How to define a horse’s coat colour

The main step to determine the colour of a horse’s coat is to determine the basic coat colour. This is determined following 4 determining criteria :
•    Hair colour
•    Mane and tail colour
•    Eye colour
•    Skin colour

For this first step, one should look for the principal hair colour disregarding the white hairs present in the coat.

Then, to the basic coat colour can be added :
•    A description of the mix of hair (black or wite)
•    The description of  patterns (white patches)
•    The description of any additions
A horse’s colour is therefore named in the following way : Basic coat colour + mixed hair colour + patches + additions
The only compulsary colour mentioned is the basic colour, the others do not concern all horses.
In the definition of the horse’s coat the natural markings and particularities are not included, these will complete the identification of a horse (white markings on the head and legs, whorls and other particularities).

Basic coat colour

If no other element is visible on the horse, the coat merely bears the name of the basic coat colour

Examples:

Mixed hair

If there is a mixture of hair colours in addition to the basic colour, it should be noted and the proportion should also be given
The name then given to the coat associates the basic coat, the proportion, the type of mix (« mixed hair », « greying », « frosted » or « smokey »).

Examples :

Patterns

If there are any patterns on the coat (white patches), they should be mentioned according to the type (piebald type or spotted type) and their characteristics (extent, location)
The coat is then named : patterned basic coat

Examples :

Mixed hair colour and patterned

The coat can present both a mixture of hair colour and a patterned type coat, both these characteristics are then mentioned
The coat is then named as follows : mixed patterned basic coat colour.

Examples :  

Additions

Finally, if the horse’s coat presents any additions, these are mentioned last .

Examples :