There has actually been a statistical analysis done on white markings!
I have verified all of this just from years of observation 
, but markings on hind legs are much more common, markings on left legs are more common, white markings on front legs are less common - and especially when there are no white markings on the hind legs
Not having read all of the posts, but clones only contain the same genetic material at fertilization. There are a number of genetic crossover events that can happen where small portions of the DNA strands switch positions, as well as epigenetic events (things that bind to the DNA strand and can prevent a gene from being normally transcribed) that are independent of the genetic sequence. All of this leads to different behaviors and physical attributes as an egg divides into a morula, and embryo, a fetus and a foal. There is so much going on there that clones are not identical creatures at birth.
I work with supposedly cloned mice. Part of my work does drug discrimination tests with mice. Each mouse is an individual in their reactions and behavior even though they are “technically clones”. Other work looks at physiological responses to common human conditions. Not every mouse responds the same way even though they are technically clones.
Environmental factors (mare behavior, her feed and thus milk, environment) shape the foal’s development.
Does that mean I’ll never have problems with flying changes again? I just need to buy the clone of a flying change wiz? 
Wouldn’t that be nice? Just this morning on my commute I was doing some wishful thinking about cloning. I’d clone one of my horses in a heartbeat. I’d love to not have to reteach his clone all the ground manners I’ve installed into the OG. He’s really the best, I get so spoiled with him and then I handle other horses and I’m like UGH! Can’t you stand still!!?
Well I shed a tear or two reading about him losing the horse he loved. It is a good thing it is not cheap, as we would want to save the animals we love, no matter what their conformation/use.
I own the third full sibling of four successful full siblings. I would say the first and third (mine) which were USDF HOYs, have been fantastic. The first and fourth, I would still happily own, but maybe not as special as second and third, in one way or another. Genetics are interesting. The second and third look different, but move similar, the first and fourth look more like the third but do not move like him (but still very very nice!). I think you have better luck of replicating success with a clone, but you still have variables. I am glad she is financially able to do this, because it will be interesting to see the results, but I think she had her once in a lifetime horse already…I am sad for her that he is 19…
The horse in the previous post (with two white fronts) sold for 85K. Sure the white fronts were of no consideration.
Interesting re white on legs. I never noticed or realized that white only in front was unusual. It happens that I own a chestnut WB mare who has only one very small white sock - front right foot. It goes maybe 2" up from hoof but very definitely white.
“Genetics are tricky. There are so many things we do not know.” This.
When my twins were born, we learned that they are identical. That means they both came from a single egg that split. Shared a placenta. But while they look a great deal alike, they are by no means exact copies of each other. I could tell them apart even when they were infants, though others could not, including their dad. As they grew, they had periods where it was nearly impossible to tell them apart unless they were standing right next to each other.
Now that they are adults, I think most folks who know them don’t have any issues telling them apart. But as their pediatrician said to me when they were quite small, “Who knows what nature can do with the same DNA?”
So clones having different markings, is not surprising to me. But I also think it’s possible they could have different ways of going, temperaments, etc. I don’t think, based on what we know of equine genetics today, that cloning is a guarantee that you will get the same horse you started with. JMH(and unscientific)O.
Hello fellow MonoDi twin parent! My twins are also identical, shared a placenta. Treated successfully for TTTS.
My twins have different personalities. Identical twins are closer genetically than a clone can ever be. Cloning a horse with the hope of getting another copy of your competition horse for competition purposes is, imo, a fool’s errand.
The only times I think it’s worthwhile to clone are for good bloodlines that are about to be lost, like Gem Twist / Gemini. I could see it happening with other geldings who excelled in sport but were gelded early and don’t have many related siblings to use instead. It would probably be a good thing for some of the TB lines that are used for something other than racing.
I’m most frustrated by the cloning of some quarter horses when they already have so many common genetic diseases caused by over use of line breeding. And the clones are being created mainly for breeding, not for competition. Most of the original QHs being cloned were used extensively for breeding already but the natural lifespan of the horse got in the way. The AQHA doesn’t need anymore help with their genetic bottlenecks.
You forget that AQHA doesn’t allow the registration of clones. They put their foot down quickly on that one after the mess with embryo transfers, which they never intended to allow.
Interesting note, I don’t think any of the Smart Little Lena clones ever really amounted to anything. I believe one was even gelded. I’d love to have another chance with my first QH, he wasn’t fancy, but had a heart of gold, but I’m too poor to do more than dream about it.
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