Valentine shows Tobiano markings as well as Sabino roaning. She has a high stocking on the left which you can't see in this picture. Her markings are roaned on the edges. Roaning is another characteristic of the Sabino pattern. Although she does not have a blaze, she has a snip that extends over her top lip to the chin, and a star.

















This is Valentine's foal, Tauren, out of Buster (pictured at top as Minimal). He is also a Tobiano/Sabino with a LOT of roaning. He has a snip over his top and bottom lip, too. This color pattern could easily be confused with a snowflake appaloosa. The blaze and socks will give you a clue to the truth.












The white horse is Cotton, she is a Maximum Sabino. As is common with this pattern she has a dark spot on her head at the poll, speckling on the neck, flanks and shoulders. Sometimes the dark spot on the head covers the ears and is quite visible, this is called a Medicine Hat. Tiger, the sorrel pictured, is out of Buster, too, but does not show the Sabino pattern. His dam was a solid bay. He does have tiger/zebra striping on his legs.




















Hunter's Misty Morn - Maximum Sabino - As maximum as you can get! Misty shows NO dark hairs anywhere. It is generally believed that when you cross two Sabinos (Buster and Cotton) you get a white foal at least 50% of the time, some believe even more often. Misty has blue eyes.

  "In the mid-1800s, Sheik Fatouh el-Badjirmi wrote a treatise on "descriptions of praised horses", and named fifty-two different colors. Among these were the al ashab al qortasi, which was described as being "so intense it was not mixed with any other color". The skin was said to be white (pink), and that he could have two blue eyes or just one." - A Study of White Horses -- Not What They Seem! by Lesli Kathman

Some horses who are actually Sabinos are not recognized as such because of the minimal markings. Is a common AQHA cropout pattern. I have seen this pattern in so many horses lately, I guess because I am interested in it. The minimal sabino pattern, as you will see below, is a popular marking pattern in many breeds that would not allow a pinto in their registry.



















Very common Sabino expression. Wide blaze, roaning, high rear stocking.

Additonal Information:
    * Letal White Syndrome
    * HYPP

The color/coat patterns of pintos is a huge subject with many differing opinions. Hopefully we can set down some basic guidelines here and get the gist of pinto and paint coloring. In Britain you will hear : piebald ( meaning a black-and-white) and skewbald (any other color and white) these aren't distinct patterns, but colors.

TOBIANO -

White crosses back, neck, usually has standard face markings like blaze, star, if present.

Commonly will have socks or stockings. Common markings for the Tobiano are the dark head and large blocks of color, especially on flanks.

The color blocks are usually smoothed edged, often rounded.












Common Tobiano Color Pattern

OVERO - White usually does not cross back. May have wild patterns of color.

    * Frame - White is on sides with base color over back, on belly, rear, shoulders like a frame.

    * Splash - White is on legs and belly, looks as if it had been dipped in white paint.

SABINO - (Pronounced Sa-BEE-no) This one has many variations, from near solid to pure white. It is considered an OVERO pattern, but can be combined with TOBIANO.

Minimal Sabino -  Minimal's usually have at least one white sock in rear, sometimes very high with a higher front than back, may come to a point in front. Blaze is usually wide, extending over top lip onto bottom lip, may have bald face.













A beautiful example of a minimal sabino. Lovely!

Breeds of Horses

- Pinto Color Patterns

This page
featured in
Horse Illustrated
"Equine Online" section, Page 14, Fedruary 2002! HORSE ILLUSTRATED

Bay Tobiano Registered Paint
Sire Overo Sorrel & White, Dam Brown Bay TB.

This is the full brother to the filly above. He expresses some roaning on this hip, belly.This would be considered a Sabino expression.

Cushti Bok, Owner by Gypsy Gold Farm, Ocala, FL.

TOBIANO PATTERNS

Overo patterned Sabino. The spot on the knee is a common expression of this pattern. Note the high white stocking in rear with the front higher than the back. Belly spot is common in this pattern, too.

OVERO PATTERN

Buster, Minimal Sabino shows white blaze coming over top lip, one white sock in back.

SABINO PATTERN