There’s just something majestic about black horses. Maybe it’s the fame of The Black Stallion or the beauty and elegance of these dark-colored equines that delights us. In celebration of our love for them, here are 12 facts that you might not know:
◆ Black is dominant over chestnut. If a black horse carries two copies of the black gene, the horse is said to be homozygous black; if a black horse carries one copy of the black gene and one copy of the red gene, the horse is heterozygous black.
◆ Two black horses can produce a black foal. Or a chestnut. That’s because if each of the them carries a copy of the recessive chestnut gene, the foal could conceivably receive a copy from each parent and—voila!—a chestnut foal arrives.
◆ Two black horses cannot produce a bay foal, but two bays can (theoretically) produce a black foal. It’s complicated but true.
◆ Black horses are born. . . gray? While this isn’t always the case, many are a unique shade of mouse-gray at birth. The true black coat is revealed after the mousey-colored baby coat sheds out.
◆ The classic children’s novel, Black Beauty, is said to have sold over 50 million copies since its publication in 1877.
◆ A black mare named Burmese was gifted to Queen Elizabeth II in 1969 by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The Queen rode Burmese during the Trooping the Color ceremonies for nearly twenty years.
◆ Friesians are well-known for their black coloring and minimal white markings.
◆ Some black horses “fade” in the summer sun, and these are known as (you guessed it) “fading blacks.” Those that retain their ink-black coloring are known as (here comes another shocker) “non-fading blacks.”
◆ The “most famous fictional horse of the century” (according to The New York Times) is Walter Farley’s The Black Stallion. At the time of Mr. Farley’s death in 1989, his books were said to have sold more than 12 million copies.
◆ A black Thoroughbred named Black Gold was the winner of the 1924 Kentucky Derby and a Hall of Fame entrant. Black Gold was also the focus of Marguerite Henry’s 1957 book of the same name.
◆ Aside from Black Gold, only three other black horses have won the Kentucky Derby: Halma in 1895, George Smith in 1916, and Flying Ebony in 1925.
Has a beautiful ebony horse been an important part of your life? Share your stories in the comments!
Black has always been my favorite. My first two horses were black and I just think it’s the best color.
Great article. My favorite black horse was my late Tennessee walking horse, Genius Classy Chassie. She was my beautiful diva, and I miss her every day.
The first black I read about was not the ones you mentioned but another black in Walter Farley’s Little Black a Pony. It was a beginner’s book and written before The. Black Stallion.
Last month I rescued a black gelding from a kill pen. I’m totally in love with him and just love how his coat is become a deep blue black color.
Very interesting fact, some I knew, but I also learned a few new things.
interesting information
My sweet and gentle black mare is named Sasha. She is a senior horse now , been with me 20 years , around 30 years old. I love her dearly…
I have a black horse now. He is a Morgan/ Mustang. He is a bit ornery and a boss, but on the trail he knows his job and does it well. His name is Gunner.
There are actually 3 base colors, bay is the other one