through cream, as well as affecting the |
| However, contrary to common beliefs, the Buckskin or | | | | distribution of the dark pigment on the legs, mane and |
| Dun horses are not mere "colors" in the world of | | | | tail. |
| horses. Buckskins, along with Grulla and Duns, are | | | | Smokey black horses are sometimes called black |
| noted for many qualities that are not characteristic of | | | | buckskins or, if in the UK, dilute blacks. These are black |
| other types of horses. The color seems to be an | | | | horses with a cream gene that may be very difficult to |
| indication of some superior genetic qualities that they | | | | identify because they may look bay, brown, liver |
| possess. They have more stamina, more strength, | | | | chestnut or even faded black. The CCr allele is a |
| more determination, harder feet, surer footing, better | | | | semi-dominant and dilutes red pigment to yellow when |
| boning, and are generally hardier than other colored | | | | in the heterozygous form but it has only a very subtle |
| horses within the same breed. Buckskins were highly | | | | effect on black pigment. The wild-type C+ allele is |
| regarded by the cowboys of the early west and were | | | | recessive since it needs to be homozygous for there |
| used for pack, harness, and saddle and given a choice | | | | to be no dilution of the base color at all. Buckskin and |
| a cowboy would almost always choose the Buckskin | | | | Dun genetics are thoroughly discussed on the Coat |
| or Dun horse. | | | | Color Genetics web site of the University of California |
| The Buckskin horse traces its lineage through a direct | | | | - Davis Genetics Laboratory, as well as other horse |
| line of Dun - or Buckskin-colored ancestors, which go | | | | coat color genetics sites. |
| as far back as the available recorded history. The | | | | The American Buckskin Registry (ABR) keeps track |
| Buckskin is thought to have originated from the now | | | | of these lovely colored horses. It was founded in the |
| nearly extinct Spanish Sorraia of the Iberian Peninsula. | | | | United States in 1962 and opened its registry not only |
| There are also many indications that an ancient breed | | | | to the Buckskin, but also to Grulla and Dun colored |
| known as the Norwegian Dun or Norwegian Fjord | | | | horses. It also includes the Red Dun with varying body |
| from Scandinavia may also have obtained the Dun | | | | shades of red, and the Mouse Dun or Coyote Dun, a |
| coloring from these same horses of Spain. Since the | | | | slate color resembling a salt-and-pepper coloration. |
| blood of both the Sorraia and the Norwegian Dun | | | | Unlike some color breeds, the ABR will not enter any |
| have filtered into nearly every breed found in the world | | | | horse into its registry that shows signs of |
| today, Buckskin, Dun or Grulla may be found in nearly | | | | below-average conformation for its breed, regardless |
| every breed that allows all colors of equines in their | | | | of the desired coloring. The mature horse is to stand |
| registries. | | | | at least 14 hands in order to be registered with the |
| Discussion of the Buckskin however cannot be | | | | ABR.Ponies and horses showing a predominance of |
| complete without a brief discussion of the genetics | | | | draft horse blood are not eligible. |