Ashringa:1 Horses of the Dawn= an Introduction

8/14/2019 Ashringa:1 Horses of the Dawn= an Introduction

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ASHRINGA

Werehorses for White Wolfs Werewolf: the Apocalypse

By Laura M. Henson 2005

Chapter One

HORSES OF THE DAWN: AN INTRODUCTION

Now I will believe that there are unicorns

-William Shakespeare

This is not the first attempt to adapt werehorses to the Storyteller Systems Werewolf: theApocalypse game, three others have already been published on various internet sites, yet all of those

versions were disappointing to me. The previous adaptations all had two things in common, they were

incomplete and their authors seemed ignorant of the plight of the many species of wild horse in the world.

In fact only one version had a tribe based on a wild species instead of a domesticated breed and that was the

most obvious- the Zebra. Yet there are seven species of wild equine in the world (as well as such feral

types as the mustang and brumby) and many of these are among the most endangered animals on Earth, a

fact that gives a ready made plot hook to an Apocalypse game!

In this book I am going to combine elements from the previous efforts with actual horse

mythology. In particular I am going to change the name of the race to reflect actual legends. All the

previous versions used different names for their werehorses (Equi, Equinasi, and Kelpies) but only one was

a name found in actual mythology. However this name (Kelpie) is already found in Werewolf: the Dark

Ages as the Garou term for a bane possessed mortal horse so I decided to start afresh with a new name. Idecided upon Ashringa based on the Indian legends of Rishyashringa, a boy who had a human for a father

and a unicorn for a mother. A character noted for his role in defeating the demon dragon of drought and

healing a kingdom from corruption. What better myth to link an Apocalypse tribe to?

Selected Books, Films and Games

Nonfiction (Horses)


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The World According to Horses: How They Run, See, and Think- by Stephen Budiansky: just as the title

says. This book gives a good summary of facts about horses and their behavior.

The Horse in Magic and Myth- by M. Oldfield Howey: Everything you ever wanted to know about horses

in mythology, folklore and ancient religious rituals. This is simply the best book on the subject.

A Natural History of Zebras- by Dorcas MacClintock: Everything you need to know about the history and

behavior of zebras. It also has some information on the other species of wild horse as well.

Americas Last Wild Horses- by Hope Ryden: A strong stomach is recommended when reading this book

which details the attempts the US government have taken to exterminate the native mustangs in order to

demoralize the Native American Population. A must read for Nhurim players.

The last Wild Horse- by Morris Weeks: The story of the Przhevaslskys horse and the Tarpan.

Zoobooks: Wild Horses- by John Wexo: A little magazine with a huge amount of information. It not only

describes but illustrates (in color) every species of equine known.

Nonfiction (Unicorns)

Unicornis: On the History and truth of the Unicorn- by Michael Green: A beautifully illustrated book

claiming to be a translation of the Codex Unicornis, a 15 th century manuscript written by a Gnostic monk

named Magnalucius. The seven houses of the unicorn were my inspiration for the Ashringas tribes and its

E. Piebus Untimus seemed to already be made forWerewolf: the Apocalypse. This is a book that I highlyrecommend for Ashringa or Child of Gaia players.

The Unicorn- by Nancy Hathaway: A book on unicorn folklore dating from biblical times to today. It also

contains the most detailed retelling of the story of Rishyashringa I have ever found.

The Lore of the Unicorn- by Odell Shepherd: The best book ever written about the unicorn. For ancientreports and beliefs about the one horned wonder this is the book to read.

Unicorns I Have Known and The Unicorn of Mount Kilimanjaro- by Robert Vavra: A book composed ofincredible color photographs of horses made up into the most realistic unicorns ever. The text near the end

is just as wonderful as the photos and is full of rare facts about the unicorn.

Fiction (Ludography)

Werepony: the Canter- by Red Raptor, ([email protected]): The first werehorse game. Short but has

some nice gifts and Mtis flaws.

Werehorses-, author unknownbut was located at: www.angelfire.com/mi2/horsefeathers/equi.htmlThis is the second known werehorse text. Almost all the tribes were based on domestic breeds but it had an

inspired Auspice system that I adopted for this book.

