[Heavenly Jumper]

I'm trying to educate myself on color genetics but the paint/pinto markings are HARD! Sometimes an overo can look like a sabino....can a horse be both??? Argh!

Tobiano
Overo
Sabino
Tovero


AAAGH!!!

[prettyqtrs]

Well, I can usually tell the difference between the different patterns..I am not compltely up on the paints. (We breed QH's)

But for an example for you, here is our Paint. He is an overo. And Im pretty sure with overo's no white can cross their back.
http://www.prettyquarterhorses.com/d...il.aspx?id=122

Best wishes, maybe some one here that knows more about Paints and specifics about their patterns can help you out some more.

[Heavenly Jumper]

But what about this mysterious Sabino?.... (my mare that was sold was overo, so you are right about the back rule)

[prettyqtrs]

Have you tried searching on APHA? They have some pictures, links, articles, ect. on there.

Go to
www.apha.com

Then go by the
The Breed
icon and search around there.

Best wishes!

[S.HorseWoman]

There are two official patterns of pinto/Paint coloring: Tobiano and Overo. Tobiano is simply tobiano and refers to paint markings that come from "above" as in they look a lot like white paint drippled on the horse from the top. There is also the Tobiano gene which is the only one responsible for that pattern.

Overo refers to patterns that tend to come from "below" as if the horse was splashed from below with white paint. Now, there are three types of Overo: Frame Overo, Splash White, and Sabino.

Frame Overo looks like the pattern is framed by darker color. So the white is usually on the sides of the body and the neck mainly, with dark legs.

Splash White looks like the horse was dipped in white paint from below; the markings are characteristically very smooth on the edges. These horses have white legs and white faces first, then more and more on the body.

Sabino has a characteristic "lacey" edge to the markings most of the time, as well as often having some roaning in the coat as well. They are similar is some ways to Frame but the white is more irregular on the edges and often has white face and legs markings as well, while Frame does not.

Frame, Splash White, and Sabino are all forms of Overo caused by different genes.

Because Tobiano, Frame Overo, Splash White, and Sabino are all caused by different genes on different parts of the horse's genetic code, you could very well have a horse that has two, three, or even all four of these genes at the exact same time.

That was just a brief overview of course. Here is a great page to get a decent description and see pictures of each of the patterns and types of pinto, and also some combinations: http://www.coloredhorses.com/PP2new.html

Hope that helps a little .

[Heavenly Jumper]

THAT WAS PERFECT! Exactly what I wanted to know, I didn't realize that overo and sabino are "related"!! Thank you soooo much!!

[Appylvr]

I have trouble figuring out what type of Overo is which on some. The Splashes are the easiest.... they're my favorite. Also some Toveros are confusing!

[shell]

They are all spots!!

[freedom32]

And don't forget Tovero.........thats when they have charateristics of both!

[S.HorseWoman]

Originally Posted by freedom32

And don't forget Tovero.........thats when they have charateristics of both!

That is true; those are the ones mentioned at the bottom that have at least two of the four pinto/Paint producing genes.

I did not really go into those because I was trying to keep it brief and simple. If I tried to go into too much detail, the post would have been HUGE!

I did add the link to the page which does discuss Toveros, and has pictures of some if anyone wanted to learn about them though .