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Gracie3B · Apr 13, 2020 6:19 PM

I’ve got a new horse coming and she’s a sorrel, I was wondering what is the difference between a sorrel and chestnut? They are both red based so is sorrel just chestnut without sooty or are they the same genetics but a different shade of the color?
Thanks!

Bandit1119 · Apr 13, 2020 6:30 PM

From what I understand for the most part the difference is regional or discipline.

I think western tends to be sorrel, English chestnut. But it’s pretty much interchangeable

RipshinCreekFarm · Apr 13, 2020 6:33 PM

Genetically they are both same - ee. Different regions or disciplines call them differently based on phenotype. In my area (southern U.S.) gaited horse people call red with with flaxen sorrel, red is chestnut. Stock horse people call lighter bright red sorrel, darker red is chestnut, regardless of flaxen.

Dunbroc · Apr 13, 2020 9:27 PM

Genetically its the same. In my experience, western people call it sorrel, and English call it chestnut.

Maribo · Apr 14, 2020 7:36 AM

There is a saying in the genetics groups on facebook/forums:
Red is red is red is red.

Gracie3B · Apr 14, 2020 11:19 AM

Oh that makes sense! I used to ride western and I always heard it was sorrel and then when I started riding English they called it chestnut which made me think they were two different colors that were similar and I started looking at this new horse and the owner said she was sorrel but I thought she was chestnut, so I guess we were both right in our mindsets.
Thank you all for helping me out!

pestilenttempest · Apr 14, 2020 1:31 PM

Certain breeds also use different names. The Appaloosa uses chestnut, not sorrel.

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