 Some cases of the "medicine hat" pattern, where only the ears and poll and sometimes the topline (and sometimes the chest has a "shield" pattern) may have pigment, and white or nearly white horses may be tobiano-sabino blends.A true roan is neither sabino nor gray, but instead refers to a pattern of evenly-interspersed white hairs on the body with minimal white hairs on the head and legs and few, if any white markings.The primary characteristics of sabino are white markings on the head and legs, often with roaning at the edges.