Tovero

A Tovero colored mare with Two blue eyes and a black "shield" on her face.

The Tovero (also known as Tobero)^[1] coloration is a mix of tobiano and overo colorations in Pinto horses and American Paint Horses. The genetics of pinto coloration are not always fully understood, and some horses have a combination of patterns that does not fit cleanly in either category.

A tovero horse with blue eyes and "Medicine hat" markings.

Some characteristics of a Tovero colored horse include:

• Dark pigmentation around the ears, sometimes called a "Medicine Hat" or a "War bonnet"
• Dark pigmentation around the ears, expanding to cover the forehead and/or eyes.
• Isolated "shield" dark markings completely surrounded by white, particularly on the face or chest.
• One or both eyes blue.
• Dark pigmentation around the mouth, which may extend up the sides of the face and form spots.
• Chest spot(s) in varying sizes. These may also extend up the neck.
• Flank spot(s) ranging in size. These are often accompanied by smaller spots that extend forward across the barrel, and up over the loin.
• Spots, varying in size, at the base of the tail.

References

• Paul D. Vrotsos RVT and Elizabeth M. Santschi DVM. University of Minnesota Genetics Group. "Stalking the Lethal White Syndrome". Paint Horse Journal. July 1998.
• "Horse coat color tests" from the UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Lab
• "Introduction to Coat Color Genetics" from Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis. Web Site accessed January 12, 2008

See also

• Pinto horse
• American Paint Horse
• Equine coat color

External links

• American Paint Horse Association
• Tobiano test from Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis. Web Site accessed January 13, 2008
• "Horse coat color tests" from Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis. Web Site accessed January 12, 2008
• "Introduction to Coat Color Genetics" from Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis. Web Site accessed January 12, 2008