- Blue at 3 in Montana
Mary L-W (a Boarder at HHABC) owns one of the rarest genetically colored horses in the world (His name is Blue-and no…he is not blue…haha). I found an excellent discussion at a website that describes rare and unusual horse colors and found, to my surprise, a treasure trove of information explaining these colored jewels of the equine world. Not only is Blue’s color unusually rare, but this is a horse of a different mind and color…he fetches like a dog…(Video coming soon). Seriously he is the “Barn Clown” and he is entertained several times a week by his equally silly humans. I know he whispers to the other horses in the pasture how funny we humans are when we play with him in the arena…who’s training who? He has us running around throwing his ball and toys so he can retrieve them…sorry…I digress…
"Is that one shot or two?"
"Human- Whispering"
Genetic discussion of Champagne dilute gene horses: A Champagne horse is any horse with one (heterozygous) or two (homozygous) Champagne color dilution genes. The champagne gene appears the same in appearance (phenotype) whether it is homozygous or heterozygous. Champagne dilute horses will usually (but not ALWAYS) have a specific kind of freckling on the skin, (different from mottling of spotted horses, and other dilutes) that is evident where hair is thin (muzzle etc). It will also lighten their eyes. Foals will have blue eyes at birth, which gradually darken to hazel to light borwn at maturity. Many champagne horses are also very shiny, with a metallic sheen to their coat. But not all of them! And the satin sheen may be a completely separate gene! (See weird!). Gold Champagne is champagne on sorrel or chestnut. Amber Champagne is champagne on bay. Classic Champagne is champagne on black. Sable Champagne is champagne on a brown horse.
This dilute gene is quite rare in most equine breeds, and for that reason, we are interested in listing all horses with the champagne dilute gene, even in the heterozygous form. Remember mares owners, breeding to a heterozygous stallion gives a 50% chance of color inheritance to the foal, whereas breeding to a homozygous stallion will guarantee inheritance to the foal (as much as possible with Mother Nature). Read More about rare and unusual colors.
I am so glad to see pictures of Blue and hear some of his antics. I initially brought Blue to Montana from MO and sold him to Mary. Of all the horses I have had Blue is by far the most unique color. And his personality is one of a kind. We had three horses that I had brought to MT from Mo pastured together. These three would get hold of balls and have three way tug of wars. Blue was real good at getting a large traffic cone by holding it like a megaphone and teasing the other two into pulling on it.
Blue is one of the quickest learners I have ever been around. He picked up things twice as fast as some of the other horses.
If there are more strikingly beautiful horses than Blue I want to see them. He is one I would take back in a heart beat.
Mark Goss
Thank you Mark for your comments and for properly starting one of the funniest and sometimes “naughtiest” horses I have had the privilege to play with. I am convinced his sometimes undesirable moments come from his quick wit and high play-drive. He is hard to keep entertained, but I agree, he is one of the quickest learners in the barn (bad and good). We adore him, but he does spend some of his time in “time-out.” I also feel privileged to have him as a teacher. Every horse I encounter brings new insights and these glimpses into their world is deeply respected and treasured.
Robyn, I really liked Blue from the first time I saw him. I know he must be quite a challenge. I also know that putting Blue and Mary together when they were both green is not the best idea. But, Mary has shown far more commitment than the average person. And as a result I am hoping that Blue and Mary get to a point of mutual confidence and respect. I love a horse like Blue, but often they are tough to work with and take enormous amounts of patience. I think their minds are able to process stuff so fast that they have a hard time focusing on one thing at a time.
I have a friend who is a very good horseman and when we talked about Blue the other day he said something that was interesting. He told me that he has had several horses like Blue and that it seemed that they all took a few years to mature in the mind. He had one that just one day seemed to change from delinquent to grown up on him. So perhaps Blue is on his way to grown-up this year. It’s about time.
Mark
Mark, I agree with your assessment. Blue will be one of the “great” trail horses one day. He is fortunate to have Mary as his guardian. She has dedicated a committment and level of patience not seen often in humans. She is one of the greatest friends and loyalist humans I have met. I am truly blessed to have met the two of them. I am grateful you inspired her to seek a trainer with NH skills to help her. I would never have met such a great person or her amazing (goofy) horse. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!
Did you decide what color he truly is?
I have a mare his same color and I am interested in her color.