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Zephyrra — Horse Color Genetics - Explained

Published: 2011-11-21 01:32:42 +0000 UTC; Views: 23202; Favourites: 506; Downloads: 723
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Description I DID IT I DID IT I DID IT!!!!!!!

I FINALLY MADE A CHART ON HORSE COAT COLOR GENETICS! I was putting it off for THREE WHOLE MONTHS and I finally buckled down and did it! It took a little cross-referencing to double-check that I was right, but most of this was originally off the top of my head. (No, seriously. I am the genetics wizard of all my friends.) Pearl was tough to get down though, and so was brindle, but I got it finally! But let me tell you… I never want to see this grayscale for a very long time.

Lines by the amazing ~jiphorse - [link]
(I got lazy. Lines are much easier said than done.)

Below is a quick rundown of each gene and its effect. It’s basically just explaining all the pictures on the bottom.

Red Factor (E) – Determines presence of black pigment (eumelanin) in the hair. Dominant denotes black, recessive denotes chestnut.

Agouti (A) – Determines restriction of any black pigment present. Dominant denotes bay, recessive denotes black. Does not affect chestnuts.

Gray (G) – Determines whether the horse will gray out with age. Dominant denotes gray, recessive denotes solid coloring.

Cream Dilution (Cr) – If present, will dilute coat color to a lighter shade. When present heterozygously, chestnut becomes palomino, black becomes smoky black, and bay becomes buckskin. When present homozygously, chestnut becomes cremello, black becomes smoky cream, and bay becomes perlino.

Champagne (Ch) – Will dilute coat color and add a golden sheen to the coat. Chestnut becomes gold champagne (not to be confused with palomino), black becomes classic champagne, and bay becomes amber champagne.

Pearl (Prl) – Works with the cream gene to dilute the coat. When present heterozygously along with a cream gene, will provide a “pseudo-cream” that appears to be a double cream dilution. When present homozygously, will turn chestnut an apricot color, but leaves bay and black alone.

Dun (D) – Dilutes the coat somewhat and add some or all “dun factors” or “primitive markings” (dorsal stripe, transverse stripe, darker points, zebra striping on legs, spiderwebbing on face, mottling, face masking, and frosting of mane and/or tail).

Silver (Z) – dilutes black hair and turns the mane and tail a silvery color. Does not affect chestnuts.

Roan (Rn) – causes speckling throughout the body (mostly excluding the head and legs) that does not increase with age.

Frame Overo (O) – causes patches of white that are irregular around the edges and that run horizontally. Usually one or two feet are white and the face is white. One or two blue eyes result. Horse appears as if the base color “frames” the white. It’s lethal when found homozygously.

Sabino (Sb) – creates splotches and speckling of white all over the body. Irregular stockings and bald faces are very common. Is sometimes accompanied by rabicano effects.

Splash White (Spl) – makes the horse appear as if it has been splashed with white from the bottom up. The legs and belly are usually white, although some horses are completely white except for small amounts of colored hair.

Tobiano (T) – causes regularly edged splotches of white on the body that cross the topline and appear to run vertically. The head is solid with normal markings, and all four legs are usually white.

Dominant White (W) – a very rare gene that causes pink skin, blue eyes, and pure white hair all over the body. Like frame overo, it is lethal when found homozygously.

Spotted (Lp) – causes spotting of the coat. Does not only apply to leopard pattern. Can result in any of the standard Appaloosa patterns.


Some more helpful websites include: [link] [link]

To see an in-depth explanation of the colors, see `majnouna ’s very helpful chart: [link]
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Comments: 173

Zephyrra In reply to ??? [2011-11-21 01:59:19 +0000 UTC]

Haha, thanks!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

pom-happy-my-dog In reply to ??? [2011-11-21 01:41:50 +0000 UTC]

You're the most amazing human on earth as of right now.

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Zephyrra In reply to pom-happy-my-dog [2011-11-21 01:42:20 +0000 UTC]

LOL!!! Well, I'm glad you like it!

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pom-happy-my-dog In reply to Zephyrra [2011-11-21 03:52:47 +0000 UTC]

I remember when I understood genetics.

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Zephyrra In reply to pom-happy-my-dog [2011-11-21 20:00:59 +0000 UTC]

LOL! I am such a genetics nerd, you can see what I do in my spare time...

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

pom-happy-my-dog In reply to Zephyrra [2011-11-22 19:23:59 +0000 UTC]

I haven't played with genetics since my sophomore year in high school. I'm a freshmen in college now so it's been a while.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Zephyrra In reply to pom-happy-my-dog [2011-11-22 19:56:09 +0000 UTC]

Oooh, hahaa! I've been really interested in it as of late, and I had kinda put it off for two or three years.

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pom-happy-my-dog In reply to Zephyrra [2011-11-22 20:02:18 +0000 UTC]

Wait what?

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Zephyrra In reply to pom-happy-my-dog [2011-11-22 21:09:49 +0000 UTC]

I had wanted to learn genetics for a few years but never did until a few months ago.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

pom-happy-my-dog In reply to Zephyrra [2011-11-22 21:32:48 +0000 UTC]

OHHHhhhh. I gotcha now.

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Zephyrra In reply to pom-happy-my-dog [2011-11-22 21:40:50 +0000 UTC]

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FergusonStables In reply to ??? [2011-11-21 01:40:37 +0000 UTC]

YAY its done! now instead of studying for my math test tomorrow or doing my millions of show entries I'm doing to be studying genetics XD

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Zephyrra In reply to FergusonStables [2011-11-21 01:41:52 +0000 UTC]

YAYYY! Glad ya like it!

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FergusonStables In reply to Zephyrra [2011-11-21 01:43:32 +0000 UTC]

WOOP

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Greener-Pastures In reply to ??? [2011-11-21 01:39:48 +0000 UTC]

i. Love. Youu.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Zephyrra In reply to Greener-Pastures [2011-11-21 01:42:01 +0000 UTC]

Hahaa! Glad you like it!

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Greener-Pastures In reply to Zephyrra [2011-11-21 01:45:20 +0000 UTC]

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crazykate1 In reply to ??? [2011-11-21 01:35:02 +0000 UTC]

this is amazing! and EXTREMELY helpful

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Zephyrra In reply to crazykate1 [2011-11-21 01:35:46 +0000 UTC]

Haha, thanks!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

crazykate1 In reply to Zephyrra [2011-11-21 01:36:46 +0000 UTC]

no prob

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Rising-High-Ranch In reply to ??? [2011-11-21 01:34:37 +0000 UTC]

FINALLY!!!! Thank you soo much for finally doing this!!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Zephyrra In reply to Rising-High-Ranch [2011-11-21 01:35:01 +0000 UTC]

Haha! Not a problem, glad you like it!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0


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