As to your handsome stallion, I believe what you are seeing is the "appaloosa single hair roaning" going on. Unlike a true roan in a solid horse, where the head is usually darker with the true color, appaloosas tend to get a "single hair" roaning going on which will spread through the coat, lightening it with white hairs. This is NOT to be confused with a horse showing a grey trait and turning white, but just the addition of single white hairs throughout the coat. It can be quite lovely!
I'm studying the pictures of your beautiful mare before I venture a true guess, since he hasn't been tested. I would love to have people give their opinions here, so we learn as much as possible, and then, if you'd allow me, I'd like to pay for color testing her to see how close we are to the truth. These blacks/smoky blacks/black bays/ sooty bays/sooty buckskins can be so much fun to guess visually, and then test to find out! Since her dam is a palomino, we can definitely have a cream gene in the mix, which I love!