Kelpies- by Art, www.maxpages.com/siberiandreams/kelpies.html: The final werehorse text that predates

my own. It contains many gifts but divides the tribes into the warm blood and cold blood divisions used for

domestic horses. It differs from the previous efforts in having the hispo form being the extinct Equus

gigantus which he describes as a giant black horse instead of the Clydesdale sized zebra it really was.

Fiction


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Acornia- by Anne McCaffrey: A modern science fiction retelling of the Rishyashringa legend that has

grown into an extensive series. Does for unicorns what herDragon Riders of Pern series did for dragons.

Birth of the Firebringer- by Meredith Ann Pierce: The first book in a trilogy this is one of the best unicorn

stories ever published. Often described as My Little Pony for grownups, it is the story of Aljan, prince of

the unicorns, and his quest to drive the evil wyrms from the Hollowed Hills.

Cloud: Wild Stallion of the Rockies- PBS. An Emmy wining episode of Nature that documents the life of awild mustang in the Arrowhead mountains. The DVD version also includes the sequel Clouds Legacy.

The Grey Horse- by R. A. MacAvoy: the story of an Irish werehorse searching for a kin-folk wife. Whilecalled a puca in the book, Ruairi Mac Eibhir has more in common with the Ashringa than with the pookas

of Changeling: the Dreaming.

The Heavenly Horse from the Outermost West- by Mary Stanton: This is the book for adapting equines to

the World of Darkness. Despite the fact that it was written in the 1980s it could easily be a chronicle all by

itself- the spirit world, moon bridges, the wyrm, this book has it all! It was followed by a sequel called

Pipers Songwhich is almost as rare as the first novel.

The Last Unicorn- by Peter S. Beagle: The classic novel (and movie) about a unicorn who is turned into ahuman woman in her quest to free her kind from the Red Bull.

Mad Amos by Alan Dean Foster: A collection of all his Mad Amos Malone stories.

Misty of Chincoteague, Brighty of the Grand Canyon, andMustang: Wild Spirit of the West- byMarguerite Henry. These books tell the true stories of a wild Chincoteague ponys true love, a hero donkey

that was once revered in Americas largest canyon, and Wild Horse Anne, a young woman disfigured by

disease that single handedly saved the mustang from extinction. All were also made into movies.

Nico the Unicorn- MGM Motion Picture: The best live action unicorn film ever. A young crippled boy

rescues an abused pony only for it to give birth to a most unusual foal. Ignore the film The Little Unicornas it is only a poorly made and childish remake of the much superiorNico.

Nightmare- by Piers Anthony: AXanith novel that turns the usual horse symbolism on its head when agood nightmare saves the land of Xanth from an invasion masterminded by an evil werehorse.

The Unicorns of Balinor- by Mary Stanton: WhileHeavenly Horse is Stantons masterpiece this latterseries for children may be useful for storytellers needing inspiration. It reminds me of an old 1985 cartoon

series called Wildfire which I also recommend for Ashringa players if it ever is released on DVD.

The Year of the Unicorn and The Key of the Keplian- by Andre Norton: These two Witch Worldnovels

are among the most recommended of the series as far as werehorses are concerned. In the first book a

woman is kidnapped by a group of lycanthropes who call themselves the Wereriders because their leader is

a werehorse. In the second story a Native American woman stumbles across the umbra into the Witch

World where she rescues a race of magical horses from the forces of darkness.

Unicorns! And Unicorns II- edited by Jack Dann and Gardener Dozois: A very good collection of modern

fiction. Included in II are Michael Bishops The Calling of Paisley Coldpony about a Native Americantotem unicorn spirit, and a fantastic bit by Janet Kagan calledNaked Wish Fulfillmentabout a unicorn

spirit on the set of a porn film!


