Conformation and Colours

A registered Paint Horse is more than a horse with a distinctive coat pattern. While colour is perhaps the most obvious trait, Paint Horses also possess a distinct stock-type conformation. In horseman’s lingo, this refers to the physical conformation and characteristics that make a horse especially well suited to working with livestock. These same traits also make them extraordinary versatile, and capable of activities requiring tremendous speed, strength and agility.
When looking at a "stock horse", such as a Paint, you will notice that it is well muscled and powerfully built. Paint Horses are generally short-coupled, strong-boned and well-balanced. Yet Paints display a remarkable degree of refinement and beauty, especially about the head and neck. While there is some individual variation in the size and substance of today’s Paint Horses, it is clear that each individual is cast from the same quality mold.

For breeding and registration purposes, Paint Horses are categorised by their distinctive coat patterns.
 
The overo (ohvair’ oh) pattern may be either predominately dark or white. But, typically, the white on an overo will not cross the back of the horse between its withers and its tail. Generally, all four legs will be dark. Also notable is that overos have bold white head markings, such as a bald face. Overos generally have irregular, scattered markings the horse’s tail is usually one colour.
   
The tobiano (toe-be-yah’ no) is distinguished by head markings like those of a solid colour horse. Their heads are generally completely solid. A tobiano’s legs are white, at least below the hocks and knees. Their spots are regular and distinctively oval or round, extending down the neck and chest, giving the appearance of a shield. Usually a tobiano will have the dark colour on one or both flanks – although they may be either predominately dark or white. The tail is often two colours.
   
The tovero (toh vair’ oh) patterns combines the characteristics of both tobianos and overos.