palominos and flaxen chestnuts

Flaxen chestnuts and Palominos can look exactly alike. Sometimes the only way to tell the difference is through their DNA. Palominos have one creme dilution gene, where as chestnuts, even those with lighter manes and tails, don't. For example, Haflingers tend to look Palomino. However, a true Haflinger cannot be Palomino; they are all flaxen chestnut. So there's my input :) (I did hours of research on horses colors, mainly the creme dilutes, ie palomino, cremello, perlino, smokey cream/black...)

You can tell the difference between palomino and chestnut visually if you know what you are looking for. You know that sheen that horses get in certain lights? Kind of glitters and looks real pretty? In a palomino, that will have a definite golden cast to it. In a chestnut, it will have a bronze or even red tone.

Not necessarily. It may be possible depending on their coat at the time, but especially during the winter it's impossible. My mare is an isabella palomino (extremely light) and in the winter unless you've seen her during the summer she looks grey (like the white color that's technically called grey) It's often similar with flaxen chestnuts. I had a flaxen Haflinger who I didn't even know wasn't a pally until after I sold her. Most of the time you can tell, but not always.

Oh, by the way, I love your signature :)