Rabicano roan
Rabicano roan patterning is found in a number of breeds, including the Appaloosa.
Photos in this album show whole body views and closeups of details which help to identify rabicano.
Appaloosa patterning - vertical stripes
Appaloosas and their kin may show vertical white bands or stripes on their barrels.
Most commonly this is seen on horses that have white pattern levels ranging between 50 and 80%. This pattern is similar to the vertical roan patterning found on rabicano roan horses.
Appaloosa spotting - texture
Spotting on Appaloosas follows an interesting and somewhat predictable pattern.
Spots tend to form and align themselves along hair follicle growth directional patterns.
Appaloosa spotting - halo spots
Some horses develop very complex patterning around their spots as they mature.
These halos of white and pigmented hairs may extend out quite far from the spots, and be surrounded by areas of repigmentation, specks of basecoat colour that appear in areas that were once totally white.
White ear tips
White ear tips occur on Appaloosas with moderate to extensive white patterning.
Both spotted (LP/lp) and fewspotted (LP/LP) phenotypes may display them.
Appaloosa leg markings
Appaloosas may display unique leg markings that are Appaloosa-specific, or white leg markings caused by non-Appaloosa pattern genes, or they may show markings that are a mixture of the two.
It can be very difficult to sort out whether or not non-Appaloosa white leg markings are present in some instances. This album shows a number of different "clean" Appaloosa leg marking examples, and some suspected mixtures.
Unusual non-Appaloosa patterns
Sometimes horses develop patches of unpigmented skin and hair for reasons that are not clear. There may be genetic and/or environmental factors at work.
Some horses in this album display pigment loss patterning, others unusual patterning that was present at birth.