Understanding the Bay Horse Colour
A bay horse has a distinctive look: a reddish-brown body paired with what are called “black points.” Those points include a black mane, tail, lower legs, and the edges of their ears.
The bay colour is determined by how the Extension (E) and Agouti (A) genes interact. It’s a specific genetic combination that results in the dark points on a reddish coat.
The term “bay” actually covers a spectrum of shades. You’ll find variations like wild bay, standard bay, and seal brown, with modifiers and dilutions influencing the exact shade of red and the intensity of the black.
In this article, we’ll dig into the genetics behind the bay colour, explore the different variations, discuss modifiers and dilutions, and highlight some of the breeds most commonly associated with this beautiful horse colour.