Can a dapple grey become flea bitten grey with age?

Question

I recently googled my horse's name and found a page where his previous owner talked about him and posted a photo of him as a four year old.
The horse is now six and a half, but he looks completely different!  
The photo of him two years ago shows that he was dappled grey with a very dark mane, and he's is now flea-bitten grey with a much lighter mane. 
I can see how the mane could get lighter, but its the first time I own a grey horse, so is it possible for a horse to change from dappled to flea-bitten?
I'm also 100% sure this is him as the parents and grandparents are mentioned and they match exactly what is on his passport, same goes for birth date.  
Other than that, he resembles the horse in the photo physically in that I can tell they're both arab, and the muzzles look alike, but other than that its hard to tell because the horse in that photo looks so much younger.

So, does anyone know if this usually happens?

? · Accepted Answer

Grays can change a lot as they age. This does not sound that unusual. Different seasons can matter too. Some horses might look different with a winter and summer coat. Other times lighting in a photo can make color look weird. Either way, this probably is normal!

Expect your horse to start losing the "fleabite" marks gradually in the next few years. The spots will probably get fewer with each shedding and lighter hair will grow in it's place. Usually by age 10, a horse with the "greying" gene is nearly snow white, or has just a few silvery or sooty patches depending on the other color genes. This usually starts in the middle of the horse's body until the "points" (muzzle and legs) remain. Some horses keep dark points, others hardly have any.

? · Answer

Flea Bitten Grey Horse

? · Answer

Dappled Grey

Anonymous · Answer

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Can a dapple grey become flea bitten grey with age?
I recently googled my horse&#39;s name and found a page where his previous owner talked about him and posted a photo of him as a four year old.
The horse is now six and a half, but he looks completely different!  
The photo of him two years ago shows that he was dappled grey with a very dark mane,...

? · Answer

This is very common. Most dapples fade out to a flea bitten grey. Greys are my favourite colour. They are also very prone to melanomas though so be careful of those

? · Answer

It commonly happens. I've got one in my barn. She was dappled when we got her and flea bitten now. Greys change throughout their lives. Another of my horses was a very dark charcoal grey with black mane, tail and legs. She's now a light blue with black flea bites. Her mane, tail and legs are still darker, but not black anymore.

partly cloudy · Answer

yup.  When I got my guy he was almost a steel grey, with some dapples, black stockings and a black mane and tail.  He has roaned out in the last 5 years and now has rose colored flea bite pattern, but still has black points, mane and tail.  Judging by his sire (Marias Mon), He will eventually turn white.

Lilian · Answer

Some greys stay flea bitten all their lives, it will be blue or red flea bites and some will fade out to be solid white. it depends on what color they were when they were small.

Can a dapple grey become flea bitten grey with age?

8 Answers