Stardust Merlin

2005 12.2 hand silver bay gelding, registered 1/2 Arabian

(Habib Rafiq x Misty)

Merlin has been sold to Kathleen Weickhardt of Arkansas.  Congratulations Kathleen!

The silver bay color only modifies the black on a horse.  So Merlin's black points - mane, tail and lower legs - are all lighter than they would be without the "Z" gene.  This coloring comes from his dam, who is silver black.  Without the "Z" gene, he would probably be a striking blood bay.  With it he's a bit more unusual!

Merlin, curious about the camera.  You can see the typical silvery grey at the base of his mane and forelock.

Here his mane looks much lighter in the bright sun.  In a photo like this one, it's hard to see the Bay base coat.  His mane and tail color vary with the seasons, being darker in the winter and more sun-faded in the summer.

Notice the grey coloring on his lower legs in this photo.

Merlin and his dam.

Phenomenal trot!

Merlin's dam wouldn't let us near him when he was born.  For the first couple of weeks he copied his dam.  Then he started to approach us more and more.  He began nursing from the other mare in the pasture and imitating her behavior toward humans.  He still nursed his own dam, but he quickly became a pocket pony.

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