Bamber: Grullo or Smoky Bay pinto?

Bamber, my new 5-year-old Paint/Quarter Pony (? -- all the breeders were clear about were Paint from his dam, and were vague on his sire), is giving me a little thought.

When I saw the ad, the owners advertised a grullo paint. But to me he looks more like a smoky/dark bay?? As far as I'm aware grullo is a little less "brown" than what he is.

What do you guys think?

His 2-year-old pictures:



Today, August 31:




Also, you can see on the bridge of his nose where a halter rubbed him and indented his face a little... the owners kept a halter on him constantly because he's a hard catch. I was quick to swipe it off of him as soon as he was unloaded into his new home!

Do you happen to have anymore pics of him?

I have a bunch more that I snapped today... the owner is supposed to get back at me with baby pictures; she says she has lots of files on her computer and has to sort through years and years of pictures.

I'm cropping/re-sizing the ones I took today, I'll post those ASAP.

I'm leaning toward bay, he doesn't look like a grullo to me. But the reason I asked for more pics was because I think... he may be buckskin. But I'm not an expert on color.

Will this one do, or do you need more? I haven't noticed any leg barring, which first peaked my curiosity on if he's a grullo.

Well the white could hide barring but Grullo is usually more silver blue like. I don't think he is a Grullo. I think he is either a sooty buckskin (brownskin) or a light bay. The only reason I think he is a buckskin is the younger pics (I know foal coat colors do change). He doesn't look bay in them. There are color experts on here who could tell you for certain... but that's what I see when I look at him.

I'm hoping that one of the forum experts will stumble on this. :P I don't want to sound like a fool and say "grullo" and have someone see him, and tell me how silly I am -- not a grullo. I'm pretty sure he isn't. The one leg with the stocking would show a little barring but I haven't seen any...

I love his markings, especially the one that is on his neck that looks like a band.

As do I... I especially love the asymmetry of them! I also like to think that the "C" shape on his left side stands for Carrie. So he was made for me... right? ;]

I don't see grullo either. This is really out there, but he reminds me of a sable champagne (brown + champagne). Do you happen to know what his parents are? That would narrow it down quite a bit.

But at the same time, (from these pictures at least) he doesn't seem to have any champagne traits like amber eyes and mottled skin.

I'm not sure, to be honest.