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WEREHORSES IN THE WORLD OF DARKNESS

The horse is a major figure in mythology; even in areas where domesticated steeds were unknown

equines were seen as representing the wild untamable force of nature itself, the wind incarnate and the

Mother of the Moon. Indeed in many cultures Mother Earth was said to be a great white mare who fled as

the moon before the Sun Stallion and whose mating (during an eclipse, as it was then that the sun obviously

captured the moon) resulted in all the life on Earth.

The horse was first domesticated by the nomads of Central Asia over 6,600 years ago and these

nomads eventually became the Scythians and Aryans who introduced the domestic horse throughout

Eurasia. To their early Greek, Egyptian, Celtic, and Indian neighbors the early horse riders seemed almost

supernatural and were depicted as centaurs in ancient art. To the Nomadic tribes of India the horse was the

symbol of leadership as bestowed by the Great Mother, even their kings were chosen by whose horse

neighed first at the rising sun. Because of this close relationship with the horse it is no surprise that Indias

legends are filled with men becoming horses, horses becoming men, and a marriage that resulted in

Unicorns children.

The Legend of Rishyashringa

Long ago there lived an Indian holy man named

Vibhandaka. For many years Vibhandaka lived alone in a cave

high up in the Himalayas. Eventually the old hermit became so

lonely that he prayed that the gods would send him a

companion. Gaia granted his request by sending one of her

creatures to him. The being that came to Vibhandakas cave

was a white pony with the grace of a gazelle and a single

golden horn in the center of her forehead. She was the most

beautiful creature Vibhandaka had ever seen and he instantly

fell in love with her and, with the blessing of Gaia,

Vibhandaka was married to the unicorn by the gandharvas of

the mountains.

In time the unicorn gave birth to a son who washuman in every way except for the horn in the center of his

forehead. Vibhandaka and his wife named their son Ashringa

which means unicorn and he eventually grew into a young

man so wise in the ways of nature that he earned the title of

Rishy which means great sage while still teen. One evening

Rishyashringa returned home and found that his parents had

died. He buried Vibhandaka and his mother and would have

lived out his days alone in the mountains if it had not been for

the princess Shanta.

Shanta was the daughter of a king so greedy that Britra, the Dragon of Drought breathed upon the

land and turned his realm into a barren desert. The kings wise men told him that only the famous unicorn

boy could restore his kingdom but the king refused to listen to the advice of the Brahmans. Thus princessShanta felt that it was her duty to run away from home and find Rishyashringa to break her fathers curse.

After months of searching Shanta finally found the unicorn boy and, by approaching him as a

repentant disciple, she finally gained his trust. Eventually they fell in love and Shanta persuaded

Rishyashringa to help her people. When Shanta returned to the drought struck kingdom the prideful king

refused Rishashringas help and ordered his guards to kill him. As the guards approached him

Rishyashringa began to pray and for the first time in over a year it began to rain. As the land turned from

desert to farmland the shamed king turned his realm over to his daughter and took to his deathbed. Queen

Shanta then married Rishyashringa and they all lived happily ever after.


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The legend narrated above is the short and sweet version of the origin of the werehorses.

According to Ashringa lore the werehorses are simply the descendants of Rishyashringa and Princess

Shanta and all the tribes can trace their ancestry back to one the royal pairs seven sons.

The Creed of the AshringaThe werehorses claim that they are the descendants of Rishyashringa and Princess Shanta.

According to their myths the princess and the unicorn boy had seven sons. The first of these sons was

Assalam, the Mighty who crossed the bridge of ice to the new world. The next born was Ilvilon, the

Devoted, who loved mankind. The third son was Vata, the Destroyer, who protected the desert from bandits

and evil. The forth son was Ohani, the Trickster, who danced with the gandharvas and little people of the

woods. The fifth son was Kestevara, the Peaceful, who brought the gift of writing to the east. The sixth son

was Abram, Lover of the Sea, who ruled the islands to the south. And, finally the last son was Isfendarmd,

Who Guards the Night, who brought light to a continent of darkness. Each of these seven stallions

eventually moved to different lands where they interbred with the native peoples and equines and so sired

one of the seven bos (tribes) of the Ashringa. This is why each bo resembles a different human race and a

different horse kin and it is also why all Ashringa belong to the same family and have a common goal.

