Looking to learn more about the Grulla horse? You’re in the right place. Hard to come by and extremely sought after, the Grulla horse is something of a rarity in the horsing world, and is characterized by a mesmerizingly beautiful gray coat.
In this guide, we’re going to be sharing with you some interesting information and facts about this beautiful type of horse, so that you can gain a better understanding of them. Read on to learn more about this beautiful type of horse!
Grulla Horse – How Do You Pronounce It, Exactly?
If you’re currently asking yourself this question – then rest assured that you’re not alone! Many equine lovers can sometimes get confused and mistake the Grulla horse to be an actual breed of horse, but it’s important to always remember that “Grulla” simply refers to a unique coat coloring!
So, with that being said, “Grulla Horse” or “Grullo Horse” quite literally means “Grey Horse” and the two terms interchangeably used are both of Spanish origin.
If you hadn’t already guessed, this particular term is used to describe horses that have a unique grey coloring. In addition to this, more often than not the mares are referred to as “Grulla” while the stallions or geldings are referred to as being “Grullo”.
It should also be noted that the Grulla/Grullo horse also commonly goes by a variety of other names, including Gray Dun, Mouse Dun, and sometimes even Blue Dun, too – which brings us to our next point.
The Influence Of The Dun Gene
All Grulla/Grullo horses are born with a dun gene and a black gene, which is what allows them to have a gorgeous gray hue to their coats. The shades can quite often vary depending on the ratio of dun and black genes, which is why you can get Mouse, Blue, and Grey dun coats from just one group of dun horses.
Physical Characteristics
Grulla horses are very rare, although their shades can vary depending on their dun and black genes ratio, as well as what time of year it is. To give you a better understanding of this unique horse, check out the following characteristics below:
Common Characteristics
Grulla horses tend to have common variation colors across their body, including dark socks, black-tipped ears, and black tails.
Grulla horses are commonly seen with distinct stripes across the shoulder and back area that can sometimes stretch to the tail/mane.
Grulla horse’s hair can be a variety of colors, including tan, black, and browns most commonly.
Color Variations
As we’ve already touched upon in previous points, Grulla horses typically tend to have the same color coat throughout the entirety of their lives. However, during the changing of seasons, Grulla coats can change from blue, to gray to mouse dun, and then back again when the season passes.
Weight/Height
Given the fact that Grulla/Grullo horses can belong to any breed of horse, it means that their weight and height can vary. However, more often than not, Grulla horses are typically anywhere from 370kg to 1000+kg and are usually anywhere from 1.3 to 1.9 in height (to the withers).
How To Spot A Grulla Horse
As we’re sure you can probably already guess, the easiest way to spot a Grulla horse amongst the crowd is by taking a closer look at its color and markings.
In Grulla horses, the coat will always be grey or tan grey in appearance, and the horse should also have a variety of distinctive markings that can help you spot one, such as:
A darker face contrasted by white markings in the center
Prominent white face markings in the center of the forehead coming down the bridge of the nose area
Occasional dark mottling across the body and occasionally across the underside of the horse, including the belly area
Dark brown or black tips on the ears, although this is not always the case
Dark-hued neck area
Lighter hair across the edges of the tail and mane which should be dark brown or black in the body
Dark dorsal area
Stripes across the shoulder area, which can sometimes be seen extending to the tail and mane area
Grulla Horse Picture Gallery
Distinguishing Features
As you can see from the beautiful pictures above, Grulla horses are most commonly distinguished from other types of horses due to their grey-hued coat, as well as black tips of the ears, mane, and tails. It should also be noted that while white face markings are common, white socks are far and far between.
Potential Health Issues
Grulla and Grullo horses are at risk of developing a variety of different health issues, but it should be noted that they are at a higher risk of developing melanoma due to their unique coloring.
For this reason, if you are planning on becoming the proud owner of one of these beautiful horses, it’s important to make sure that you are regularly getting him/her checked out by the vet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can I Get A Grulla Horse?
Great question. It is relatively quite difficult to come across these types of horses – as the existence of them quite literally comes down to DNA and chance.
Nevertheless, if you’re wanting to give yourself the best chance of breeding your very own Grulla horse, it can be achieved by breeding a black stallion with a dun mare.
What Is The Main Difference Between Grulla And Grullo?
The main difference between Grulla and Grullo comes down to the gender of the horse. Typically, stallions/geldings are referred to as Grullo, while the females are usually referred to as Grulla.
How Do You Pronounce Grulla?
A term that is of Spanish origin, Grulla is pronounced as “Grew-ya” while Grullo is pronounced as “Grew-yo”.
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