I came across an old book (1970) in which a horse is described as a claybank, apparently meaning a shade of chestnut, or maybe a dun? I’d never heard this one, and was wondering if it was familiar to anyone else.
I’ve heard the term, and wouldn’t bet the farm, but I believe it is a shade of red dun, like clay.
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Claybank dun is a very light dun color with an orangey tint to any leg and dorsal stripes and mane and tail.
Others are yellow dun, red dun and so on.
Those were old names before we knew the genetics of the recessives that well, as some influences on dun shading may be other than dun genes.
Comanche, the only survivor of the Battle of Little Bighorn, was described as a claybank horse. Here’s his picture:
[QUOTE=microbovine;7098976]
Comanche, the only survivor of the Battle of Little Bighorn, was described as a claybank horse. Here’s his picture:
http://www.custermuseum.org/Comanche.htm[/QUOTE]
Actually, Comanche wasn’t the only survivor of the battle - he was the only survivor of the skirmish on Custer Hill. Almost all of Benteen’s command survived, as did a good portion of Reno’s as well as the pack train which was guarded by Company I, the troop Keogh and Commanche were supposed to be with, but Keogh detached himself and went with Company B.
But, yes, Comanche was what we call claybank in this area - also known as faded buckskin.
[QUOTE=sk_pacer;7099291]
Actually, Comanche wasn’t the only survivor of the battle - he was the only survivor of the skirmish on Custer Hill. Almost all of Benteen’s command survived, as did a good portion of Reno’s as well as the pack train which was guarded by Company I, the troop Keogh and Commanche were supposed to be with, but Keogh detached himself and went with Company B.
But, yes, Comanche was what we call claybank in this area - also known as faded buckskin.[/QUOTE]
Here, they called those smokey duns, with the darker mane, tail and legs.
Some were darker than others, so the same horse may be a claybank smokey dun if it had the body color of the claybanks with the smokey points.
True claybank duns in the summer were an almost washed out light dun, very pretty.
I looked it up and this is what first came up:
http://www.horsecolor.com/dilutions/dun/
Here is more:
Bluey - thanks for the links. Lost all my bookmarks when I had to change computers. BUT wouldn’t it be wonderful if regional colour terms would all refer to the same thing…not that it will ever happen!!
Pay attention to the third last stanza.
Booth Shot Lincoln
John Wilkes Booth came to Washington,
An actor great was he,
He played at Ford’s Theater,
And Lincoln went to see.
It was early in April,
Not many weeks ago,
The people of this fair city
All gathered at the show.
The war it is all over,
The people happy now,
And Abraham Lincoln arose,
Arose to make his bow;
The people cheer him wildly,
Arising to their feet,
And Lincoln waving of his hand,
He calmly takes his seat.
And while he sees the play go on,
His thoughts are running deep,
His darling wife, close by his side,
Has fallen fast asleep.
From the box there hangs a flag,
It’s not the Stars and Bars,
The flag that holds within its folds
Bright gleaming stripes and stars.
John Wilkes Booth he moves down the aisle,
He had measured once before,
He passes Lincoln’s bodyguard
A-nodding at the door.
He holds a dagger in his right hand,
A pistol in his left,
He shoots poor Lincoln in the temple,
And he sends his soul to rest.
The wife awakes from slumber,
And screams in her rage,
Booth jumps over the railing
And lands him on the stage.
He’ll rue the day, he’ll rue the hour,
As God him life shall give,
When Booth stood in that center stage,
Crying, “Tyrants shall not live!”
The people all excited
Then cried everyone, “A hand!”
Cried all the people near,
“For God’s sake, save that man!”
Then Booth ran back with boot and spurs
Across the backstage floor,
He mounts that trusty claybank mare,
All saddled at the door.
John Wilkes Booth, in his last play,
All dressed in broadcloth deep,
He gallops down the alleyway,
I hear those horses feet.
Poor Lincoln then was heard to say,
And all has gone to rest,
“Of all the actors in this town,
I loved Booth the best.”
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Why am I betting OP was reading Louis L’Amour?? He used that term, plus “buckhide,” “steeldust,” etc, for describing horse color. Loved the way he described horses. 
Mega-best seller Elmore Leonard started out writing Westerns, and every story referred to somebody’s claybank. I, too, thought it was a breed, but now know otherwise.
