Strange color/ pattern on a horse?

Question

I saw a horse at a sale barn last week that had a very unusual pattern. It was a solid black horse with white "polka dots" all over, including the entire legs and face.  I have seen all phases of grey horses, but have never in my life seen a horse marked like this. I googled it, but so far have not found anything that looks even remotely close. The dots were all individual, none ran together, and they were roughly equal in size, about the size of a dime.  The friend I was with said he thought it was due to some illness or disease, but couldn't remember what.  If it helps this is in Michigan in the USA., the horse was a 7 year old grade.

zephania666 · Accepted Answer

Birdcatcher spots:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.whitehorseproductions.com/images/TBcolor/birdcatcher_will_spy_now.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.windchillforum.org/phpbb3/viewtopic.php%3Ff%3D10%26t%3D603&usg=__s5MIAmFex_JyeWLPi8BK4iNgmQI=&h=387&w=627&sz=84&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=uyGMOlxUJ_BNvM:&tbnh=108&tbnw=175&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbirdcatcher%2Bspots%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26biw%3D1600%26bih%3D694%26tbs%3Disch:1%26prmd%3Divfd&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=297&vpy=238&dur=2391&hovh=176&hovw=286&tx=169&ty=92&ei=2t8HTeeDJMPtOYGPiZoJ&oei=2t8HTeeDJMPtOYGPiZoJ&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0

Another:

http://www.tierraslejanas.com/Index/Activos/El%20Caballo/Los%20Pelajes%20del%20Caballo/Foto-388-Ampliada.jpg

Octobercasper. · Answer

It was probably an appaloosa. As you most likely know, appaloosas vary in patterns, some can even have symetrical spots. It maybe could have been a dapple but they're easy to spot.

Anonymous · Answer

She appears like a blue roan that's actual roan on a black coat. The mane, tail, head, and legs stay black, mutually as the physique takes on a grayish or bluish seem. Blue roans are on occasion flawed for gray or Grullos. Grulla and Grullo is an identical coat shade. Grullo is the main uncommon shade of quarter horse horse registered with the yankee Quarter Horse affiliation. A Grullo is a black horse with the dun gene. Grullos ought to have Black or Brown Legs, the pinnacle would be darker than the physique, dark information on ears, a very different dorsal stripe that runs totally from the backside of the mane and into the tail. Grullos could on occasion have stripes on the legs, mottling on the better legs, shoulder, gaskins, dark rings around the ears, striping on the brow, and stripes crossing the back shoulders, or neck.

Anonymous · Answer

This sounds like an Appaloosa with a reverse snowflake pattern.  This is white spots on a colored background.  It may have combined with leopard to give an all over spotting pattern. Wish you'd taken his picture!

foxhunter1949 · Answer

I have never seen a black horse like this but I have seen a chestnut and this was caused through a bad case of ringworm. Wherever he had the ringworm the hair grew back white.

? · Answer

It sounds to me that the horse was either a Snowflake Appaloosa (Reverse Leopard): 

http://www.bhranch.com/real/nv2yrold.JPG

Or maybe a black horse with Birdcatcher Spots:

http://www.windchillforum.org/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=603

The easy way to tell if it was a Snowflake Appy (Or grade Appy) is by the mane and sclera. Not to mention that most Appys have mottled skin around their eyes, muzzle, and butt.

Hope this helps! :)

Strange color/ pattern on a horse?

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