Aren’t black horses look stunning? There is something majestic about black horses. Their elegant black coat and beauty delight us and make them stand apart from the rest.
A black horse is a horse that has a true black color coat. Equines tend to display a diverse array of coat colors but complete black is an uncommon color among them. The features of black horses make them unique and easily recognizable in the crowd.
In the celebration of the uniqueness of black horses, here we have presented detailed and unknown facts about them. The underwritten facts are fascinating and will help us learn about black horses more.
What is the breed of a black horse?
Image Credit: Black Friesian Horse by kudybadorota from Pixabay
Black horses carry with them an aura of awe and pride. They are looked upon as strong and are subject to human admiration. That is why they have been part of countless legends, films, and stories.
Black horses can be of different breeds. Some of the most common black horse breeds are:
- Friesian- All black
- Percheron- Black and grey
- Fell Pony- Black but available in other colors also
- Murgese- All black
- Mérens- Black
- Kladruber- Black and grey
- Dales Pony- Predominantly black but available in other colors also
- Oldenburger- Black, grey, brown, and bay
The most famous black horse in history was the horse of Alexander the Great– Bucephalus.
It is intriguing to note that pure black horses are rare to find. Often we mistake dark bay, dark liver chestnuts, and brown color horses for black horses. If light hits them at a certain angle, the true color of their coat gets revealed.
Some horses may eventually lose their black color due to poor nutrition or sun- bleach. However, those who do not are called non-fading blacks.
What kind of horse is solid black?
Black color horses are not rare but yes, all-in-all or pure black color horses tend to be uncommon. That being said, sometimes a false black is mistakenly considered as a solid black horse.
A solid black horse is the one with a wholly black hair coat that reflects no permanent reddish or brownish hair and dark brown eyes. That being said, a solid black horse may have pink skin with white markings underneath areas of white hair, and they may have blue eyes if these markings occur around the eyes.
That being said, if you ever notice a black horse with faded black coat color, you should not mistake it as grey or any other colored horse. This is so, because sometimes, a horse may have a “fading black” or “sun-bleached black” coat, which occurs due to exposure to heat or sunlight.
Where do black horses come from?
There are different types of black horse breeds found across the globe. These breeds can have both fading as well as non-fading black color hair coats. So, where do they come or originate from?
The black horse breeds can have their origin in different nations and regions. The following table has the list of black horse breed origins.
| Black horse breeds | Where they come from |
| Friesian | Netherlands |
| Percheron | France |
| Fell Pony | Cumbria, England |
| Murgese | Italy |
| Mérens | France; Spain |
| Kladruber | Czech Republic |
| Dales Pony | England |
| Oldenburger | Germany |
Is black a dominant gene in horses?
We all admire black horses for their beauty and majesty. The color of horse coats has been a subject of interest among horse owners, breeders as well as scientists.
Black is a dominant gene in horses. That is said so because for a horse to be black it needs at least one dominant allele of the extension gene (E). A true black horse must have at the minimum of one dominant extension gene (EE or Ee) without the presence of any other dominant agouti gene. The absence of E in any horse can make its coat of some shade of red.
Every coat color, we see today, begins with either black or red base pigment. In other words, every horse will have black or red genetic pigment. In true black horses, however, only one dominant Extension (Black Allele) gene works without the presence of any other gene to dilute the color.
What color horses make a black horse?
Black is among the four base coat colors in horses. Genes in the equines interact with each other, which decides what color of coat a horse would get.
A horse with homozygous black, i.e. genotype EE, will produce black-based foals always. On the other hand, a black horse with the genotype Ee tends to have a black base coat and produce either a black or red base offspring. The table below shows the combination:
| Parental Genotype | Offspring | Offspring color |
| EE+EE | EE | Black |
| EE+Ee | EE or Ee | Black |
| Ee+Ee | EE or ee or Ee | Black or Red |
| EE+ee | Ee | Black |
| Ee + EE | EE or Ee | Black |
That being said, a true black horse has either of two varieties of black coat- the fading one and the non-fading one. So, one must not mistake a sun-bleached horse with a grey or smoky-black horse.
