The gray modifier adds gray hairs to the entire body of the horse as it ages. Usually, the graying process begins on the horse's head. Grays are born any other color, then gradually turn white over time. Often they go through a roany stage along the way, when they are sometimes mistaken for roans. Most grays go through a very attractive dappling phase as they gray out. Because gray is dominant, all grays will have at least one gray parent.

There are two sources for gray in the Morgan breed. The largest descends from the 1969 gray mare Hy Crest Satina (Hy Crest Koko X Lady Satin, an X-registered gray mare and the source of Satina's color). The other is descended from the 1925 gray mare Toy (Troubadour of Willowmoor X Rachel, gray) and is represented by one breeding age mare at this time, Silvershoe Sun Frost, and her 2005 gray daughter.

FFCF ALABASTER SHORES (CW's Totally Silver x Atta Lane Attie), 2006 gray filly owned by Kathy Flanagan, Flying Circle F Morgans. Shown here with Kathy. Photo by Dianne Justa.


CW'S SILVER ASH (Hillside Stoney Ash X HyCrest Satina), 1993 gray stallion owned by Anne Canavan, Crossville, TN. Ash shows heavy fleabiting, which is a feature on some grays.

 
WINTER MOON HAIKU (Shanghai X Winter Moon Light Kisses), 2006 gray colt. Gray foals are always born some other color and then "go gray" over time. You can see the faint tinge of pink caused by the interspersed gray hairs already starting to emerge on this chestnut based weanling. Photo by Tami Johnson. Owned by Jackie Moehling, Justawee Morgans, Powhatan, VA.


CW'S SILVER DOLLAR (CW's Sterling Silver X Tonya), 1994 gray stallion owned by Vicki Thiessen, Valley Ridge Morgans, Waldheim, SK.


WINTER MOON LIGHT KISSES (Winter Moon Enlightenment X B-L Bella Donna), 2001 gray mare owned by Jeanne Gallager, Winter Moon Morgans, Seward NE. Photo by Tami Johnson.


SILVERSHOE SUN FROST (Silvershoe Sun Dust X Miss Frosty Shadow), 2001 gray mare owned by Ellen Feld of MA. This mare and her 2005 gray daughter Willow Bend Shadow are the last remaining descendants of the Saycrest Frosty Miss line of grays. Photo courtesy of Erin White.


SC ISLAND SILVERADO (CW's Sterling Silver X Gremarbin Arabesque), 2000 gray stallion owned by Helga Loncosky and Sherry Siebanaler.


CW'S STERLING SILVER (Todita X Hy Crest Satina), 1990 gray stallion owned by Carol Guay of Dryden Michigan.


CW'S SPECIALEDITIONSILVER (CW's Silver Ash X CW's Silver Coin), 2000 gray stallion owned by Carol Guay, CW Farm, Dryden MI. This stallion may be homozygous for gray; both parents are gray and so far all of his foals have been gray as well. Homozygous grays are thought to go gray faster than heterozygous grays, which would account for why he is almost completely gray at just four years of age, when this picture was taken. Photo courtesy of Roxanne Riggs.


CW'S SILVER JET (CW's Specialedition Silver X CW's Silver Sundae), 2004 gray stallion (pictured as a weanling) with his breeder Carol Guay. Now owned by Walter and Janet Brown.


CW'S SILVERWOOD (CW's Silver Dollar X Del View Heidi), 1999 gray stallion, owned by Celeste Brown of NY. You can see more of "Woody" here. Photo by Carien Schippers.


SILVERSTONE NOBLE ASH (CW's Silver Ash X Nemours Noblelea), 2004 gray mare (pictured as a foal) owned by Ann Canavan, Crossville TN. Born black, the gray hairs around her eyes and muzzle are a clue that this filly will indeed go gray as she ages.


WINTER MOON ENLIGHTENMENT (CW's Sterling Silver X Season's Ebony Lark), 1995 gray stallion owned by Jeanne Gallagher, Winter Moon Morgans, Seward NE.


WINTER MOON PHENOMENON (Winter Moon Enlightenment X Dream Acres Sweet Caroline), 2003 gray gelding, pictured as a yearling on the left and as a 4 year old on the right. Bred by Jeanne Gallagher, Winter Moon Morgans, Seward NE and owned by Jaye Alles. This colt was born bay; the interesting steel gray color he was as a youngster has gotten lighter, going through a dappled stage as you can see in his 4 year old picture. Eventually he will be completely white. Photos courtesy of Tami Johnson.
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