Genetics Question

[horse_apples]

How far back in a horse's pedigree will genes affect a foal's coat colors? for example, if mama is a blue roan with lots of roans/silver dapples in her pedigree on both parents sides will she retain a dapple gene? Genetics... oi...!! What a confusing subject

 

[chandab]

It kind of depends on the genes, as some are dominant and some are recessive. Or in the case of silver, it only shows on black-based horses, so a black-based horse can not hide silver and have it crop up later (it doesn't show on red-based horse, so a red-based horse could carry silver, it won't show, but could be passed on to foals).

If your mare is true blue roan, then she is black based and can not hide silver, as silver always shows on black-based horses, so she doesn't have silver and can not pass it on.

 

[rabbitsfizz]

Yes, what she said....

Add to which, you can see Silver on Black Roan but it is quite hard to see Roan on Black Silver...