Buckskin Horses
Often people mistake the buckskin as simply a horse with a tan, yellow or gold coat and black points - that is a black mane, tail, and lower legs. The Buckskin horse in not a mere color; their color is simply an indication of the ancient genetic heritage they possess. Buckskins, as well as Grulla and Duns, have been long noted for their superior qualities and strength. They have more stamina, more determination, harder feet, better bone, and are generally hardier than other horses.
The Buckskin is thought to have originated from the Spanish Sorraia. The blood of the Sorraia is filtered into nearly every breed found in the world today, hence the fact that the Buckskin, Dun or Grulla may be found in nearly every breed. Other Buckskins brought to this country can be traced to the Norwegian Dun, descendants of the nearly extinct Tarpan horses. The true Buckskin horse may trace his lineage through a direct line of Dun or Buckskin colored ancestors, as far back as recorded history of the animal are available.
Scientifically, buckskin coloring occurs as a result of the cream dilution gene acting on a bay horse. Therefore, a buckskin has the Extension, or "black base coat" (E) gene, the agouti (A) gene, which restricts the black base coat to the points, and one copy of the cream gene, which lightens the red/brown color of the coat to a tan/gold.
Buckskins should not be confused with dun-colored horses, which have another type of dilution gene, not the cream gene. Duns always have primitive markings (shoulder blade stripes, dorsal stripe, zebra stripes on legs, webbing). Unlike buckskins, which have the creme gene, dun horses have the dun gene. Primitive striping beyond just a dorsal stripe is a sure sign of the dun gene.
Since 1963, the American Buckskin Registry Association has been keeping track of horses with this unique coat color. It is the oldest active Buckskin registry in existence. It was organized in 1963, then reorganized and incorporated in 1965. It is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to collect, record and preserve the pedigrees of Buckskin, Dun, Red Dun and Grulla horses and ponies. There is also an International Buckskin Horse Association that promotes the activity and marketability of these beautiful horses.
