Haley
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Grey
Jan 12, 2010 15:28:24 GMT -6
Post by Haley on Jan 12, 2010 15:28:24 GMT -6
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Grey: Contrary to popular belief, grey is not so much a color as it is a pattern (or more accurately still, a color modifier). Grey is a dominant gene that causes the horse's natural coat color, whether it be bay, black, dun, or palomino roan, to slowly "depigment" as the horse ages, much like human hair, regardless of the color, "greys out" with age. Most greys go through a lovely dappled phase, ending up nearly white or sometimes fleabitten. Because grey is a dominant gene, all grey horses will have at least one grey parent. Foals usually show evidence of greying on their faces first, particularly around the eyes. Also, the tip of the tail on most greys lightens up early on. Heterozygous is (Gg) and homozygous is (GgGg).
Grey (born black) with dapples Fleabitten grey White grey (final stage) Some bay and chestnut based greys go through a phase called rose grey, like the horse above. Some rose greys dapple out and some, especially Arabians, tend to lighten up quickly without really dappling while still retaining a rosy hue. An example of "grey goggles" on a bay foal who will go grey.
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