Just as the werewolves are Gaias immune system and the werecats are her eyes so the werehorses

are her kidneys. Their duty is to purify the lands and waters of the world to restore the fertility and balance

of nature. They are Gaias love personified, charged with keeping her waters and lands clean of poison and

disease a duty which is similar to that of the Gurahls but the goals of the two bete differ. While a werebear

would allow itself to be killed so that a starving village could eat a werehorse would restore the fertility of

the land so that the village could plant crops for long term survival. The Ashringa believe that there may

still be hope for Gaia if the Earth Mother is returned to its original pure state. To do this they seek to return

the Triat to health. It is not the Ashringas duty to go against the Wyrm, rather their duty is to purify the

Wyrm of its corruption and restore the balancer Wyrm to power.

The Ashringa have a lot of work to do to rebuild Gaia. Some groups fight to clean

polluted areas by increasing regulations on air, water, and land quality. Others seek to restore endangered

species and restore the Ashringas link with the other shape shifters. Still others seek to rescue wild equines

from government sponsored roundups and slaughter houses in order to preserve their wild kin. Many still

seek lost human kinfolk in blighted cities or poverty stricken reservations.

The Ashringa follow the Codex Unicornis, a prophecy equivalent to the Garou Prophecy of the

Phoenix. To the Ashringa now is obviously the time mentioned in the Codex. This has caused the Ashringa

to change their habits for the better. In the past the werehorses were more concerned with hiding from the

werewolves and preserving their horse kin then in human affairs. But the Codex declares that now is the

time for Unicorn to show himself and the Ashringa are disclosing their presence to the world.

The Time of the Great Purification is at hand and unicorns children must be ready to come out of

hiding and rebuild the world to prevent the Apocalypse. Even humanity must become aware of their

presence for the Codex states that man must know the true nature of the unicorn if he is to resist the

corrupting influence of the Wyrm. But showing oneself to man is dangerous so the Ashringa have

responded by encouraging unicorn images in literature and art. Most Ashringa will show themselves inmonocerus form to people whom they judge to be innocent or pure of heart for it is only by knowing that

magic is real and that Gaia loves all her children that man can find the hope that will cure the Wyrms

madness and restore the Earth to primal harmony


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The Codex Unicornis*

The unicorn is a kindred race, bound to us in love and service. He points the way, he guards thegate, and he waits until the end.

Behold! An age shall come when science shall darken everywhere the hopes of men. Chariots ofiron shall roll the land, which shall grow hard and barren to bear their weight. The air shall be filled with

the clamor of many voices. Unknown plagues and sicknesses shall arise. The sphere of the moon shall bear

the booted heels of man.

Two mighty kingdoms will contend for the world, and turn against it, until the soil and the sea

shall sicken and the winds become a flux of poisoned vapors. And men shall be sorly tried, so that at the

last, none may escape the choice between light and darkness.

Then, in the time of Great Purification, will the unicorn return in strength, lingering at themargins of our realm, to seed our minds with dreams of a brighter age to come, and many shall hunger to

see him in his true shape. But being a spiritual creature, the unicorn must conform himself to the images

held in the hearts of those who call him forth. And there will be so many ill-formed and conflicting ideas as

to his nature, that he can hardly find a way to satisfy them all.

Then must these pages be revealed and broadcasts without restraint; that all confusion may be

resolved and a unity of vision call forth the unicorn in his true, original, and perfect state.

Attitudes of the Other Shape Shifters

Garou: Most Garou tribes believe that the Ashringa worship the Wyrm and were only put on Earth by Gaia

to be their prey. In fact, Red Talons believe Gaia made the horses as a reward for them to hunt for "good

job" they've been doing. All Garou, except for Black Furies, Children of Gaia, Stargazers or Silent Striders

will attack an Ashringa on sight and aim to kill, believing them to be made for just that.

Corax: the Corax, on the other hand, know that the purpose of the Ashringa is to restore the balance and

are trying to convince the Garou that the horses are good for Gaia, though the Garou wont listen. Corax

and Ashringa get along exceptionally well.

