Breeders of Grullo
Quarter Horses
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Grullo - pronounced (grew-yo)
Grulla - pronounced (grew-ya)
Either of the terms are correct in describing the color. AQHA recognizes
the color as grullo. The color is the diluted form of black with dun factor.
In other words the black color is modified by the dun gene. "Grulla" is the Spanish
word for a gray crane which is a slate-gray colored bird.
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You may find grullo or grulla definitions in the rule books of different
registries under different definitions but for this I will include the AQHA
definition:
Body color smoky or mouse colored (not a mixture of black and white
hairs, but each individual hair is mouse colored) Usually has a dorsal
stripe, shoulder striping or shadowing and black leg barring on lower legs.
Within this definition there are variations of the color often refered
to as slate grulla, silver grulla, olive grulla, black
dun or wolf dun. The grullo color in the quarter horse is very rare and
only about 0.7% of those registered in the quarter horse breed each year
are grullo.
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© Roxanne Watson
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One determining factor of the grulla is the primitve markings which can
be seen on all duns to some varying extents.
Primitive Markings:
© Roxanne Watson
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Dorsal Stripe
The dorsal stripe will run along the backbone of the
horse from the withers to the base of the tail, often going well into
the tail. The width will vary, and often will have transverse stripes
running of the main dorsal stripe.
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© Roxanne Watson
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Ear Tips, Edging, & Barring
Ear tips will appear in the darker/base
color of the horse and cover the tip of the ear, edging again in the
darker color will outline the ear, often horizontal bars can be found
going horizontally through the back of the ear in this same darker
coloring.
Shoulder Stripe, Shadowing
and/or Transverse Stripe
Neck shadowing often
appears as dark areas throughout the neck, extending into the hollow of
the shoulder. Striping or transverse striping most often appears at the
withers and dorsal stripe running in a horizontal direction.
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© Pat Fausser @ TSRE
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Leg Barring
Again in the darker base color can be seen on both the
front and hind legs usually above the knee and hock, often refered to
as tiger striping.
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© Roxanne Watson
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Face Masking
The face will be masked often midway on the face or even
covering the whole face again this will be in the base color of the
horse.
Cobwebbing
Will be seen as lines running off from the face masking
in varying lengths, usually found on the forehead or around the eyes.
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Mottling
Can be seen as a circular motif of this base coloring found
in the areas of the forearms, gaskins, shoulders, chest, and even on the
underbelly.
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© Roxanne Watson
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Mane and Tail Guard Hairs
Best described as white or cream colored
hairs at the base of the neck line or interdespersed throughout the
mane. Usually also at the base of the tail but can run well into
the tail as well.
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