We can’t let palominos have all the fun, as flaxen can be equally as stunning. In fact, it can often be difficult to visually distinguish between the two. However there is something to be said for the lovely contrast of red and creamy white that most palominos don’t have.
Updated Colors
We’ve been giving our colors section a major overhaul, to make the information more accurate and provide better images. Equine color genetics are incredibly complex and some of it still remains a mystery, even for geneticists. We think that is part of the fun.
Mysterious Flaxen
Flaxen isn’t very well understood and could be caused by 2 (or more) separate genes, which need to work together (maybe along with environmental factors) to produce it. However it is very common and some breeds are even known for their lovely flaxen locks. This gene only affects red hairs, specifically mane and tail hairs, not always to the same degree. For this reason only animals with a chestnut base will display flaxen (although evidence shows that bay, brown and black may be able to carry the gene and pass it on to their offspring).
The Dappling
While this gene is generally limited to mane and tail hairs, it can have an effect on the lower leg (like silver) and even create beautiful dappling on the belly.
Example of darkening effect on lower legs
Belly dappling
Notice dark back leg markings on the foal
The Range
As it only affects red hair, the flaxen range is the same as chestnuts. Different chestnut shades have slightly different genetics, which could explain why a liver chestnut can have a bright platinum mane and tail, while some of the lighter shades don’t go as white or have a much lighter mane than tail.
Liver Chestnut
Red Chestnut
Standard Chestnut
Sandy ChestnutFlaxen Breeds
While flaxen can be found in many breeds, there are some that are almost exclusively blonde and for a few it’s a breed characteristic. Interestingly most of them are Northern European draft or small horse breeds.
Italian Avelignese
German Black Forest Horse
French Breton
French Comtois
Austrian Haflinger
Italian Heavy Draft
Danish Jutland
German Schleswiger DraftColorful World
The world of horse colors is truly a spectacular one and we will continue to share updated color (and breed) pages, with all of their spectacular images. We’ve been working on some quick color cheat sheets for all of the horse color lovers out there. Click the image below for a larger version.