Anansi: It's uncertain if the spider-folk knows of the Ashringas existence, nor what they think of it.

Bastet: In essence, the cats are no better than the wolves. With the exception of the Bubasti, Ceilican and

Qualmi, all cats see horses as their natural prey. Balam, Pumonca and Simba in particular go after the

Ashringa who they see as their natural enemies.

Gurahl: The bears on the other hand, being Gaia's healers themselves, are the closest allies the Ashringa

will ever have. They accept the werehorses work and occasionally help.

Mokol: The were-crocs remember the Ashringa, through until recently most Streams believed that that

they had died out. While the larger crocodilians may eat horses it is uncommon and in any case the Mokolknow and accept the Ashringas purpose as it is similar to their own. In many areas allied Mokol come to

Ashringa Glories to tell the gathered werehorses of the times when real unicorns walked the Earth.

Nagah: The were-snakes believe that the Ashringa have died out.

Nuwisha and Kitsune: The trickster foxes and coyotes respect the Ashringa but rarely interfere with their

* Michael Green, from Unicornis: The History and Truth of the Unicorn.


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problems. The Nuwisha especially enjoy exchanging tales of trickery with the Nimbi Tribe of Ashringa.

Ratkin: It's quite sure that the Ratkin know of the Ashringas existence, but they stay underground too

much to make up an opinion on them. Then again, Ratkin like very few people, so it is debatable if they

make an exception here.

Rokea: Spending their existence in the waters, The Rokea knows only of the Nabrima Tribe of the

Ashringa who they view as rather difficult prey.

Other Supernatural Beings: Ashringa hate and despise vampires as the undead are a symptom of the

Wyrms madness. The werehorses are also in conflict with the Technocracy mages who see the Ashringas

attempt to show humanity the magic in the world as a threat. Dragons, Gargoyles and Faeries however are

the Ashringas greatest allies as they all believe in returning the world back to the Mythic Age. Mummies do

not know of the Ashringas existence and Immortals think they are a myth.

Ashringa Society

A horse is a member of a company. A horse is one with her fellows.

-El Arat, Dream Speaker of Bishop Farm (from Mary Stantons Heavenly Horse)

Horses are heard animals and this is reflected by the society of the Ashringa. However horse herds

are not organized like those of cattle or deer. Horses roam in bands consisting of a stallion, a lead mare, and

from 1-13 subordinate mares and their foals. These mares are not related to the stallion. Despite popular

belief, wild equines do not commit incest and both the young fillies and colts will leave their home band to

find an unrelated mate when they reach puberty. A band rarely contains more than 16 animals and each

band roams a territory of approximately 1-4 miles per adult member of the band. Only in times of migration

do the various bands come together to form the huge herds that were once so common in the American

West and in Africa. Even in a herd, however, each band is distinct with its own lead stallion and mare. One

stallion in the herd is chosen by ritual combat to be the king stallion and it is this animal who decides on

the herds movement and directs the other stallions in the defense of the herd.

The Ashringa also have individual territories 1-4 miles square and every werehorse in the areabelongs to a group called a charm. A charm is equivalent to a Garou pack and rarely contains more than 10members. Equine kin are allowed to come and go throughout a charms territory. A perfect charm is

supposed to contain one of each Suhn (Ashringa auspice) but these days a perfect charm is almost as rare as

Unicorn herself.


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Dwells

So in the course of his wanderings he returns to favored spots called dwells where he may safely rest.

- Magnalucius, 15th

Century.

As in the Garou the Ashringa gather in places of power. The Ashringa call these areas dwells and

they are the equivalent of Garou cairns. Several charms that use the same dwell are collectively known as agrace. Originally graces were all composed of the same bo but as the number of safe havens dwindled

mixed graces became the norm. The grace performs the same social, political, religious and protective

duties as a Garou sept. The grace usually has one charm composed of older members who remain on

permanent vigilance to care for the dwell and protect it. These elders often employ charms of younger

Ashringa to perform missions for it.

