Have you ever seen a shiny, muscular horse with a blue-tinted coat and dark legs? Horses, for sure, are amazingly beautiful animals but that specific blue coat tinted horse with dark legs is simply a treat for the eyes. So, you may ask, what horse is it? It’s a Grulla horse.
What’s a Grulla?
Grulla horse, pronounced as “Grew ya or Grew Yo,” is a sight to see. With a bright shiny coat that looks like a sheet of silk and shines like stars in the night sky, the Grulla horse is very popular and loved because of its rare color and appearance. The word “Grulla” has a Spanish origin that means “crane” or “Grey.” This horse has a specific color pattern—black legs and dun markings. These horses can easily be distinguished from other horses.
Note that a Grulla horse does not even have a single strand of red hair. The color coat of Grulla is unique and ranges from light hues of shiny blue to dark brown and jet black. Generally, a Grulla is recognized by its tan-gray coat with dorsal strips on its legs, mane, and tail. They are known for their rarity and beauty.
Appearance of Grulla Horse
While the Grulla horse is a rarity, it is known for its versatility in body colors. You may notice that a Grulla horse has different body colors in different shades; for example, their head would be darker than the body. The Grulla horse’s hair is shiny and uniform in either a tan grey or a mouse-colored tone, with no multiple shades. The only way you can confirm whether the horse is Grulla or not is by observing the hair color of the horse along with its distinctive markings. It must have dark grey or tan grey color with uniformity.
Grulla horse generally has a dark face with cobweb-bing eyes and forehead. They may have leg barring and dark ear barring, also known as tiger striping. The tips and edges of their ears are dark, and their neck follows a dark shadowing. While their tail and mane may be dark, they have light guard hair on the borders of their tails and manes.
Do Grulla Horses Change Colors?
Does a Grulla baby change color in the next stages of life? The answer is, sometimes. Generally, Grullas don’t change color and carry the same color from birth to adulthood. However, sometimes, it may show variation due to changing seasons. For example, a newborn of a grey dun gene will have a mouse tan grey shade. On the other hand, the coat color of the Grulla may also change with age as a young Grulla may develop a white hair coat with light primitive markings.
What Is the Weight of a Grulla Horse?
Grulla horses usually have the same weight as that of other horse breeds. Like all regular horses, Grulla horses also weigh between 380 kg – 1000 kg.
Height of Grulla Horse
Unlike the weight, the height of the Grulla horse may vary from horse to horse. The Grulla color may appear in any breed, which is why there is a height difference. Generally, Grulla horses would be as tall as 1.4m – 18m at the withers.
Grulla Quarter Horses Are Rare
Grulla horses are super rare as they are less than 1 percent. The beauty of a Grulla horse is in its rarity, and its color strikes the eyes, and we simply cannot do without appreciating its breathtaking beauty. This horse has become highly desirable amongst equine enthusiasts. People look for rarity, which is why Grulla horses are high in demand.
Are Grulla Horses Prone To Different Health Problems?
Like every other horse, Grulla horses are prone to some health conditions as well. They may face the same health problems as other horses, but they are specifically more prone to melanoma.
Melanoma is a fatal disease referred to as skin cancer. Melanoma can develop anywhere in any place under the skin of the horse and can bring down the horse’s performance. Unfortunately, gray coat horses are more prone to this health condition which automatically puts Grulla on the top of the list. Melanoma develops in different hairless areas in the shape of black lumps. Those lumps indicate skin tumors. The most common areas for these lumps are under the tail, around the anus, and in the sheath of the gelding.
If left untreated, melanoma can spread in no time, having the potential to take the life of the horse. Usually, Grulla horses pass away from this disease. Sadly, this fatal disease cannot be prevented, but early diagnosis and treatment can help in bringing down the disease. Similarly, Different surgery treatments, laser treatments, and cryotherapy can help in defeating this life-taking disease.