Here's the difference:
Chestnut:
* Base coat: Red, ranging from light golden to dark reddish-brown.
* Mane and tail: Usually the same color as the body coat, but can be slightly darker.
* Other features: Chestnut horses often have black points (black mane, tail, legs, and muzzle).
* Genetics: Chestnut horses have a recessive "e" gene for base coat color.
Palomino:
* Base coat: Golden, ranging from light cream to rich gold.
* Mane and tail: Usually white or flaxen (light golden).
* Other features: Palomino horses have a dilute coat color. They have a "cream" gene that dilutes the underlying base coat color.
* Genetics: Palominos are produced when a chestnut horse (ee) receives a single copy of the cream gene. They have a genotype of "eeCr".
In summary:
* Chestnut horses have a solid red base coat, while Palomino horses have a diluted golden base coat.
* Palomino horses have a distinctive white or flaxen mane and tail, while Chestnut horses usually have the same color mane and tail as their body.
Here's a helpful image to visualize the difference:
[Image of a chestnut horse and a palomino horse side-by-side]