What are black horses used for?
Image Credit: Back horses carriage by Marko Milivojevic from Pixino
Indeed black horses carry an enigma with them. They are often synonymous with beauty, allure, and majesty. But are they used for any specific type of work or activity?
Since black horses are treasured for their striking beauty, they are mostly used for carriage driving, riding, or racing. They are also used in films, documentaries, and fantasy-related productions. That being said, black Fell Ponies are used for therapeutic purposes. Among the other uses include cross-country riding, farming, and light cavalry.
For their rare beauty and availability, having a true black horse is seen as a prized possession. Also, riding it is seen with pride.
How do you keep a black horse black?
We have already stated that black horses can have fading or non-fading categories of body coats. So, if your horse belongs to the latter category, you must take steps to keep it as black as possible.
A black horse can be kept black in more than one way. The following are some of them:
- Giving it a proper diet enriched with protein, vitamins, and minerals, especially copper
- Providing supplements to boost new hair follicle growth
- Grooming the horses at least 5 times a day
- Spraying external UV Protectant to prevent sun-bleaching
- Minimizing direct sun exposure
- Keeping the horse’s coat sweat-free
One of the most concerning things about black horses is the fading of their black color, especially during the summer days. So, before, your horse even starts to fade, it is better to adopt precautionary measures to let its coat stay black and shiny.
Why does a black horse turn brown?
When you have a horse, it is expected that it will spend considerable time outside its stable, under the sun. This, however, can bring with it the annoying sun-bleaching issue.
Most horses with black coats will fade into brown due to sun exposure. In other words, bleaching due to direct sunlight tends to turn a black horse brown. Other than the sun exposure, sweat can also turn a black horse brown. However, this phenomenon is common among the fading black horses (also known as barn black).
Other factors that may cause a black horse to turn brown or red include:
- Aging
- Climate
- Nutrition
So, if you have a barn black horse, born a smoky color or dark bay or brown, you must use precautions, we have mentioned above, to prevent it from fading its color.
What are the large black horses called?
Image Credit: Black Percheron by Suzy Dubot from Public Domain Pictures
The world of horses is full of colors. You can find horses with vivid colors and tones. Black belongs to one of the most common base colors in equines.
There is no specific name given to the large black horse breeds. And we must remember that almost all black horse breeds tend to be large. Nonetheless, the two most common large black horses include Percheron and Frisian breeds.
| Percheron | Height- 15- 19 hands | Weight- 1900- 2600 pounds |
| Friesian | Height-15- 17 hands | Weight- 1200- 1450 pounds |
What does a black horse symbolize in the Bible?
Black horses not only appear in modern-day stories, films, and fantasies but also can be traced back in history as well as religion. These horse breeds also have their mention in the Bible.
A black horse, in the Bible, is associated with famine, according to the book of Revelation (6:1–8). Other than this, in general terms, horses in the Bible represent war, determination, and a new beginning.
What does a black horse represent spiritually?
Black horses are not only enigmatic in the real world, but also have significance in the spiritual domain. Horses are known for free-spirited and courageous animals, which is the same in the spiritual context as well.
Spiritually, a black horse represents incredible power to overcome odd or difficult situations in life. Black horses are often seen as wilder than others and this wildness can infuse positive power when speaking spiritually. People with the black horse as their spirit animals can rely on it to get through challenging time(s).
What is a black bay horse?
Bay horses come in different shades and can be identified by their black points. These horses have an additional color gene called the agouti gene, which decides the distribution of their black hair.
A black bay horse is the darkest of the bay horses but they are not truly black. Although they may appear to be fully black, DNA testing will find the presence of the agouti genes in them. Black bay horses generally feature a brown muzzle and flanks, with the rest of their body nearly black.
Some other bay colors include the-
- Blood Bay
- Mahogany Bay
- Standard Bay
- Golden Bay
- Copper Bay
- Wild Bay
Are black stallions rare?
