[catbird321]

My gelding is chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail. At least, from a distance, that's what he looks like. But up close, you can see a mix of all kinds of colors in his mane and tail, mostly flaxen but there are some red and even black hairs in there too. Now his mane is growing in from the crest of his neck more red! It's weird. Like, a layer of shorter hair grew in and it's all red. It lies over the top of his flaxen mane. Has anyone seen this before?

I've only owned him since Sept, so I almost wondered if the people who owned him before dyed his mane and tail lighter? But I don't think so b/c I have seen pics from the people who owned him years ago and his mane and tail were flaxen then too, plus it's on his coggins I think. Plus, he has feathers on his feet and they are flaxen too. Basically his coloring is like a Haflinger or a Belgian horse.

Why would his mane change colors? Nutrition? Age? Or will the red hair get lighter in the sun? Or is it just an odd variation?

Anyone see this before? Thanks.

[Fire_Dawn]

Its normal for different coloured hairs to be in it (flaxen, red and black) just like if you look at your hair it isnt all the same colour maybe its growing in red because it isnt sunbleached? I know that trace minerals affect the hair colour (you need the minerals for a nice strong colour) but I don't think that it would affect the colour that much. And if it was died the roots would be red. Maybe if it was a natural change it would blend in so you wouldnt really notice it. hmmm...

[Ms.Cinderella]

Cindy has almost the same thing. She's a belgian cross too. Her mane is flaxen with all the other colours in it to.
Cindy pulled her mane out and what is growing back is a reddish but it is lightening out also from the sun. So all it is is a natural thing

[catbird321]

Ok, Cool! I was thinking it was so weird! LOL. People are commenting on it too. I like it, it's pretty but it just seems odd. :-)

[.:Showie:.]

My clyde X is a bay, But has black,white and a little bit of brown in her mane and tail.

[Appylvr]

A red based horse can't have black hair... so what you're actually seeing are some really dark dark red hairs. My chestnut with flaxen has it too... and I noticed my Palomino gelding has some hair that looks black in his tail too.