Silver Horse Coat Color Dilution Gene

One of the rarer color dilutions, the silver gene is essentially the opposite of the cream dilution and only has an effect on hair with black or brown pigment. Chestnuts are not affected, but silver has a rather dramatic effect on black, bay and brown animals.

Silver Dilution

The dilution acts by changing black pigment to a lighter color and often creating dappling on body hair. Silver is more common in gaited breeds and Shetlands than any other breed but is becoming more popular in general. The lovely results of this gene can create animals that mimic other dilutions or modifiers, making them sometimes difficult to visually identify.

Silver Basics

Although it only affects black pigment, the silver effect is rather dramatic and it gives simple black a little sparkle. While it does have an effect on bays, it creates the most notable change on black and brown animals, changing their coloring entirely.

Black Base
Probably the most dramatic change in color, silver dapple coats range from deep brown to silver grey with a silvery flaxen mane and tail.

Silver Dapple

Bay Base
Silver doesn’t change the body color of a bay, but it does bleach their mane and tail to flaxen and dark points to a chocolate brown.

Red Dapple

Brown Base
Silver has a moderate effect on seal brown, body color can range similar to silver dapple with silvery to flaxen mane and tail.

Silver Brown

Silver Modified and Diluted

Silver can pair nicely with several of the modifiers and dilutions, adding it’s glamour to some of the decidedly less glamorous colors.

Mealy Modifier
A rare combination, silver may mask pangare characteristics, but only affects black hairs, creating even more colorful results.

Mealy Silver

Dun Dilution
Also rare, silver lightens the dark points to brown on a dark dun bases and will have a further affect on any black body hairs.

Silver Dun

White on Silver

While not the rarest, silver animals are not extremely common in the equine world. The spotted versions of them are even rarer, but absolutely stunning in their variety. Silver white patterns aren’t always obvious and may be mistaken for other colors, but they can be absolutely fabulous.

Pinto
These two elements pair perfectly to create some striking patterns with extreme contrast, to softer more pastel combinations.

Silver Pinto

Appaloosa
Appaloosa white patterns can mask silver characteristics, but the result of this combination is nothing short of spectacular.

Silver Appaloosa