Buckskin Horse: 21 shocking Facts and Colours

Buckskin horse has the unique coloration and a strong body. Buckskin Horses in any setting are eye catching, their golden-yellow bodies and dark points relatively unique.

So today I am going to share with you a list of ten things you probably did not know about Buckskin horses.

That said, here are ten things you may not know about Buckskin – then some of the more critical things that everyone should know if they have one.

I’ll cover the various shades of Buckskin horses, and explain how they differ from other equine colours like Palominos and Duns.

Understanding these differences can assist anyone interested in horse ownership to make an educated determination. If you are just looking to gain an inside view of a seasoned horse lover then this post is for you.

• Buckskin is an uncommon and recognizable coat colour on horses, recognised especially by its lightened body colour combined with a black points.
• Another distinction in colour and markings is between Palominos and Duns.
• It is of utmost importance that one takes care and manage buckskin horses well.

Background: The Buckskin Horse has an interesting development history. Without any specific horse parentage, this breed has an origin that leans towards several plausibly contributed horse populations leading to its unique qualities and popularity today.

Buckskin Horses originating from Spanish horses brought to America in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, Buckskin Horses have the specific gene.

Thereafter, these horses were mostly womb impregnated with local varieties and as a result gave birth to new characteristics.

The physical characteristics of the horse are reflected in its name, “buckskin,” which is named after a type tan buckskin leather, appropriately matching the colour of its coat.

With the power of numbers increasing in the American west, they won passage rights by proving to be a sturdy and durable breed. Buckskins were favoured by cowboys and cattlemen because of their work and riding skills.

These flashy looks helped them become popular in the show ring too.

Buckskin horses really did not begin to get the official recognition they needed until the 20th century was upon us.

The Buckskin Horse Association formed in 1963 to promote this breed.They formulated rules for registration and cultivation.

From then on breeders concentrated in producing buckskins of the type we know currently. Buckskin Horses are used today in many facets such as ranch work up to competitive events.

The fact that they are only available as coloured and Markdown also exerts a certain magic on the horse world.

The Buckskin horse breed is recognized for its unusual look and have specific attribute. I will dive deep into its physical characteristics and do a temperament and behaviour which will help you to have plenty of knowledge about this breed.

Buckskin: A Buckskins coat colour trait easily recognizable by this layman. She has a tan-gold coat colour and black mane and tail. Some also have dark points, these include the legs and as a mask.

The body is muscled and aesthetic. MC: Their size varies greatly; they stand between 14.2 and 16.2 hands.

This makes them good for a number of activities like trail riding or working on a ranch. The buckskin has developed into a rather sturdy animal with good bone which contributes to its stamina.

Here what makes them very attractive the superb dark-black deep expressive eyes. Meanwhile, they have solid hooves which gives them excellent footing across all manner of ground.

With all of these qualities in the breed, it is no wonder that the Buckskin horse is noted for both beauty and versatility.

Temperament and Behaviour

These horses are not regarded as nasty tempered, they have a decent disposition being that of the quiet family kind.

They are incredibly simple to train and perfect for anyone that is New York city not late a pro in the riding world. Their mental powers make them capable of learning and picking up new skills almost instantly.

So for a start, they tend to be herd animals. They are gregarious and can bond with other horses as well as humans. It is however a high level of friendliness as demonstrated in their work ethic, they are so willing and eager to please.

Despite their somewhat higher spirits, Buckskins are generally a more relaxed sort. They are typically easygoing under pressure, qualities that make them well-suited to multiple tasks like trail riding and ranch work.

They have a very even temperament and are a favourite among many horse owners.

Genetic rich and colourful are the black colours that a buckskin, as well as other horses, are wearing. These horses usually have different colours they can create, which makes them more beautiful and memorable.

Colour Genetics

Buckskin colouring comes from a specific genetic combination The cream gene is the first step used when identifying a Buckskin. So it dilutes the base colour, which is most bay, chestnut or black.

Base Colours:

• Bay — A horse who is brown with a black main and tail.
• Chestnut — A horse with a colour of red-brown.
• Black: A solid black horse coat.

When overlaid onto these base colours by the cream gene, this produces the appearances of Buckskin: a coat colour that ranges from light tan to gold.

Shade Variations

There are a few shades in the Buckskin category.

These can include:

• Buckskin: Pale tan to light gold in shade, and also the mane along with tail could possibly be blackish.
• Dun: Very alike to buckskin but with a darker shade and primitive markings stripes on the legs or even a dorsal stripe.
• Grullo: A light grey brown with displays of what some riders call a Buckskin.

Each version gives the print a different look. This particular colour can vary depending on the genetics and of course the colours of both parents. This variety of shades is one of the main reasons why these horses are so popular among breeders and fans.