Most dwells are located in the deep wilderness but sometimes out of necessity one may be found

near the haunts of men. Otherwise the composition, size of the Kossiacky (the land around the dwell,

named after an Old Russian term for a wild horses territory, equivalent to a Garou bawn), dwell level, and

totems are the same as in Garou cairns.

The only real difference is the form taken by the cairns center. In an Ashringa grace the dwells

center is always a naturally hidden spot. This could be as simple as a nest of ferns in tall grass, a secret

bower in the center of a tangled hedge of wild rose, or a clearing in the forest or as elaborate as a hidden

cave behind a waterfall, a pool of water, or even a long abandoned dolmen or stone circle. In all cases the

center opens into an umbral glade which is the true heart of the dwell. Any Ashringa may enter the heart of

a dwell in order to pass into the umbra. This is good because Ashringa, like most were-beasts, otherwise

need a special gift to enter the spirit world. Many a predator has chased a wild horse into a grove of trees

only to have it disappear into the umbra.

The umbral dwell is a large area that appears to be an idealized version of the mortal world, filled

with umbral plants and friendly spirit animals. If the outside is barren desert than the glade will be covered

in golden sand bestrewn with wildflowers, if in the forest than all the trees will be perfectly healthy and in

bloom, while city dwells will seem to be the loveliest of parks. In all cases the heart will be large enough to

allow the grace to hold council and perform rites.

Glories

But when some great need comes to pass, the more ancient of the unicorns gather, unbidden, and of their

own accord, in some remote place, whether lofty crag or secret glade. And there they hold their council.- Magnalucius, 15th Century.

The glory is the Ashringa counterpart to the Garou moot. The functions and dynamics are similar

to those of the Garou but have their own cultural flavor. Each bo of Ashringa gives its own twist to a

Glory. The Arweharis like to employ African chants and dances, the Nabrima commonly perform such

feats as fire walking and other traits of the Pacific Islanders, while most modern Nimbi prefer drinking

tequila, Latino music and breaking piatas to the Native American sun dances and peace pipe smoking of

their Nhurim neighbors. In all cases an Ashringa glory is divided into five sections: the Shu-pah, Ry-ya,

Ya-rhuhn, Sai-yah, and the Ya-eehaugh!

Shu-pah: All glories begin with the Shu-pah or opening neigh. The local king stallion of the dwell acts

in the roll the Garou call the Master of the Howl. Changing to Monoceros or Equine form the glory king

rears onto his hind legs and calls out a welcome. This call is then answered by the rest of the Glory in an

exuberant outburst of neighs, brays, whistles, stomping and general noise. In this way no matter their

original suhn, bo, or charm all attending the glory are made to feel like one herd.

Ry-ya: The Ry-ya, or obedience to the spirits, is dedicated to strengthening the dwell by contacting its

totem spirits. It is thus equivalent to the Garou inner sky portion of a moot.


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Filly: a female horse under four years old. Also slang for a Rank one female Ashringa.

Forest of Brocileande: The umbral lands the Garou call The Summer Country.

Galgallim: the true name of Unicorn, the whirlpool of harmony and love.

Gelding: a castrated male horse. A castrated donkey is sometimes called a john instead. Also slang for an

Ashringa who is cowardly (I.e. a wimp).

Glory: a meeting of Ashringa at a dwell, similar to a Garou moot.

Grace: a group of Ashringa who attend to a dwell, similar to a Garou sept.

Hack: a nag, used as a slang term for an equine Ashringa born of domestic horse stock.

Hand: a unit of measurement (equaling 4 inches) used to measure a horses height from the shoulders

down.

Herd: a group of horses. It is also a slang term for an Ashringas kinfolk, similar to the Garou flock.

Hinny: a hybrid where the mother is a donkey and the father is a horse. Also slang for a female Mtis

Ashringa.

Hobgoblin: a demon horse. From Hob, a small horse and Goblin, an evil spirit.

Kossiacky: the territory claimed by a herd of wild horses, also the territory claimed by a Grace, similar to a

Garou bawn.

Mare: an adult (over 4 years old) female horse. A female donkey is sometimes called a jenny instead.

