Liver chestnut
A very dark, chocolate-brown chestnut.
What does this colour look like?
A deep dark-brown to chocolate body. Mane and tail equally dark or, on the contrary, light (flaxen).
- Body
- dark chocolate-brown
- Mane and tail
- dark or flaxen
- Legs
- dark brown
- Skin
- dark
- Eyes
- brown
How does this colour arise?
Just a dark shade of chestnut; still only red pigment, no black.
More about the genetics
A shade of chestnut (e/e). The genetics of shade is not fully understood; there is no separate test.
What is this colour often confused with?
- Chestnut
A chestnut is reddish-brown, with mane and tail the same shade or lighter, never black.
- Black
An evenly black horse, from nose to tail, without brown or red zones.
- Seal brown
Almost black, but with brown shading on the muzzle, flanks and above the eyes.
Which breeds show this colour?
Discover more
Sources: UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory · Sponenberg, D.P. & Bellone, R.R. (Wiley-Blackwell). The source lists this as still to be verified; provisional.