Does anyone know of a really good coat spray? I curry and brush all the time, but some of my horses do not dapple like the others.
Some horses donât dapple, no matter how much you curry and groom. Nothing wrong with it, just the way some horses are.
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Some horses have the genes for dappling, some donât.
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yep - its mostly genetic, no coat spray will produce dapples unfortunately (unless the horse is REALLY bleached out - causing the dapples to be hidden, then a sunscreen type product may help).
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[QUOTE=Appsolute;7657028]
yep - its mostly genetic, no coat spray will produce dapples unfortunately [/QUOTE]
This. They first have to have the gene, then need to be healthy and then need the grooming. You canât get dapples on a horse without the gene, although you can not have dapples on a horse WITH the gene if they arenât healthy or well-groomed.
I have two chestnuts: one dapples, the other doesnât. My dark bay was constantly dappled. All received very similar feed/grooming so it really is in the genes.
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yep, its genetic. But a good diet will produce an amazing coat regardless! And if you want a nice conditioning spray I love Healthy Hair Care.
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There are two equations to dappling: genetics and health. Some horses will never dapple because genetically, they are not predisposed to it â and some can be in mediocre health and have lush dapples.
I think dappling is most common in greys, browns, and palominos. I remember seeing somewhere that the âsootyâ gene has a lot to do with it. For instance, I have a gelding that hasnât been tested but looks to the naked eye to be a sooty bay - and he dapples in the fall.
The dapple pattern has a lot to do with how close the capillaries are laid under the fur - a very fit horse is more likely to have dapples (if he is predisposed to it).
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[QUOTE=beowulf;7657093]
There are two equations to dappling: genetics and health. Some horses will never dapple because genetically, they are not predisposed to it â and some can be in mediocre health and have lush dapples.
I think dappling is most common in greys, browns, and palominos. I remember seeing somewhere that the âsootyâ gene has a lot to do with it. For instance, I have a gelding that hasnât been tested but looks to the naked eye to be a sooty bay - and he dapples in the fall.
The dapple pattern has a lot to do with how close the capillaries are laid under the fur - a very fit horse is more likely to have dapples (if he is predisposed to it).[/QUOTE]
This is fascinating. I have a chestnut with a fiery, coppery glint to her coat, and when sheâs in tiptop shape she dapples. Itâs quite psychedelic. Iâve tried in vain to feed and buff my way to dapples on my other chestnut, and always wondered why it never took.
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yes - a palomino with washed out coat began to glow with dark dapples when she was fit and fed alfalfa and good diet.
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I love dapples:) I find currying with a mitt, then brush, then wipe with hands and a sheepskin mitt works well. But maybe from what you all are saying Iâm just lucky!
We had a little bay Morgan that would get them through his dirt even when he was old, turned out and practically feral after I left home.
I have had the same frustration - horse that I would curry like a crazy person would shine and shine, but no dapples. whattareyagonnado?
Curious
How does the gene work?
If my horseâs sire has dapples, is it possible for me to get dapples out of my guy? Not sure what his dam looks likeâŠ
[QUOTE=beowulf;7657093]
I think dappling is most common in greys, browns, and palominos. I remember seeing somewhere that the âsootyâ gene has a lot to do with it. For instance, I have a gelding that hasnât been tested but looks to the naked eye to be a sooty bay - and he dapples in the fall. [/QUOTE]
Could be, but I think those colors just show dapples better. I had a chestnut mare who was the color I always describe as âpaper bag brownâ which is just plain red with no obvious modifiers and only in the right light from the right angle could you see that she was counter shaded with a ton of dapples.
[QUOTE=RugBug;7657042]
although you can not have dapples on a horse WITH the gene if they arenât healthy or well-groomed.[/QUOTE]
I disagree with the grooming part. Sure, good grooming can help a coat look its best, and may enhance dapples - but horses can certainly have dapples without good grooming.
There are some horses in our retirement pasture at my barn that just GLEAM, and have amazing dapples - and NEVER get groomed.
I have had two horses with incredible dapples, one was a sooty buckskin, the other was a âdark bay / brownâ - essentially a sooty brown.
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Cool, what is the âsootyâ gene or color you all are describing? This is a fun discussion.
Check out this page. Some good pictures of âsootyâ horses and several dilutions. The roan silver dapple bay is a particularly stunning color, IMO.
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[QUOTE=Dewey;7658150]
Check out this page. Some good pictures of âsootyâ horses and several dilutions. The roan silver dapple bay is a particularly stunning color, IMO.
http://www.whitehorseproductions.com/ecg_basics2.html[/QUOTE]
what a cool page!
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I used a shedding blade to get the caked on urine/dirt mixture (aka piss cement) off her for a photo for DH, and this is what is underneath. Hasnât been brushed in a couple months, get a pound of a ration balancer and free choice grass hay (dirt lot). Thatâs it.
This is good genetics.
There are just some horses who, try as we might, donât dapple. If the horse is being well fed and groomed and itâs still not happening thereâs not much that can be done. I find an omega supplement like Omega Horseshine helps to some extent, and have one horse who only dapples when groomed like crazy. Then again, I just bought this insanely dappled BLM mustang mare, who obviously wasnât being fed anything fancy when this picture was taken at the holding facility, and isnât tame so had never been groomed, so go figure haha. Itâs just âgoodâ genetics for dappling, like the people who can stay effortlessly thin no matter what they eat 
http://amustangnamedfolly.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/4.jpg?w=761
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