Sabino
A horse coat pattern with irregular white markings and roaning
No single value: Sabino is a material, and its colour varies. The background shows its family, white.
Sabino is a horse coat pattern marked by irregular white patches, often with roaning or speckling, and can range from small face or leg markings to nearly all-white coats. The pattern is linked to several genetic variants, mainly on the KIT gene, and is seen in many breeds, with some forms called 'blagdon' in the UK.
- Sabino patterns show jagged white markings and roaning on horses
- The pattern is linked to the KIT gene and several dominant white alleles
- Sabino can range from small white spots to nearly all-white coats
- In the UK, sabino patterns are sometimes called 'blagdon'
- Sabino 1 is not linked to lethal white syndrome
What colour is Sabino?
Sabino describes a type of white spotting pattern in horses. It is recognised by uneven or jagged white markings, often with roaning (a mix of white and coloured hairs) or speckling. The white can appear on the face, legs, belly, and sometimes covers most of the body. Some sabino horses have only a small amount of white, like a chin spot or white on the lower lip, while others are almost completely white. The pattern is distinct from other pinto types because of its irregular edges and the way white can extend above the knees or hocks, sometimes in streaks called 'lightning strikes'.
Where does Sabino come from?
The word 'sabino' comes from Spanish, meaning 'speckled' or sometimes 'roan'. Before genetic testing, the term was used for a range of pinto patterns that did not fit other categories. In the UK, similar patterns are sometimes called 'blagdon'. The American Paint Horse Association groups sabino with other patterns under 'overo', though they have different genetic causes. The pattern has been recognised in many breeds for a long time, and the name is still used in breed registries.
How is Sabino made?
Sabino patterns are caused by several genetic variants, mainly on the KIT gene. The best-known is the Sabino 1 (SB-1) allele, which acts as an incomplete dominant: horses with one copy have irregular white patches, while those with two copies are almost entirely white. Other dominant white alleles on the KIT gene can also produce sabino-like markings. The exact genetic cause in some breeds, such as Clydesdales, is not yet known. DNA testing is often needed to confirm the specific variant present.
Where Sabino is used
Sabino patterns are seen in many horse breeds, including Mustangs, American Paint Horses, Miniature Horses, Morgans, Hackneys, and Tennessee Walking Horses. Some breeds that are usually solid-coloured, such as Arabians and Thoroughbreds, may also have sabino-patterned individuals. Breed registries may have different rules about how much white is allowed, and some have changed their standards as genetic understanding has improved.
White around the world
What the white family means from country to country.
Queen Victoria married in white silk and lace in 1840. Prints of the dress spread widely, and white became the usual colour for brides across the West.
Weddings and marriagePurity and peaceJoySource: White weddingThe Taliban flag is white with the Muslim declaration of faith in black. It replaced the black, red and green tricolour of the republic in 2021.
Politics and protestSacred and holySource: Flag of AfghanistanThe Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo wore white headscarves as they marched to demand news of children who disappeared under the dictatorship of 1976 to 1983.
Politics and protestMourning and deathCourageSource: Mothers of Plaza de MayoThe wiphala, a square flag of 49 small squares in seven colours with a white diagonal, stands for the Andean peoples. It has been a second national flag since 2009.
Politics and protestPrideSource: WiphalaOn New Year's Eve crowds on the beaches dress in white for peace in the year ahead. The custom comes from the Afro-Brazilian religions, whose followers wear white.
Luck and prosperityFestival and celebrationSacred and holyHopeSource: New Year's EveAn ordinary citizen's kabney is white with fringes. It must be worn to enter a dzong, the fortress that houses both monks and government offices.
Purity and peaceSource: KabneyShades and relatives of Sabino
Sabino patterns vary widely, from small white markings to nearly all-white horses. The term 'maximum sabino' or 'sabino-white' is used for horses over 50% or 90% white. Some dominant white alleles (like W5, W8, W10, W15, and W19) can create similar markings. In Spanish-speaking countries, 'sabino' can also mean a different colour (flea-bitten grey), and the term 'overo' is used for what English speakers call sabino.
Questions people ask about Sabino
What colour is sabino in horses?
Sabino is not a single colour but a pattern of irregular white markings, often with roaning or speckling, that can range from small spots to almost complete whiteness on a horse's coat.
Where does the name 'sabino' come from?
The name 'sabino' comes from Spanish, where it means 'speckled' or sometimes 'roan'. It has been used for many years to describe certain white spotting patterns in horses.
What causes the sabino pattern?
Sabino patterns are caused by genetic variants, mainly on the KIT gene. The best-known is the Sabino 1 (SB-1) allele, but other dominant white alleles can also produce similar markings.
Is sabino the same as other pinto patterns?
No, sabino is distinct from other pinto patterns like tobiano or frame overo. It is recognised by its irregular, jagged white markings and roaning, and is caused by different genetic mechanisms.
Is the sabino pattern harmful to horses?
No, the sabino pattern itself is not linked to health problems like lethal white syndrome. Some other white spotting genes can be harmful when inherited in certain combinations, but Sabino 1 is not among them.
Good reading and sources
- Sabino horse on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More pictures on Wikimedia CommonsPictures
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Sabino horse", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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