Why is it that Arabians get all the best stories? It’s not fair, but they do have some good ones.

War was waged riding mares. Those with fierce mares of their own can probably understand this. While riding his courageous and loyal mare, a man was terribly injured. Clinging to her back he was able to stay mounted as she carried him home. His life blood covering her shoulder while she traveled steadily and carefully.

Back at last he fell, lifeless, to the ground.

The loyal mare gave birth to a foal later that year. A beautiful, spirited blood bay who would go on to carry the descendants of her loyal mother’s master. As she grew her bright red coat turned gray, leaving only the mark over her shoulder of the blood shed upon her mother there. A mark showing the legacy passed on through generations of intelligence, loyalty, and fierce determination.

The mark would continue to be passed down, showing the best of the best. The horses that would be chosen over all others as trusted dependable mounts.

Which sounds wonderful. Unfortunately the coloring is actually yet another variation of the gray gene and can occur anywhere on the body. Either flea bites that are clumped together or somatic mutations altering the speed and effects of the graying process. It is entirely possible there are many different types and causes. Some markings are present as the horse turns gray, they are spots that never lose color. Others start as a cluster of ‘flea bites’ and grow larger with time.

It is possible that the story could have happened, exactly as told. A grey mare is likely to have a gray foal. By pure coincidence that foal could have developed the marking in that location. That would have been fun to see and is well worthy of starting a legend all its own. The coloration still doesn’t actually show courage or anything else other than a pretty marking. But, the story is a fun one and the breed is known overall for loyalty and dedication. Most legends do start from a grain of truth.