Modifiers

Color Modifiers

Modifiers alter the appearance of the base coat but do not dilute it.

Flaxen (F)

Flaxen is a recessive modifier that lightens the mane and tail of chestnut horses. Depending on expression, flaxen can range from a slightly lighter mane and tail to a nearly white mane and tail.

Inheritance

Because flaxen is recessive, a horse must inherit a flaxen allele from both parents in order to visually express it.

Expression

Flaxen only affects chestnut horses. Bay and black horses may carry flaxen but will not visually express it.

                            Flaxen Chestnut                                              Flaxen Liver Chestnut                                  Flaxen Red Chestnut

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Silver (Z)

Silver is a dominant modifier that affects black pigment. It lightens the mane and tail while having no effect on red pigment.

Inheritance

Only one copy of silver is required for expression.

Expression

Chestnut horses may carry silver but will not visually express it because they do not produce black pigment.

                                                 Silver Bay                                                                                    Silver Black

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Sooty (Sty)

Sooty is a dominant modifier that adds dark hairs throughout the coat. Expression can range from subtle dark shading to heavy darkening across the entire body.

Inheritance

Only one copy is required for expression.

Expression

Sooty can affect nearly any colour.

                                          Sooty Bay                                                   Sooty Dark Bay                                                Sooty Buckskin

                                       Liver Chestnut

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Gray (G)

Gray is a dominant modifier that causes progressive depigmentation over time.

A gray horse is born its original colour and gradually lightens as it ages.

Inheritance

Only one copy is required for expression.

Expression

Gray can occur on any base colour.

Examples:

• Black → Gray
• Bay → Rose Gray
• Chestnut → Rose Gray
  

The horse's original color remains genetically present underneath the graying process.

                              Black Base - Stage 0                                                  Stage 1                                                              Stage 2 

                                        Stage 3                                                         Stage 4                                                         Stage 5

                       

                                                                    Final Form A                                                                 Final Form B

 

 

                              Bay Base - Stage 0               OR                   Chestnut Bay - Stage 0                                          Stage 1 

                                         Stage 2                                                             Stage 3                                                                 Stage 4 

                       

                                                                    Final Form A                                                                 Final Form B