MovieChat Forums > Young Black Stallion (2003) Discussion > his momma?

his momma?

posted 18 years ago by lv_Ramsays
6 replies | jump to latest

wasnt the Blacks mom a grey mare??

I'm pretty sure that genetically, you cannot get a black horse from a grey one.

'Happiness. It made the whole dying thing pretty bearable.'

[–] chatnoir_1013 17 years ago

If I remember the book correctly, the Black's mother was a dark bay. His father was a chestnut. You could get a black horse from that pairing IF his mother had a black parent. It would be a 25% or less chance, though.

Wow, I spent waay too much time in 4H as a kid. :)

[–] srfrgrl-2 16 years ago

In the film the mother was portrayed as grey. To answer your question you can get a black foal from that mix. My Arabian mare is out of a grey mare and sired by a bay stallion. The black gene in arabian horses is very rare. In fact, only 10% of arabians are black. I used to raise them. They are different from other arabians. They are taller, stockier, and not quite as "typey" as typical arabians. Their temperaments are wonderful. My 20 year old "Black" and I still compete. He is my pride and joy.

[–] fairevogel 16 years ago

In the Black Stallion Returns his mother is a chestnut. Ben Ishak introduces Alec to Shetan's mother as he's out feeding the herd.

[–] Retrospectiv 14 years ago

That's correct, in the BSR she is a chestnut & her name is Aisha. I just finished watching it 10 mins ago on Youtube.

[–] Retrospectiv 14 years ago

Complete foolishness. Black may be a rarer color in many breeds, but it's no different genetically in Arabians than other breed. There's nothing about the color black that makes any horse bigger, taller, stockier, etc. any more so than a chestnut, bay, grey, etc. would.

Now, if you were refering to Shagya arabians, than that statement would be true as they're a bigger, stockier type of arab. Color has absolutely nothing to do with it.

[–] canis_canem 13 years ago

Contrariwise, grey is a modifier gene in horses. It is known, like in dogs in many other species of animals as an agouti gene. Typically, agouti genes in horses will produce a bay foal. Grey, much like chestnut (sorrels, or any such form of "red" colouring in horses) is a DOMINANT gene.

Horses carry genes known as heterozygous and homozygous genes. So, genetically, a grey horse if The Black's mother was homozygous black means she will tend to birth black foals.
We have a filly that was born black, and is now a steel grey, she will end up a "white" grey.

Also, the colour of a horse (as mentioned) has absolutely nothing to do with how stocky they are. It is true, Egyptian arabians (which we own and breed) are more refined and delicate when put up next to a Shagya arab. However, these were bred in austro-hungary, where as this sets place in the desert, I can only assume these are desert bred arabians. There are five different strains of egyptian (desert) bred arabians.

I happen to own a black mare, who in comparison to our grey filly is stocky and heavy bodied. However, this has nothing to do with her being black and everything to do with her strain. She is of dahman strain, making her more stocky then other strains. Her last foal is a chestnut, and is much more "heavy set" then her mother. Our grey filly is of hadban enzahi strain (excuse my spelling on this, I'm sure it's wrong). She is delicate and fragile looking.

I hope this helps,I know it's really long winded.