21 facts About the Buckskin Horse

Buckskins are a beautiful and unique color of horse. They are usually golden in color with black mane and tails with a dorsal stripe on the back of the horse. Buckskins got their name from the buckskin clothing that was popular among early American settlers and Native Americans. The first buckskins were probably Spanish horses brought over by the conquistadors in the 1500s. These horses were then bred with other European breeds, such as Andalusians, Barbs, and wild horses such as Mustangs. Here are 21 interesting buckskin horse facts that you might find interesting:

1) “Buckskin” is an ancient colour

It is safe to say that Buckskin horses have been around for a very long time. Their origins can be linked back to the Sorraia horse breed all the way back to the 1500s.

Photo: Pinterest

2) Only Specific breeds display the buckskin color

Only some breeds have the buckskin color in them, including: Welsh Ponies, Cobs, the Tennessee Walking Horse, the Peruvian Paso, the Morgan, the spanish Mustang, Lusitano horse, the Andalusian, and the American Quarter horse.

 3) Unique pattern

The distinct coat and body color of true buckskins can be recognized instantly. It is actually a result of a dilution gene. Bay horses have a black base color on their coat. The agouti gene present in bay horses is responsible for directing the black color to certain points on their coat. The dilution genes that can be found in Buckskin horses actually dilute the dark color of their coat, making the dark points created by aguouti gene more visible. Hence, the unique pattern and color that makes the Buckskin so unique. The lower legs are darker too.

Photo: buckskin horse stock photos

4) The IBHA (International Buckskin Horse Association) was founded back in 1971.

It is a registry for buckskin horses as well as grulla and dun horses. However, stock-type horses tend to form a considerable portion of the registry. 

5) Lots of varieties of Buckskin horses

The lightest color that you will find on a Buckskin horse is Buttermilk. Other different buckskin coloring include sooty buckskins, silver buckskins, brown buckskin.

6) Buckskin horses cannot have blue eyes

The single dilution gene prevents buckskins from having blue eyes. The reasoning behind this fact is that when you mate two horses that have the single dilution gene, they will produce a foal that is double diluted and hence not a buckskin.

7) No primitive markings

Primitive markings such as leg barring and dorsal stripes are not found in buckskin horses and are usually exhibited by dun horses. However, it is not always the case, as there have been exceptions.

8) Hollywood History

Buckskin Horses have appeared in a lot of movies and TV shows. Some famous examples include:

• Gunsmoke – Marshall Matt Dillion used a large buckskin horse in the show. Although several different horses were used during the lifespan of the show, the actor’s favorite was a Buckskin horse aptly named “Buck.”
• This same horse was later used by Ben Cartwright, who also loved riding it. In fact, he grew so fond of Buck that he ended up buying the animal from the studio to keep in his personal stable.

9) Buckskins are not rare

Buckskin horses are not rare at all. This color might even be considered the most common among most horse breeds.

Photo: Yes magasin

10) Buckskin Horses are not exactly a breed

Buckskin horses are not technically a breed, but a color.

11) A small horse

Regardless of the breed, a buckskin horse typically range between 13hh-16hh, meaning that they tend to be a smaller horse.

Photo: buckskin pony

12) Creme gene

Buckskin horses have a copy of the crème gene. Buckskin horses are bay horses that have the cream gene, which is responsible for lightening the color of the horses. On the other hand, if a bay horse has two copies of the cream gene, it would be a perlino. 

 13) Buckskins are frowned upon in Northern Europe

In northern Europe (scandinavia), buckskins are not as popular in english disciplines such as Showjumping and dressage. They are viewed as a ‘western breed’ and not fancy enough for showing.

Photo: horse art

14) Versatile horses

Today, buckskins are used for a variety of purposes, including pleasure riding, show jumping, dressage, racing, and even working cattle. They are also popular as parade horses and trail riding horses.

Photo: Ehorses

15) Went viral as the ‘Most Beautiful Horse’

In 2015 – the Akhal teke breed went viral on youtube and facebook as ‘The most beautiful horse in the world’. This is because of their shiny coat, elegant small framed body and fairytale like appearance. Everyone’s horse taste is obviously different, but many horse enthusiast fell in love with the buckskin color after these viral photos and videos.

Photo: iStock photo

 16) Often mistaken as Red Dun Horses

To the untrained eye, a red dun horse looks similar to a buckskin horse. However dun colouring is sandy brown and primitive markings while a true buckskin horse have a tan colour with black points. Not the same colour as a dun despite the fact that the term is used interchangeably. You need to understand that a true dun would not be affected by the cream gene. 

17) The majority of buckskin horses have a Spanish origin.

