Coat colors are difficult to predict at times, except in a few cases, where both parents are homozygous for the same gene, such as 2 homozygous black or 2 chestnuts. Here are a few interesting facts that may help you predict what color your foal will be.
Two chestnut parents will only produce chestnut offspring.
Two homozygous black parents will only produce a homozygous black offspring.
A homozygous grey horse will only produce grey offspring, no matter what color the other parent is.
A homozygous black horse will never produce a chestnut offspring.
A heterozygous black horse can produce chestnut when bred to another horse with a chestnut gene, they can also produce black when bred to the right chestnut.
Some chestnuts are capable of producing black when bred to a black or bay horse, however, some will only produce bay or chestnut.
Some bays are capable of producing black or chestnut offspring when bred to a chestnut.
There is a test through UC Davis veterinary genetics lab, that can show you all of the combinations that your Arabian horse will be able to produce. For more information and a chart showing all of the possibilities click here to go to the UC Davis genetics site for the test form, also information on tests for the Sabino gene, pinto patterns and SCID.
If you would like help in trying to plan for a certain color, send me an email with your Arabian, Saddlebred or National Show Horse's full registered name. If your horse is a NSH, I need the full registered names of the first two generations of purebred Arabians and Saddlebreds in his/her pedigree. I will give you an idea of which colors your horse should be able to produce It will not be a guarantee, but will be an educated guess. If you want be certain of which colors your horse will be able to produce, go to the UC Davis web site and print the form to have your horse tesetd.
