Buckskin Arab Trail Horses

This true buckskin color is found on this non-Arabian.

The Arabian horse breed is noted for its beauty and stamina, making it an ideal horse for competitive trail riding. Buckskin color shades are caused by the cream and the bay gene. Although pureblood Arabians have the bay gene, they lack the cream gene.

Identification

Buckskin horses tend to have yellow or sandy colored bodies with a black mane, tail, dorsal stripe and stockings, sometimes with a black muzzle, too. They can be dappled and have white markings like a stocking or blaze.

Significance

Grey Arabian horse out on the trail.

A buckskin Arabian is not a pureblooded Arabian but may be listed in horse sale adds as Arabian. Many breeds that carry the cream gene look similar to the Arabian, most notably the Morab, derived from the Arabian and the Morgan, and the Quarab, a cross between the Arabian and the quarter horse.

Tests

An Arab horse can appear to be buckskin but may not be genetically buckskin. A genetic test for the cream gene is done by the University of California Davis. If an Arabian appears to be buckskin, then a test can be done to determine if the gene is present.

References

• The Horse Colors Site: Cream
• University of California Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory: Horse Coat Color
• Oklahoma State University Breeds of Livestock: Buckskin Horse

Resources

• Arabian Horse Association
• International Quarab Horse Association
• International Morab Breeders Association