Buckskin

A buckskin has a golden body with black mane, tail and lower legs.

Buckskin: A buckskin has a golden body with black mane, tail and lower legs.

What does this colour look like?

A golden-yellow to beige body with black points: black mane, tail and lower legs. No dorsal stripe (that points to dun).

Body
golden-yellow to beige
Mane and tail
black
Legs
black lower legs
Skin
dark
Eyes
brown

How does this colour arise?

A buckskin is a bay in which a single cream gene dilutes the body to golden-yellow. The black points stay black.

More about the genetics

Buckskin = bay (E_, A_) + one copy of cream (N/Cr). Cream mainly dilutes the red body pigment to yellow but largely leaves the black of the points untouched.

What is this colour often confused with?

  • Dun

    You recognise a dun by the dorsal stripe along the back and the primitive markings.

  • Bay dun

    Dun on a bay base: a yellowish-brown body, black points and a dorsal stripe.

  • Gold champagne

    Champagne on a chestnut base: golden, with pink/mottled skin and amber eyes.

  • Amber champagne

    Champagne on a bay base: golden-brown body with chocolate points.

Which breeds show this colour?

Discover more

Sources: UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory · Sponenberg, D.P. & Bellone, R.R. (Wiley-Blackwell).