Equine color genetics resources?

[keysfins]

I am interested in learning about the genetics of equine colors. Can anyone recommend a book or resource that I can use to get familiar with the basics, and the not-so-basics? I have a gelding who is a palomino, who has a lighter hair coat in winter, darker once he sheds out. I also have a black mare who has belly spots, and learned today that her grand side, De Niro, carries the Sabino gene. I’d like to get a better understanding of colors.

[Bluey]

You could start here:

http://www.jenniferhoffman.net/horse/extension.html#gamewindow_anchor

[keysfins]

@Bluey

You could start here:

http://www.jenniferhoffman.net/horse/extension.html#gamewindow_anchor

Thank you!

[pattnic]

Useful information here, as well: http://www.morgancolors.com/

[Scribbler]

Your palomino is showing a typical change in colour from winter to summer.

For pinto colours including sabino you can look at the Paint horse resources on line.

UC Davis seems to be leading with research into colour genetics and testing.

Really though you just need to google the topic online, and there are a number of sites that have more or less in the way of photos, and more or less in the way of actual discussion of the genes, but all basically the same information that is consistent with the most current research.

The basic base colours, as you’ll find out, are chestnut and black. Everything else else is a modification of these two colours, via creme gene, a dun gene, a chamapgne,gene, a roan gene, a grey gene, a pinto gene (multiple pinto genes), an appaloosa gene, etc. Some expressions of some colours and patterns can be hard to define IRL without testing, but most are pretty obvious once you see a couple of horses like that. Some are rare, or rare locally, or more prevalent in certain breeds; others are very common everywhere.

[Sempiternal]

http://equinetapestry.com/ is a really great resource. She also published a book.

[lifeishorsesarelove]

@Sempiternal

http://equinetapestry.com/ is a really great resource. She also published a book.

I have Lesli’s book and I am friends with her. She’s incredibly knowledgeable and I would highly recommend her book for someone looking for an accurate and up-to-date to date coverage of colour genetics. A lot of the terminology used frequently online is outdated and incorrect, expecially surrounding pinto patterns.

[rockonxox]

http://www.animalgenetics.us/Equine/CCalculator1.asp Fun little tool to play around with what “combinations” can produce. Lots of different options available and after choosing the base options you can also get more in depth on what the underlying genes are.

[keysfins]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Almost wish I was back in school for genetics. Almost.