Bend-or spots

Cree · Starters Handicap Joined: 27 Jan 2005 Posts: 653

My OTTB has them on his body, I finally figured out what they were. He's a chestnut.
I would like to take pictures to share, will do that when the weather is nice.

Can anyone explain them?

karenkarenn · Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 2:03 pm Post subject:

I am sure that there are others out there that know more about genetics than I. But I can tell you that the Ben d' Or spot from what I know are from the horse Ben D'Or. They are in Quarterhorses and Paints that have Ben D' Or in them. I do know from personal experience that it can occur in Chestnuts, bays, dark bays, sorrels.
I don't know how such a gene is passed on for such a long period of time and I believe Big Brown has a Ben d' Or spot too. I could be wrong though. But it is a genetic question for someone who knows alot more about coloring and how it could be passed on from Doncaster- Ben D'Or sire who looks like a chestnut or sorrel.I do know that some can be dark and some can be white.

http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/BendOr.html
http://www.theequinest.com/bend-or-spots/
_________________
May the horse be with you!

Cree · Starters Handicap Joined: 27 Jan 2005 Posts: 653

He's registered a chestnut, but my Quarter Horse friend told me he looks more like a sorrel. Whatever that means! I have no idea. Thanks.
I was just curious about them, they are very unique and people ask me all the time about the spots.

karenkarenn · Posted: Sat May 05, 2012 5:30 pm Post subject:

Sorrel just means that he has more red than chestnut
_________________
May the horse be with you!

Linda_d · Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 5:33 pm Post subject:

ElPrado · Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 6:04 pm Post subject:

We had a chestnut OTTB that was so red he was like a tomato. He had a tattoo, also. We got him from a kill auction. It took us a while to get him healthy. He was skin and bones. If I could have found his previous owner I would have gone for him with a pitch fork. He was a sweet, gentle horse. Once we got him fed up and retrained he was a great pleasure horse. He really was beautiful.

Bast · Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 9:37 pm Post subject:

xfactor fan · Breeder's Cup Winner Joined: 16 Sep 2004 Posts: 2188

In the west red chestnuts with light manes and tails are called sorrel. The rest of the country calls all red/liver horses chestnut. It is a regional thing, and somewhat breed specific.

Bend Or spots are dark spots on a chestnut or palomino horse. Bend Or ( or Tadcaster) had them. Birdcatcher spots are white spots on a otherwise solid coat. Big Ben had something else. And other horses in his family tree also had that white shoulder patch.

Cree · Starters Handicap Joined: 27 Jan 2005 Posts: 653

Thanks for the replies.
My gelding is a chestnut with a more reddish tint, but his mane and tail are almost maroon. He also turns a honey colour from the sun in the summer.