ROAN

True roan should not be confused with the term roan to describe sabino white markings/spotting , a practice common in the past and in certain breeds such as the Tennessee Walking Horse.  True roan (or classic roan) is a uniform roaning (mixture of white and colored hairs) throughout the body, with the head, lower legs, and mane & tail remaining the original body color.  True roans are born with some roaning showing within the first few months.   Many breeds describe the various colors of roan as blue roan (a black roan horse), red roan ( a bay roan horse), and strawberry roan ( a chestnut roan horse).  Superficial wounds on a true roan horse typically grow hair back in the original darker color, rather than in white.  A bay roan horse can easily be confused with a chocolate roan.  A genetic test for the Agouti gene will determine which is correct.  Roan can also apply to other colors of horses such as palomino, buckskin, etc.

The roaning seen just in the flank area on some horses is not an indication of a true roan.