Monoceros: the Ashringas Hispo form. It resembles a unicorn.

Mulassier: A term meaning mule breeder that is used for an Ashringa who sleeps with another Ashringa,similar to the Garou charach.

Mule: a hybrid with the mother being a horse and the father a donkey. Also slang for a male Mtis.

Orkus: the dragon of death. The beast of war aspect of the Wyrm.

Palfrey: a fancy riding horse, also slang for an Ashringa who is a dandy or a yuppie.

Rapture: the Ashringa word for a frenzy. It is divided into the Battle Rapture (berserk frenzy) and the

Wind Rapture (fox frenzy).

Rishy: a holy man of the continent of India who has renounced civilization. Used by modern Ashringa for

a werehorse that belongs to no charm, similar to the Garou ronin.

Roncey: a cob type horse. Also slang for a fat Ashringa.

Serpens: the deceiver dragon. The defiler aspect of the Wyrm.

Shamagrim: the Ashringa term for Pangaea.

Stallion: an entire male horse over four years old. Male donkeys are sometimes called jacks instead.


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Takin Shara Nuru: the mountains of the yellow horses in Mongolia, the first Killina dwell.

Tarasque: the ever hungry dragon. The eater of souls aspect of the Wyrm.

Yaldaboath: the Wyrm. Seen as female by the Ashringa, Yaldaboath is the dark mother gone mad from the

poisons that have sunk into the Earth. Only by purifying the world will nature be restored and the

fragmented aspects of Yaldaboath once more form the balancer of nature she was meant to be.

A Lexicon of Equine Colors

The coat colors and markings of horses is a science in and of its self with names that baffle the layman.

What a horse breeder calls brown the average Joe calls black and the Lone Rangers horse Silver was

actually gray not white. For that reason I am placing it in a lexicon all by itself for ease of reference. In the

colors below a horses points are its lower legs, ear tips, muzzle, and dorsal stripe.

Albino: white hair on pink skin with red eyes. This color is easily confused with White and Ivory.

Bay: golden brown to reddish brown with black points. This color is called russet in donkeys and may

have roaning on the face and legs.

Black: black fur over the entire body. dull black is slightly reddish while raven is dark and glossy.

Brindle: any solid equine color marked with stripes on the majority of the body. This color is extremely

rare in horses, ponies and asses but is the only color found in zebras.

Brown:black fur over most of the body fading to brown on the muzzle and belly. In donkeys this color has

darker legs like a bay.

Chestnut: this color, also called Sorrel, is brown ranging from tawny to reddish (a bloodstone horse is

actually maroon in hue), bronze or chocolate. The mane and tail are the same color or slightly lighter

(flaxen).

Dun: this is either dark Ivory (called buckskin or yellow dun) or Grulla (called mouse or blue dun)with black points. Zebra stripes on the legs and mealy markings are common. Rose dun, a light pinkish

grey with darker points, is a color unique to the donkey. Roses often arise from chestnut and slate parents

and a rose that mates with a chestnut always produces slate foals.

Frosted: white fur on pink skin with dark brown eyes. Genetically this is a roaned pinto and not a variant

of Ivory or White. It is more common in the donkey than in horses.

Gray: a gray horse is born black and gradually turns lighter as more and more white hairs appear. A young

horse that is predominantly black is said to be steel gray, they then become flecked (black with

occasional clusters of white), then dappled (the clusters become clearly defined patches of white) and

finally flea bitten which is almost pure white with small, scattered patches of black hair. Some lighten

even more to silver which is pure white fur on black skin.

Grulla: this color, called Slate in donkeys, is gray hair on black shin. Often this color has a blue or pinkish

tinge. See also dun.

Ivory: this color, also known as Cremallo, is light cream, ranging from near white to golden, on pink or tan

skin. The mane and tail is the same shade or darker than the body making it look like a white horse with a

golden mane and tail. Eyes may be blue, amber, or brown.

Palomino: Ivory with a white mane and tail. The perfect palomino is the color of a newly minted gold coin.


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Documents

Ashringa:1 Horses of the Dawn= an Introduction