By Patty Wilber
I decided to track coat color changes in Gette over one year because her coat gets lighter in the summer and darker in the winter. She also has one copy of the LP gene, which causes progressive depigmentation–she was a solid bay at birth with dark spots but no white.
Then I got the idea to track LT as well, because buckskins also have different looks through the seasons, and LT has a super shiny summer coat that is fun. Unfortunately, LT’s winter coat didn’t get as much TLC as Gette’s, so LT often looks a little scruffy! LT also has the LP gene. She has brown and white spots, but she has not varnished
Drum roll: Here are the pictures!
Gette, May 8th, 2025
-
- Gette, June 7, 2025. Brighter light makes her seem redder.
-
- LT, June 5, 2025
-
- Gette, July 4, 2025 She’s almost white for minute here!
-
- LT, July 4, 2025,. Awkward pose, but shiny!
-
- Gette, Aug. 1, 2025. Late afternoon light–color uneditted
-
- LT, Aug. 1, 2025. Also afternoon light, color unedited.
-
- Gette. Sept, 1, 2025
-
- LT. Sept. 1, 2025
-
- Gette, October 2, 2025. Winter coat just starting to come in.
-
- LT, October 2, 2025.
-
- Gette, Nov. 2, 2025. Late afternoon light.
-
- LT, Nov. 2, 2025. Her winter coat is not at shiny as her summer coat!
-
- 12-6-25 Gette at the buffalo hunt in December. She is versatile like that, even though she tried to dislodge the guy who got to ride her.
-
- LT 12-6-25. morning. She kept moving so another poor photo of her.
-
- Gette, 1/3/2026 midday
-
- LT, 1/3/2026 midday, on a slope.
-
- Gette, Feb. 3, 2026, late afternoon.
-
- LT, Feb. 3, 2026, late afternoon.
-
- 2-28-26–Almost Mar. 1. She just got a bath so she’s fuzzy. Winter hair starting to shed out. More white showing.
-
- 3-5-26. LT. Her neck always gets dark as the winter coat begins to shed. In the right light, she is starting to get her summer shiny coat.
-
- Gette, April 4, 2026. Gette is getting lighter every day, as she sheds.
-
- LT, April 4, 2026. Her neck is still dark.
-
- Gette, May 6, 2026
-
- LT, May 4, 2026. Her super shiny coat is not in yet!
And there you have it! One year of coat color in two Appaloosas. Next week, I might have to pull out the five years of coat color for Gette!
Happy Friday!
