Bay

Created by the Agouti gene, Bay can be defined from a light copper red, to a rich red blood bay to a very dark red or brown call either a dark bay, mahogany bay, black bay, or simply brown. They have black points that include the ear tips, mane and tail, and the lower legs. This gene restricts black pigment to the points and leaves the rest of the body a reddish color.

Bay is a very common color in the Equine business, seen in many breeds throughout the world. Any horse that is the color Bay is known to be easy-going, mild, and dependable. They were thought to be the hardiest color.

Usually only appearing on a summer coat, some Bay horses will exhibit dappling, a faint pattern of concentric rings within the coat.

Many light bays and blood bays have a two-toned hair shaft, which, if shaved too closely (such as when body-clipping for a horse show), may cause the horse to appear several shades lighter, a somewhat dull orange-gold, almost like a dun. However, as the hair grows out, it will darken again to the proper shade. This phenomenon is usually not seen in dark bays.