Gray horses - yay or nay? (Buying/Selling)

[TB_or_not_TB]

Some people advise against buying gray horses for resale, because some buyers won’t touch them (melanomas, cleaning, etc). On the other hand, a lot of OTTB places seem to indicate that grays fly off the proverbial shelf far more easily than their solid-colored counterparts. I’ve never been on the sales side of things other than for personal horses, so it’s fascinating to learn about these trends.

I’ve always thought that gray was a slight advantage, but I’m not so sure anymore. Any thoughts? Do grays sell better - or worse - than other colors?

[yellowbritches]

In my experience, greys are always going to get looked at. There are people out there who won’t look at certain colors for a million ridiculous reasons. Greys do actually have some valid reasons, but I find the number of people who go googly eyed over a grey far outweigh the number of people who have no interest in them!

[pepper1986]

I used to work at the track as a mutual clerk and I noticed that greys seemed to win a lot of races so anytime I placed a bet it was always on a grey. Case in point, this year for the Belmont all 3 greys came in first, second and third. I know it was just a fluke but I personally love a grey.

[Sillymoose]

I was a working student for a very well respected eventing trainer who bought horses directly off the track. She was always looking for grays and would even overlook some of her set criteria ( ex. Over 16 hands, under 5 years) for a nice gray. She never had problems selling them. My first horse was a gray and died because of melanoma. As heartbreaking as it was I wouldn’t hesitate to buy a gray again.

[Sticky_Situation]

I would guess that overall for resale values, gray color is a positive. Even if you look at the OTTBs on canter, a gray horse will often be priced higher than a comparable bay or chestnut. They are eye catching, and very pretty when clean. It’s probably less of an advantage selling older, established horses though.

I’m personally a fan of bays … I wouldn’t completely discount a horse because it was gray, but it would not be my color of choice.

[Mango20]

The last time I was horse shopping, I was avoiding greys. I would have reconsidered if the perfect horse happened to be grey, but between the melanoma risk and the fact that the horse would be subject to Pony Club inspections, it was a color I wanted to avoid. I ended up with the dreaded chestnut mare.

[Winding_Down]

My experience is that people will pay more for a gray, all else being equal.

[invinoveritas]

Everyone I know wants grey. I don’t understand the fascination. But color sells, whether it is grey or whatever else is fashionable. I’ve owned greys and other colors, and prefer colors other than grey. Choose a horse by it’s conformation and performance, not by its color.

[soloudinhere]

Depends on the gray. A dark dapple gray, generally commands a higher price and sells faster (=flashy). An older horse who is just white I have found to be neutral, and a lot of people strongly dislike flea-bitten coloration so that can actually be a detriment.

[findeight]

Not all greys have problems with melanoma or it remains minor throughout their entire lives. Own one, now 27, never bothered it until age 22 or so and already retired due to an injury. Even now it’s unsightly but horse is comfortably enjoying retirement.

Personal preference and enough buyers like them as don’t, performance trumps color anyway for most. Few walk away from a suitable match unless all their experience with horses comes off the internet.

[cherham]

As a seasoned pro once told me. You buy performance and temperament for resale. Colour, sex and size are all secondary… Even the “dreaded chestnut mare” myth seems to be mean absolutely nothing if you have a very nice horse! The “B” riders and pros might care about the colour but the very top “A” riders and coaches sure don’t. Just depends on the sales market you are targeting.

[Jleegriffith]

As a reseller, I love them. Personally, my least favorite. They always sell very well even if not as nice as their solid color barn mates IMO.

[Jersey_Fresh]

I have a now flea bitten gray with 4 white socks and snip. I get told all of the time how cute he is and little kids always want to pet him. But lord, never again. He is hard to keep clean and he LOVES mud. We are looking for a baby for me, and I told my trainer unless they are spectacular, no greys. I also dodged the melanoma issue and I don’t know that I would get that lucky again.

[yellowbritches]

Fwiw, the quickest OTTB resale I was ever part of was a tiny (15.1, if that) grey mare. I think we sold her within six weeks of her being delivered to our barn. She was a good citizen with an amazing brain and I don’t think she would have been difficult to sell if she was a plain bay, but I do think her attractive color helped get her noticed.

[FatCatFarm]

I too have found that greys sell extremely well, particularly dappled greys. Just something about a white/grey horse. Just think of all the literary iconography of the white horse and there you go. Sure, some people avoid them for various reasons, but most don’t.

I personally don’t care for black. They look amazing at the beginning of fall, otherwise, if you don’t keep them locked away from the sun, they turn chocolate or a funky dun color, and here in the deep South, they’re miserable in the summer and the flies go after them first.

[WildandWickedWarmblo]

Depends on how many manure stains you have time to wash off before riding. Grey horses (seems to be male horses only) seem to love to wallow in their own manure. BTDT.

[soloudinhere]

[QUOTE=Jersey Fresh;8722496]
I have a now flea bitten gray with 4 white socks and snip. I get told all of the time how cute he is and little kids always want to pet him. But lord, never again. He is hard to keep clean and he LOVES mud. We are looking for a baby for me, and I told my trainer unless they are spectacular, no greys. I also dodged the melanoma issue and I don’t know that I would get that lucky again.[/QUOTE]

Years ago, I had a lease horse named “Another Gray” so named because when the trainer saw him to purchase for a client, the first words out of her mouth were “not ANOTHER gray!”

(both my horses are buckskin - the ultimate dirt hiding color)

[Jersey_Fresh]

[QUOTE=soloudinhere;8722853]
Years ago, I had a lease horse named “Another Gray” so named because when the trainer saw him to purchase for a client, the first words out of her mouth were “not ANOTHER gray!”

(both my horses are buckskin - the ultimate dirt hiding color)[/QUOTE]

That is super cute!

I realized how much a PITA a gray is this weekend when I bathed him then hauled to the KHP (mistake) and got him off the trailer covered in black marks from my trailer and smeared poo on his back legs. Cleaned that up and got on him to realize up by his poll was still dirty. Cant ever win with this one.

[findeight]

[QUOTE=WildandWickedWarmbloods;8722694]
Depends on how many manure stains you have time to wash off before riding. Grey horses (seems to be male horses only) seem to love to wallow in their own manure. BTDT.[/QUOTE]

My mare could outpig any mere gelding. Takes real talent to get fresh poop on the inside of the ears-guess she used it like a pillow. Only the night before winter shows though, no challenge if human coukd simply use a hose.

PITA though they are, very few things in life are as spectacular as a sparkling white horse with pro quality braids in mane and tail against the green of a springtime morning. Even if you were up half the night achieving that look. They take nice pictures too.

My favorite colored horse though was a buckskin. They’re pretty too with a whole lot less work, too bad the color doesn’t run in breeds and types suitable for Hunters (except a few Ponies). Palominos too, unless they have high white, that gold coat hides many evils.

[Shagyas_Rock]

[QUOTE=WildandWickedWarmbloods;8722694]
Depends on how many manure stains you have time to wash off before riding. Grey horses (seems to be male horses only) seem to love to wallow in their own manure. BTDT.[/QUOTE]

I never bother washing off stains before I ride. I have two greys - one in particular seems to love being grubby. But if I’m not going to a show, who cares?
I just brush/groom until he’s clean enough to tack up.
I LOVE greys. In my possibly ridiculous opinion, they are so elegant. I also have two bays - they get just as dirty - in their own ways
I’ve never had problems with melanomas with any of the three greys I’ve had.