Mushroom Dilution – Horse Coat Colors

I’m making my way through the colors section and giving it new information and updated images. In fact, today’s dilution is another one that wasn’t discovered until recently when color genetics testing was made possible.

Dilutions

There are a bunch of dilution genes which affect the two base colors as well as those affected by modifiers and white patterns. Today I want to share a little about the mushroom dilution which is incredibly rare and only recently discovered in a few specific breeds.

Mushroom Dilution

For many years this gene has been misidentified as silver dapple in the few breeds where it is found. However recent genetic testing has shown the coloring on animals that are neither mouse dun (dun on a black base) nor silver dapple (silver on a black base) genetically. In fact it is the exact opposite, the coloring is actually the mushroom dilution acting on a chestnut base.

Mushroom Colors

The advent of genetic testing for color has given rise to a whole new world of horse color. While testing indicates that this is a dilution acting on a chestnut coat, its effect on a black is unknown at this time. (Please let me know in the comments below if you know otherwise).

I’m currently on the hunt for images of animals carrying the mushroom dilution. I’ll gladly give credit and link to anyone who has images I can use in my colors section.

Learn More About Color

Be sure to visit the new and improved color section for more information about mushroom horses and stay tuned, next week we’ll continue the dilution genes by looking at another newly discovered gene, the light black dilution gene, which produces animals who simply don’t look like their genetics say they should.