1. Identifying the Thoroughbred
EQS 103

2. How Do We Identify the Thoroughbred?
Why do we need to be able to identify a Thoroughbred?
For the registration process
For racing purposes
For our own personal knowledge
This lecture will go over the very basic of identification as it pertains to coat color, head and leg markings
How many types of identification can you spot on this horse?

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Identification Methods
Coat color
Head markings
Leg markings
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4. Coat Colors

5. Coat Colors of Thoroughbreds
The Jockey Club, which is the official breed registry of the Thoroughbred, will only recognized certain coat colors
The selective breeding of Thoroughbreds has eliminated most anomalies and non-listed coat colors

6. The entire coat may vary from a yellow-tan to a bright auburn
Bay
The entire coat may vary from a yellow-tan to a bright auburn
The mane, tail, and lower portion of the legs are always black, unless white markings are present

7. Black
The entire coat of the horse is black, including the muzzle, flanks, mane, tail and legs, unless white markings are present

8. Chestnut
The entire coat of the horse may vary from a red-yellow to a golden yellow
The mane, tail and legs are usually variations of coat color, unless white markings are present

9. Dark Bay/Brown
The entire coat of the horse will vary from a brown, with areas of tan on the shoulders, head and flanks, to a dark brown with tan areas seen only in the flanks and/or muzzle
The mane, tail and lower potion of the legs are always black unless white markings are present

10. Gray/Roan
Gray
The majority of the coat is a mixture of black and white hairs
The mane, tail and legs may be either black or gray, unless white markings are present
Roan
The majority of the coat of the horse is a mixture of red and white hairs or brown and white hairs
The mane, tail and legs may be black, chestnut or roan; unless white markings are present

11. Palomino
The entire coat is golden- yellow, unless white markings are present, and the mane and tail are usually flaxen
An uncommon color

12. White
The entire coat, including the mane, tail and legs, is predominantly white

13. Head Markings

14. Major Head Markings Star Stripe
Any major white marking found on the forehead and/or eye level
Can be various shapes and sizes
Stripe
A continuous vertical marking which can begin anywhere from the area between the eyes to just above the imaginary line connecting the top of the nostrils
Can be various widths

15. Cowlicks A cowlick is the center of a hair whorl
They are permanent and cannot be brushed away or clipped out
Cowlicks on the head and neck area are a useful means of identification

16. Leg Markings

17. Leg Markings
Outside heel white
Leg markings are described based on where on the body is the white hair covering
Coronet white
Full stocking
Half pastern white
Half stocking
Ankle white