Image Credit: Black Stallion by Deathfly0 (CC BY-SA 3.0)
A stallion is an uncastrated male horse. From the above sections, you have got the idea that black horses are not rare but can be uncommon. So, what about black stallions? Are they rare or uncommon?
Black stallions are not rare. In fact, some common colors among the stallions are black, white, and brown. Some of them may have predominantly black coats like the Friesian breed. Among other black stallions include Fell Pony and Dales Pony. The latter is a rare breed.
How rare is a black horse?
Black horses are enigmatic and considered prized possessions by horse owners and breeders. This enigma surrounding them often makes most of us believe that they are rare. But do they really are?
Black horses are unusual or uncommon to be seen but not extremely rare. We often get mesmerized to see a truly black horse in a stable, competition, or farm. Why? Because they are not seen usually or typically. Black horses have not yet reached the status of being endangered. In fact, black is a common base color among equines.
Are black horses more aggressive?
Since we do not get to see black horses in general, we tend to associate myths with them. Some of which include wildness, aggression, and so on.
It cannot be stated assertively if black horses tend to be more aggressive. The genes that determine and alter the coat color in equines do not play any active role in determining or controlling their temperament. Maybe that’s why there is an old saying that a good horse has no color.
Are Friesian always black?
Friesian horses are one of the most common and large black horses to be found. Their shiny coat and overall physique make them attractive and alluring. But are Frisians always black?
Every purebred Friesian you will come across will be black. In fact, some of them can be pure black without any white markings. The shades, however, can range from faded red, dark brown to blue-black. Selective breeding among the Frisians minimizes the white marking in them.
In most cases, the only white marking that is allowed on a studbook-registered horse is a small star. Also, only purebred Frisian horses are eligible to get registered under any of the major Friesian horse registries.
Why are there no black thoroughbreds?
Black horses are truly uncommon. Thoroughbreds can be of varying colors but black racehorses may not be something that we come across often. But are there no black thoroughbreds or racehorses?
It is not the true that there are no black thoroughbreds. But a true black thoroughbred is rare to be seen or found. Some colors that are mistakenly taken black thoroughbreds include dark-chestnut or dark-bay.
FAQs:
1. Are black horses rare, and do specific countries have black horse breeds?
Answer: Black horses, while not extremely rare, can be less common than other coat colors. Countries like Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Spain are known for breeding black horse breeds such as the Andalusian and Friesian.
2. Can you tell me about famous black horses throughout history?
Answer: One of the most famous black horses in history is the Black Stallion, a fictional character. In reality, notable black horses like “Black Beauty” have left their mark.
3. Are there any statistics on the number of black horses globally?
Answer: Accurate global statistics on black horse populations are not readily available. However, black horses can be found in many countries and breeds.
4. What are some beautiful black horse names for new horse owners?
Answer: Beautiful black horse names can include Midnight, Onyx, Eclipse, Shadow, or Obsidian, depending on the horse’s personality.
5. Do black horses have unique characteristics other than their color?
Answer: The color black itself does not confer unique characteristics, but breeds like the Friesian are known for their graceful appearance and high-stepping gaits.
6. Can you explain the concept of fading black and non-fading black in horses?
Answer: Certainly, some black horses may fade or “sun bleach” over time when exposed to sunlight. Others, known as “non-fading black,” maintain their dark color.
7. What is the price range for black horses, and does coat color affect their cost?
Answer: The price of black horses varies based on factors like breed, training, and pedigree. While color can influence pricing, it’s not the sole determinant.
8. Are there any interesting facts about black horses that people may not know?
Answer: Black horses often carry symbolism associated with mystery, power, and elegance in various cultures. They are also favored for roles in films and literature due to their striking appearance.
9. Are there specific black horse breeds known for their striking appearance?
Answer: Yes, black horse breeds renowned for their striking appearance include the Friesian, Andalusian, and Black Arabian, known for their elegance and beauty.
10. Can you mention famous black stallion horse breeds and some interesting facts about them?
Answer: The Friesian is a famous black stallion horse breed known for its striking appearance, graceful movement, and long, flowing mane and tail.
