Paint Horse Pictures - Page 2 of 2

A Paint horse is a horse registered with the American Paint Horse Association (APHA).

Paint horses are characterized by their colorful, spotted coat patterns and their well-muscled, stock-horse type build.

To be eligible for registration in the "Regular" APHA registry a horse must meet certain bloodline and conformation requirements, and also have what the APHA calls a "definite natural Paint marking." While there are exact rules regarding exactly what a "natural Paint marking" is we'll oversimplify the definition and simply say the horse must have at least one spot.

Below are pictures of Paint horses. For more information on common Paint horse coat patterns, please scroll down below the pictures.

All photos are copyrighted © and property of CowboyWay.com

A Paint horse competing in an Ultimate Horsemens Challenge Association (UHCA) obstacle challenge.

 

A Paint horse trailing a steer.

 

This Paint mare is part of a Bureau Of Land Management (BLM) horse herd. BLM horses are commonly referred to as "mustangs."

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A Paint saddle bronc and a Paint pickup horse (second row, left).

 

A black and white Paint horse being ridden by a rodeo announcer.

 

A Paint saddle bronc.

 

An American Paint horse stallion enters the herd to sort.

All photos are copyrighted © and property of CowboyWay.com

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Paint Horse Coat Patterns

The spotted coat patterns on a Paint horse are described as tobiano, overo, or tovero. Below is a brief description of the differences in these coat patterns. For more information on Paint horses we suggest you visit the APHA website.

Tobiano

Tobiano coat patterns usually have the following characteristics:

1. The predominant color of the horse can be either white or a darker color.
2. White hair will cross the back of the horse between the withers and the tail.
3. The head may be solid in color, or have a star, strip, blaze, and/or snip.
4. The spotted coat pattern on the horse will have a definite round or oval pattern.
5. All four legs will be white below the knee and hock.
6. The tail will often be two colors.

Overo

Overo coat patterns usually have the following characteristics:

1. The predominant color of the horse can be either white or a darker color.
2. White hair will not cross the back of the horse between the withers and the tail.
3. The head and facial markings will have significant amounts of white, like a bald face.
4. The spotted coat pattern on the horse will have scattered, and/or irregularly shaped spots or markings.
5. One or all four legs will be a color other than white.
6. The tail will often be one color.

Tovero

Paint horses with the tovero coat pattern have markings that are typical of both the tobiano and overo coat patterns. Tovero coat patterns usually have the following characteristics:

1. Dark coloring (a color other than white) around the ears that may also cover the forehead and/or eyes.
2. Dark coloring (a color other than white) around the mouth that may also cover the sides of the face.
3. Spots on the chest that may also extend up the neck
4. Spots in the flank(s). The spots might also move forward toward the barrel and/or over the loin.
5. Spots at the base of the tail.