A few weeks ago I started giving my colors section a big facelift – it was time for updated info and images. There is some new stuff and the rest is simply better than it was before.
Modifiers
There are a variety of modifying genes which affect base colors as well as each other, they can be further affected by dilutions and white patterns. Today I want to share a little about the flaxen modifier affects mane and tail hair – creating an animal often mistaken for palomino.
Flaxen Modifier
Not much is known about the flaxen modifier and as genetics advance more is being discovered about this mysterious gene. Flaxen only affects animals with a chestnut base and manifests itself by lightning the mane and tail (and sometimes lower legs) hairs considerably. This is a strange gene because it can change over the years, it can even disappear and reappear.
Flaxen Colors
Because this modifier only affects chestnut base mane and tail hair the color range is limited. However it has been known to have an affect on everything from the lightest golden chestnut to the darkest liver chestnut animals.
The mane and tail is the only thing affected by this modifier, however it won’t always affect them both to the same degree.
Learn More About Color
Be sure to visit the new and improved color section for more information about flaxen horses and stay tuned, next week we’ll start in on the dilution genes and start by looking at the cream dilution gene – which produces animals that look flaxen, but aren’t.