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The leopard complex
These are color effects most commonly known in the Appaloosa
breed, but also found in the Knabstrupper, Pony of the Americas,
Tiger Horse, Miniature Horses, and others. Most involve white
areas or roaning, with darker, rounded spots ("polka dots").
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leopard - entire horse is white with dark leopard spots all over
-
few-spot - body and legs are white with no, or few, dark
leopard spots; produces highly-colored foals
-
blanket - the rump (and sometimes surrounding area) is white with
dark leopard spots
-
snowflake - the rump (and sometimes surrounding area) has traces of
"lacy" white
-
snowcap - white rump
-
varnish - white hairs mixed in with the colored ones, usually
increases with age, bony areas tend to remain dark
-
other characteristics:
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mottled skin: unpigmented skin blotches
-
striped hooves
-
white sclera (white around eye)
and then there's...
-
frosty
-
In frosty roaning, the white hairs tend to be concentrated on the
horse's rump or back. It is possible, according to several
well-respected color researchers, that this is the form of roaning that the
"roan test" is actually detecting. If so, it might explain why
appaloosa patterned "crop-outs" still occur in the American
Quarter Horse.
 One of Ginny Long's
minis. Snowcap? Also see her stallion, Piano Man, a striking
leopard pattern.
The Appaloosa Horse Club
...at
appaloosa.com , describes the various
combinations thus:
Patterns
A remarkable aspect of the Appaloosa is the myriad of color and pattern combinations he can exhibit. The following are seven common terms used to describe Appaloosa patterns. The description used by the Registration Department differs slightly. Appaloosa patterns are highly variable and there are many which may not fit into specific categories easily.
- Blanket - refers to a horse which has a solid white area normally over, but not limited to, the hip area with a contrasting base color.
- Spots - refers to a horse which has white or dark spots over all or a portion of its body.
- Blanket With Spots - refers to a horse with a white blanket which has dark spots within the white. The spots are usually the same color as the horse's base color.
- Roan - A horse exhibiting the Appaloosa
roan pattern develops a lighter colored area
on the forehead, jowls and frontal bones of
the face, over the back, loin and hips. Darker
areas may appear along the frontal bones of
the face as well and also on the legs, stifle,
above the eye, point of the hip and behind
the elbow. Without an apparent Appaloosa blanket
or spots, a horse with only the above-listed
characteristics will also need mottled skin
and one other characteristic to qualify for
regular registration.
- Roan Blanket - refers to a horse having the roan pattern consisting of a mixture of light and dark hairs, over a portion of the body. The blanket normally occurs over, but is not limited to, the hip area.
- Roan Blanket With Spots - refers to a horse with a roan blanket which has white and/or dark spots within the roan area.
- Solid - refers to a horse which has a base color as is described above pages but no contrasting color in the form of an Appaloosa coat pattern. This horse will need mottled skin and one other characteristic to receive regular papers.
The above is a direct quote from the
Appaloosa Horse Club.
Links for more information on Appaloosa coloring and heredity:
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