Rabicano Horses

What is Rabicano?

Rabicano is a very specific pattern that involves the base of the tail, flank and belly areas of the horse. As with all white patterns, Rabicano is will vary to lesser or greater degrees. In some horses it may involves minimal white hairs at the base of the tail and it may not even be visible in the flank unless inspected closely.

And in others it can be an extreme manifestations and the flank area will be heavily roaned with white hairs and the tail will have obvious white striping at the base. The pattern can blend into vertical roan stripes over the ribcage. This pattern is very rarely ever extensive enough to be confused with Classic Roan. Some horses may even have large white spots between their hind legs or on the underside of their belly.

This pattern is usually referred to by it's Spanish name of Rabicano, but it is also known by the English terms of white ticking, highlights and skunk tail.

Rabicano can resemble Sabino as that pattern also causes a similar roaning. But Sabino does not involve the base of the tail and is also usually accompanied by a white marking on the face, a chinspot and white legs.