What is the difference between Dun and Buckskin?
Dun and buckskin are colors possessed by horses. Many people have confused between the two using the names interchangeably.
The two are different from each other only that you need to have a close look at the two for you to get the difference between the two. They are also genetically different as they are got from the dilution of different genes.
The main difference between dun and buckskin is that duns are sandy brown with a crisp dorsal stripe and primitive markings while buckskin has a tan body with black points and a dorsal stripe.
Comparison Table (Dun vs Buckskin)
| Characteristics | Dun | Buckskin |
| Appearance | They are sandy brown with a crisp dorsal stripe and primitive markings. | They have a tan body with black points and a dorsal stripe. |
| Genetically | They get their color from the dun dilution gene which has an effect on coat colors. | They come from a cream dilution on a bay horse and have very little effect on its color. |
| Dorsal stripe | They have a dorsal stripe all the way from head to their tail. | They only have a dorsal stripe on the head and neck. |
| Activity | They are tough. | They are less tough. |
| Presence of horizontal stripes | They have horizontal stripes on their forehead, shoulders, and legs. | They do not possess horizontal stripes. |
What is a Dun?
Dun is a type of horse color possess by the horses which have to dilute coat color. They have a darker dorsal stripe that runs down their backs and extends to the tail.
They also have stripes across their shoulders and darker masks on their faces. As the dun is ancient, it is said to be responsible for the stripes on the zebras and is common to wild assess and found in donkeys as well. Being ancient, they are tougher as compared to buckskin.
All the characteristics possess by dun, that is dorsal stripe, horizontal markings are referred to as primitive markings on dun.
They get their characteristics from the dun dilution gene. The gene adds a dapple of white to its body but not on its legs, head, and tails.
What is a Buckskin?
Buckskin is a kind of horse that gets its color from the crème dilution on the bay horse. It does not affect the black hairs on its body. It turns the brown coat into a golden color coat.
The color can range anywhere from light tan to deep golden color. The gene adds white color to the base of the buckskin horse.
They do not possess a dorsal stripe but may mimic the stripe. Its countershading is wider with fuzzy edges. They do not possess any other markings on their parts of the body.
Black points are always noticeable on buckskin horses. These points are left on the horse body as the gene reacts with the rest of the body. They have lower legs as compared to the dun horses.
Main Differences between Dun and Buckskin
Similarities between Dun and Buckskin
In Conclusion
Dun and buckskin are colors possessed by horses due to the kind of genes used on them. The gene used makes them be genetically different hence possessing different characteristics.
Dun horses have sandy brown with a crisp dorsal stripe and primitive markings on their legs and shoulders. Buckskin horses have tan bodies with black points, their dorsal stripe is countershading hence referred to as not having a dorsal stripe.
The main feature that makes dun horses be different from buckskin horses is the presence of visible dorsal stripe in dun horses.
Sources and References:
- https://getgluck.ca.uky.edu/content/color-testing
- https://www.successful-horse-training-and-care.com/is-buckskin-a-color-or-a-breed-of-horse.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckskin_(horse)
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