Paint horses are the most
colorful of breeds, with unique coat patterns and easily distinguished markings.
Know that there are three
categories of coat patterns on a paint horse. The tobiano paint is
characterized by round or oval spots that extend from the horse's neck down
to its chest. Tobianos usually have white markings across their back between
their withers and tail. Their heads may be completely solid colored or have
a blaze, strip, star or snip. The legs are usually white below the knees and
hocks and the tail is normally two-colored. The overo paint's coat pattern
is mainly white or dark with no white across the horse's back. An overo
usually has a bald (all-white) face and its body markings are irregular and
scattered. At least one and maybe all of the overo's legs are dark and it
has a single-colored tail. Horses with both tobiano and overo
characteristics are called toveros.
Identify the type of paint
horse by its markings.
Know that paint horses have the
body type and athleticism of a quarter horse and are considered very
intelligent, quick and agile.
Enjoy paint horses in any
number of events including ranch work, cow work, rodeos, pleasure riding,
racing and showing.
Note the attributes that make
the paint horse the second most numerous of the western breeds: strong
bones, good balance, good disposition and flashy coat.
Realize that for a horse to be
registered in the American Paint Horse Association (APHA), the horse must
come from stock registered with the APHA, the American Quarter Horse
Association (AQHA), or the Jockey Club (the U.S. thoroughbred registry).
Understand that a solid-colored
paint horse can be registered as breeding stock (when the horse is bred, its
offspring will be paint horses), but minimum color requirements must be met
for regular registration.