Horses with unusual coat colors are highly sought after, with many people dreaming of owning a beautiful champagne gold or gleaming silver horse. But is there a silver gene in horses, and how do we get these unusual colors?
The world of equine color genetics is a fascinating topic, and to know if there is a silver gene in horses we first need to understand how a horse gets its coloring.
Yes, there is a silver gene in horses! This is often referred to as the silver dapple gene, and it has a beautiful effect on the color of the horses’ coat.
Horses with silver dapple coloring are highly sought after, and the best way to maximize the chances of a silver foal is to carry out genetic testing of the dam and sire.
So, as we have learned, there is a silver gene in horses that will dilute black hairs to a silver-grey color. This gene will give a black horse an almost white mane and tail, and a dappled dark grey body.