A bay or brown horse is black based with the agouti
modifier. The Agouti modifier basically limits the expression of black to
the points. The points being the lower legs, mane and tail. It is thought
that brown is a separate expression of agouti. However a dark bay could be
visually confused with a brown. The brown agouti at this stage has not been
proven and bay and brown may simply be descriptive terms for different
shades of Agouti. The darker brown, almost black colour with the lighter muzzle
and flanks is often called a seal brown. Bay/Brown can be light or dark and
can be diluted for example dun and buckskins. Modifiers such as smutty are
also often seen. Agouti has no effect on chestnut as there is no black to
modify.
I think good bays were even harder to find pictures of
than the rest! Many of the Gypsy Horses are white above the knee making if
difficult to show the black points. Donations of bay or brown Gypsy Horses
photos welcomed!
