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🧪 Dilutions

Dilution Genes

Dilution genes lighten or alter the base coat colour.color.

Cream (CR)

Cream is an incomplete dominant dilution. One copy creates a single dilute, while two copies create a double dilute.

Single Cream

Base Result
Chestnut Palomino
Bay Buckskin
Black Smoky Black

palomino.pngpalomino.pngbuckskin.pngbuckskin.pngsmokey_black.pngsmokey_black.png

                                      Palomino                                                           Buckskin                                                       Smokey Black

Double Cream

Base Result
Chestnut Cremello
Bay Perlino
Black Smoky Cream

cremello.pngcremello.pngperlino.pngperlino.pngsmokey_cream.pngsmokey.png

                                     Cremello                                                                Perlino                                                       Smokey Cream

Palomino Variations

Standard Palomino

light_palomino.pngpalomino.pngdappled_palomino.pngpalomino.png

Dappled Palomino

palomino_dapple.png

Light Palomino

Classic

palomino_light.png

Palomino                                            Dappled Palomino

Buckskin Variations

Standard Buckskin

light_buckskin.pngbuckskin.pngsooty_buckskin.pngbuckskin.png

Golden Buckskin

buckskin_golden.png

Dark Buckskin

buckskin_dark.png

Light Buckskin
Classic Buckskin                                             Sooty Buckskin 

buckskin_light.png

Dun (D)

Dun lightens the body while leaving primitive markings visible. Primitive markings include dorsal stripes and leg "zebra stripes"

Base Result
Chestnut Red Dun
Bay Bay Dun
Black Grulla

                     light_dun.pngchestnut_dun.pngdun.pngdun_light.pnggrulla.png

                                                                        Light Bay Dun                                                                      Bay Dun

                     grulla.pngred_dun.png

                                                                      Grulla                                                                                      Red Dun  

Primitive Markings

A horse may display primitive markings without being fully dun.

The Dun locus has three possible alleles:

Allele Effect
D Dun dilution + primitive markings
nd1 Primitive markings only
nd2 No dilution and no primitive markings

Dominance order:

D > nd1 > nd2

This means Dun overrides both nd1 and nd2, while nd1 overrides nd2.

Non-Dun 1 (nd1)

Non-Dun 1 is incredibly interesting because it is basically a "partial remnant" of the original Dun gene.

Horses with nd1 are not diluted, but they may still display primitive markings.

Genotypes

Genotype Result
nd1/nd1 Primitive markings possible
nd1/nd2 Primitive markings possible

Common traits:

  • Dorsal stripe
  • Leg barring
  • Shoulder stripes

However, the body color remains undiluted.

Non-Dun 2 (nd2)

Non-Dun 2 is what most modern horses carry.

Genotype

Genotype Result
nd2/nd2 Normal coat colourcolor

These horses:

  • Are not diluted
  • Do not naturally display primitive markings
  • Cannot pass Dun unless bred to a horse carrying D

Champagne (CH)

Champagne dilutes both red and black pigment while creating lighter eyes and mottled skin.

Base Result
Chestnut Gold Champagne
Bay Amber Champagne
Black Classic Champagne

gold_champagne.pnggold_champagne.pngchampagne.pngchampagne_amber.pngamber_champagne.pngchampagne.png

                                    Gold Champagne                                      Classic Champagne                                     Amber Champagne 

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