| Paint horses did not get their name because their | | | | pattern, you're also likely to see many of the following |
| riders and owners tend to be creative types who | | | | adjectives: hard working, dependable, athletic, intelligent, |
| stabled them in their private studio. Paints did not get | | | | and friendly. |
| their name because they possess some unique | | | | Paints earned their reputation as a hard working breed |
| creative gift of their own. | | | | in the American West, ridden by Native Americans, |
| Instead, paint horses got their name for a far more | | | | cowboys, and the ordinary folks who needed |
| obvious reason: in every case, whether their pattern | | | | transportation from the farm. For those who were |
| falls into the Overo, Tobiano or Tovero category, the | | | | looking for a horse that responded quickly, could |
| horse is marked by some percentage of white hair | | | | maneuver easily, could run with great speeds to keep |
| over un-pigmented skin in addition to another color: | | | | order on a ranch, Paint horses were a great solution. |
| brown, tan, black or gray. The Paints' markings don't | | | | They kept a distinct, interesting look that made them |
| have any set location or size, they can appear | | | | stand out, and, like a Quarter Horse, they tend to have |
| anywhere on the horse's body. | | | | strong and muscular back legs, a low center of gravity |
| So, if you have been looking at horses for sale and | | | | and a good weight distribution, but not tall. |
| see Paint horses along with terms like Overo, Tobiano | | | | These same characteristics make Paint horses great |
| and Tovero, chances are good that you're going to | | | | for those who are looking for a horse that will get |
| have some curiosity about what they describe. | | | | them around the ranch and from one area to another, |
| The Overo pattern describes Paint horses on which | | | | for those who enjoy riding on a trail, as well as those |
| the white markings do not happen between the | | | | who just like going out and taking a leisurely ride and |
| horse's withers and tail. Another characteristic of this | | | | enjoy a great afternoon on horseback. Similarly, those |
| pattern is that at least one, if not all, of the horse's legs | | | | who are looking for a friendly, intelligent horse that can |
| will be brown, tan, black or gray in color. While the | | | | be well loved by the entire family - kids included - will |
| markings on the horse's face occur in standard | | | | find these attractive characteristics in a Paint. |
| patterns, the majority of its markings are irregular with | | | | As popular as Paint horses are with those who have |
| the white often scattered. | | | | owned and ridden them, there was not a registry for |
| On a Paint horse with a Tobiano pattern, on the other | | | | the breed until the 1960s. Previously, Paint horses - |
| hand, the white spots are regular. The "painted spots" | | | | regardless of the pattern that they displayed - were |
| are often oval or round and found on the neck and | | | | widely unregistered as the American Quarter Horse |
| chest. All four of the horse's legs are white - at least | | | | Association, which included horses with the same body |
| from the hocks and knees down - and at least one of | | | | structure did not accept horses with the Paint |
| the horse's flanks is dark. The tail will also be two | | | | markings. |
| colors - both dark and white. | | | | Now, however, there are a number of requirements |
| Unlike the Overo and Tobiano patterns, Paint horses | | | | that are used to register and track the lineage of Paint |
| with the Tovero pattern have one or both blue eyes. | | | | horses. Either the sire or the dam must be registered |
| Tovero Paint horses tend to be defined more by the | | | | with the American Paint Horse Association, and, if the |
| location of their dark marking than where they have | | | | other is not registered with the American Paint Horse |
| splashes of white. These Paints have dark | | | | Association, he or she must be registered with either |
| pigmentation around their ears and around the mouth, | | | | the American Quarter Horse Association or the |
| on their flanks. Chest spots may also show on the | | | | Jockey Club. Despite those standards, new |
| horse's neck, and there may be dark spots at the | | | | registrations each year show that Paint horses are |
| base of the horse's tail as well. | | | | among the fastest growing and most popular horse |
| When you're looking at horses for sale and see Paints, | | | | breeds in the United States. |
| in addition to the terms that describe their marking | | | | |