The Horse Forum
   

Go Back   The Horse Forum > General > Horse Talk

Settle an Argument:What is "Sorrel?"

This is a discussion on Settle an Argument:What is "Sorrel?" within the Horse Talk forums, part of the General category; Half of the people in our barn say that sorrel is a red chestnut (that's what I thought when I ...

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-04-2008, 09:26 PM   #1
Foal
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Iowa
Posts: 74
Horses: 0
Default Settle an Argument:What is "Sorrel?"

Half of the people in our barn say that sorrel is a red chestnut (that's what I thought when I was a kid and I had a red chestnut horse), and half say that sorrel is a lightish chestnut with a lighter mane and tail and lighter hair around the edges, legs, muzzle, etc., like you find in some draft horses. Settle the argument...who is right?
mojo7777 is offline  
 Share on FacebookTwitter
Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2008, 09:38 PM   #2
Weanling
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Central Mn.
Posts: 749
Horses: 0
Default

Both, sorrel can be many shades of red same as chestnut. Genetically their one and the same. The only two groups that use the term sorrel are the AQHA and APHA the rest of the horse world only uses Chestnut.
county is offline  
 Share on FacebookTwitter
Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2008, 10:28 PM   #3
Started
 
Jubilee Rose's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,467
Horses: 1
Default

I've always thought that sorrel meant lighter chestnut, with almost a yellowish mane and tail, and around the "edges."
Jubilee Rose is offline  
 Share on FacebookTwitter
Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2008, 10:57 PM   #4
Started
 
RegalCharm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,785
Horses: 0
Default

Chestnut: A reddish body color with no black. Mane and tail is the same shade or lighter than the body coat. The main color variations are:
  • Liver chestnut: dark very dark brown coat. Sometimes a liver chestnut is also simply called "brown."
  • Sorrel: Reddish-tan to red coat, about the color of a new penny. The most common shade of chestnut.
  • Blond or light chestnut: seldom-used term for lighter tan coat with pale mane and tail that is not quite a dun.
RegalCharm is offline  
 Share on FacebookTwitter
Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2008, 03:25 AM   #5
Weanling
 
RedHawk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 620
Horses: 2
Default

that definition is interesting, as my gelding is a chestnut but has a dredominantly black tail, or at least very dark. also, he has some white hairs flecked through his coat which i thought was unusual, but he's a TB so that rules out any possibility of his being a roan. will take some pics and post them.
RedHawk is offline  
 Share on FacebookTwitter
Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2008, 09:06 AM   #6
Foal
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Iowa
Posts: 74
Horses: 0
Default

According to Wikipedia:

Sorrel (horse - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

I hate to spoil everybody's fun at the barn by settling the argument, but this definition says it all!
mojo7777 is offline  
 Share on FacebookTwitter
Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2008, 09:44 AM   #7
Super Moderator
 
farmpony84's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 8,739
Horses: 6
Default

I had always thought Sorrel was the term western people used and chestnut was the term english people used. But my vet told me that a sorrel is the darker redder color with the darker redder mane. My horse is a sorrel:
Pistolcute.JPG

He will actually get redder in the sun where a chestnut will lighten in the sun. i wish I had a pic of a chestnut... that's where they can have that pretty flaxen mane...
farmpony84 is offline  
 Share on FacebookTwitter
Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2008, 10:04 AM   #8
Super Moderator
 
Vidaloco's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SE Kansas
Posts: 9,925
Horses: 2
Default

I had always thought they were the same color, just depended on what saddle you were using or what association you are dealing with
Vidaloco is offline  
 Share on FacebookTwitter
Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2008, 10:12 AM   #9
Super Moderator
 
iridehorses's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Greenville area / SC
Posts: 5,792
Horses: 4
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by mojo7777 View Post
According to Wikipedia:

Sorrel (horse - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

I hate to spoil everybody's fun at the barn by settling the argument, but this definition says it all!
The link takes you to a page that says "no article exists"
iridehorses is offline  
 Share on FacebookTwitter
Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2008, 10:34 AM   #10
Super Moderator
 
Vidaloco's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SE Kansas
Posts: 9,925
Horses: 2
Default

Here is the link I found Sorrel (horse - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
I think its still a matter of opinion and controversy. Dependent on where you are standing

EDT
Wow thats bizarre it won't show up. Don't hit the link its not working! It came up when I googled it...Oh well

Last edited by Vidaloco; 12-05-2008 at 10:36 AM.
Vidaloco is offline  
 Share on FacebookTwitter
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
My "gelding" a "stud"? My2Geldings Horse Talk 22 03-26-2009 11:55 AM
16.5" "The Liberty" DK MonoFlap Jumping Saddle - CUSTOM TO FIT ANY HORSE! EhLysa Tack and Equipment Classifieds 0 11-01-2008 06:47 PM
17" Eng Saddle, Qrtr Sheet, 40" girth, Draw Reins Amanda7289 Tack and Equipment Classifieds 4 10-15-2008 03:57 PM
"My pony and me" by "Don West" Barbarosa Horse Stories and Poems 1 07-21-2008 07:03 PM
Blingee Order -view prior post "More Neat Blingees" BluMagic Horse Artwork 3 01-01-2008 04:17 PM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:44 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2010, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.3.2