The reason behind this is that during the Middle Ages, the Spanish were fascinated with breeding golden horses and tried to breed as many of them as possible. The Colonial Era only led to more bloodlines appearing as the Spanish were introduced to the beauty of different colors that the New World brought.

Photo: Pinterest

18) Buckskin horses features black points and a cream-coloured body.

A buckskin horse has black points on its legs, ears, tail, and mane. Even though the exact shade of the color tends to vary, you can expect a cream color. Some buckskin horses have a light cream color, whereas others have a dark tan.

Photo: western buckskins

19) Buttermilk, Dale Evans’ horse, was actually a buckskin.

The American quarter horse gelding lived until the age of 30 and even appeared in The Roy Rogers Show.

20) Have amber-coloured eyes.

It is standard for buckskin horses to have dark eyes, which is also the case for palomino horses.

21) Stallion of Cimarron, an animated star, is actually a buckskin

The movie Spirit features an animated Buckskin horse.

22) Western TV

Television Westerns have portrayed buckskin horses for a long time, such as the Trampas’ horse shown on the Virginian and Ben Cartwright’s horse, which appeared in Bonanza. Other films to feature buckskin horses include The Man from Snowy River and Dances with the Wolves. 

That’s the top 21 facts about this beautiful horse. If you are a horse lover and love the colour buckskin, please let us know in the comment section below. We would love to hear from you! 

Although buckskin and palomino horses can easily be confused because they have similar shades, there are some clear differences between the two. I will make comparisons of important features that distinguish these two breeds.

Differences in Coloration

Their colour is the most noticeable difference. These horses are characterized by their light tan or gold coloured coat, with black mane and tail. From a creamy yellow to a deep gold body colour

Palominos, conversely, got a new golden jacket of a variety of shades. But normally, they have a white or very light cream mane and tail.

Buckskin and palomino are colours, not breeds. Buckskin can exist in any breed, such as most recently Paints and Quarter Horses.

Palomino is also found in some breeds like Thoroughbreds, Arabians etc. Instead, the idea is that every colour type may be derived from different genetic lineages.

Many breeds initially had been bred to perform specific tasks and to understand these differences in breed use can help one select the right horse for riding, showing or other activities.

When it comes to Buckskin vs Dun horses, you want to look at the genetic composition and visual appearance of these horses. They have their own specific characteristics that can help differentiate them.

Genetic Distinctions

Buckskins carry a genetic trait that brings out this colour. As a group, they possess the cream dilution gene that further affects the bay base coat to express the well-recognized colour of Buckskin. Its base colour can be either dark bay or light bay.

Another characteristic of dun horses is a particular gene that gives them their yellowish colour. The dun gene dilutes the pigment and can result in a pale coat, lighter or of different base colour from yellow to sandy.

While this is often the case, the genetics underlying any similarity in colour are quite different. The Buckskin is derived by bay ancestry whereas the Dun can have different base colours like chestnut or bay.

Visual Differences

Most Buckskin and Dun horses are easily identifiable visually. The colour of the buckskins is usually gold to light tan with black mane and tail. On the back they often have little or no stripe marking.

Meanwhile, Dun horse pieces often have visible markings. Dorsal stripe: They often have a single dorsal stripe that runs from the skull to the tip of their tail.

In addition to this stripe, Duns may have leg stripes or counter-shading along their flanks.

Quick colour comparison:

A Buckskin horse needs to be attended to its diet, health and overall maintenance. Well managed they offer a long life of usefulness for these singular horses.

Diet and Nutrition

Buckskin Horse: A well balanced diet is absolutely necessary. We emphasize good hay and good pasture. I get him new grass, but garbage less mold and bad weeds than before.

I also add grain or pellets in their feed. This is particularly useful for active horses. I look for feed with:

• Protein : Required for the growth of muscles
• Vitamins: Like A, D and E for healthier lifestyle
• Minerals — such as calcium and phosphorus, which help to build strong bones.

Water is critical. I always leave a large amount of fresh clean water for my horse. In the same vein I always feed them on their meals to have some scheduled feeding times that would keep them energetic and digesting.

Healthcare and Maintenance

Buckskin horses require regular healthcare. I have routine vaccinations done and also get his deworming from my vet. This help to prevent the most common diseases.

Another major segment of Cattle Management is Hoof care. I trim my horse every 6-8 weeks and four horses take about an hour if I move efficiently. It helps to keep themselves healthy and strong.

Oral care is likewise a factor. I have my horses teeth professionally checked and filed by a veterinarian annually.

Who need healthy teeth for better digestions unnecessary, but we do not understand in detail how our health is directly dependent of (good) teeth.

Also, proper grooming is key. I spent my time grooming my horse, brushing him each day to keep his coat shiny and remove any filth.

It also allows me to inspect for injuries or skin conditions. Maintaining a nice outward appearance but importantly good health as well.