The following are common terms used to describe Appaloosa coat patterns

Blanket

A solid white area normally over, but not limited to, the hip area with a contrasting base colour.

Spots

White or dark spots over all or a portion of it’s body.

Varnish Roan

A horse exhibiting the Appaloosa varnish roan pattern develops a lighter coloured area on the forehead, jowls and frontal bones of the face, over the back, loin and hips. Darker areas may appear along the frontal bones of the face as well and also on the legs, stifle, above the eye, point of the hip and below the elbow. Without an apparent Appaloosa blanket or spots, a horse with only the above-listed characteristics will also need mottled skin.

Roan Blanket

The roan pattern consisting of a mixture of light and dark hairs, over a portion of the body. The blanket normally occurs over, but not limited to, the hip area.

Roan Blanket with Spots

Roan blanket (as above) which has white and/or dark spots within the roan area.

Solid

Base colour but no contrasting colour in the form of an Appaloosa coat pattern. The horse will need mottled skin and one other Appaloosa characteristic.

Typical coat patterns and their descriptions

Mottled Skin

Many Appaloosas will have bold and clearly defined vertically light or dark striped hooves. Vertical stripes may result from an injury to the coronet or a white marking on the leg.

Light coloured horses tend to have thin stripes in their hooves. As a result, all striped hooves do not necessarily distinguish Appaloosas from non-Appaloosas. Look for other Appaloosa characteristics if any of these situations apply to your horse.

Photo A

This is a perfect example of true mottled skin. It shows definite pigmented areas. The contrast is good, and there is clear definition between the light and dark skin.

Photo B

Owners will often send in photos of the inside of the lip. Many horse breeds will have variations in pigment on the inside of the lip. Mottled skin must be visible in the photograph, with the mouth closed.

Photo C

Pigmented skin, even if it is present in round ‘spots’ inside a blaze or a snip, is not considered mottled skin. Many breeds of horses will have these markings.

Photo D

The speckled pattern present on this horses tail head is not mottled skin. The presence of pigment in the light area classifies this a pumpkin skin.

Sclera

Photo H

This is an excellent example of true Appaloosa sclera because the white encircles the eye and is adjacent to the iris, much like a human eye. This photo also shows a good example of Appaloosa mottled skin.

Photo J

This horse’s eye is turned back, showing the white of the eye that most non-Appaloosas exhibit. A close examination also show a brown sclera adjacent to the iris.

Photo J

This horse has a brown sclera adjacent to the iris. It would not be considered an Appaloosa characteristic.

Striped Hooves

Many Appaloosas will have bold and clearly defined vertically light or dark striped hooves. Vertical stripes may result from an injury to the coronet or a white marking on the leg.

Light coloured horses tend to have thin stripes in their hooves. As a result, all striped hooves do not necessarily distinguish Appaloosas from non-Appaloosas. Look for other Appaloosa characteristics if any of these situations apply to your horse.

Photo E

This photo shows a typical Appaloosa striped hoof. It has distinct pigmented and non-pigmented areas, the same as mottled skin.

Photo F

Thin stripes like the ones shown in this photo are found on horses with various coat colours (chestnut, dun or palomino for example) and cannot be considered an Appaloosa characteristic. The lighter stripes on these hooves are actually pigmented, similar to pumpkin skin.

Photo G

Thin stripes like the ones shown in this photo are found on horses with various coat colours (chestnut, dun or palomino for example) and cannot be considered an Appaloosa characteristic. The lighter stripes on these hooves are actually pigmented, similar to pumpkin skin.