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Term for this?

This lovely Mustang mare has subtle vertical 'striping' on her side. Does anyone know what this is called, if there is a term for it? I'm sure the answer is nestled in one of these color books, but I can't find it. (so many words!) Thanks!

Rusti Wed, 06/17/2009 - 20:04

It's brindling, how coincidental, I just posted some updated pics of my Spanish Mustang colt (what color is my foal? section) and he has some stripes on his left side. I just pray they stay after he sheds his foal coat!

Gander Wed, 06/17/2009 - 20:57

Thanks, Rusti! I'd thought of brindle, but I wasn't sure it applied in this case (as this gal looks so different from, oh, Natal Clasi and others). :)

Your foal is adorable, by the way, and his dam is oo-la-la pretty! :love

Maigray Wed, 06/17/2009 - 20:59

When I see vertical striping along the barrel that is not classic roan, my mind immediately jumps to rabicano.

Gander Wed, 06/17/2009 - 21:46

[quote="Maigray"]When I see vertical striping along the barrel that is not classic roan, my mind immediately jumps to rabicano.[/quote]

Maigray, how does one tell if a horse is a 'classic roan'? I know...I should know THAT one. ;)

Her website lists this gal as "bay roan sabino," and she's had four roan (colored, at least?) foals in a row, including to a non-roan stallion. The mare has dark points, although she has two hind stockings (and a blaze). Her face has many fewer white hairs than the rest of her body, and her shoulders are a bit darker than most of her body - but most of her body has quite a bit of white.

In looking at examples on this site, the rabicano pics show horses with some white, but not as much as she does. ?

Thanks again!

accphotography Wed, 06/17/2009 - 22:07

That does look like classic roan to me. They are just called "rib stripes" and are sometimes found on classic roans, but more often found on loud rabicanos. If you have a photo of the whole horse we could probably tell you.

accphotography Wed, 06/17/2009 - 22:42

No doubt classic roan. She's not the most typical expression of it, but that's what she is. I suppose it's possible she is [i]also[/i] rabicano. It's virtually impossible to tell with that tail. I have seen this on non rabicano roans though so she doesn't have to be.

Really nice mare.

rabbitsfizz Thu, 06/18/2009 - 05:01

I am not at all sure this is Roan....this is one of the reasons I am not convinced about the Roan test, this mare does not look Roan to me, and I am not sure what she is, either, very possible max expression Rabicano, and there is no reason I can see that this could not be H/Z either......

Maigray Thu, 06/18/2009 - 07:05

[quote]Maigray, how does one tell if a horse is a 'classic roan'? I know...I should know THAT one.[/quote]

The typical expression is for the body to be roaned, and the points of the horse to stay the original color. Where the roaned and unroaned areas meet over the knees, the solid color will taper to a point, creating an inverted V, which is a very reliable indicator. The pattern is considered a simple dominant trait, so one parent must have it to be passed on. Expression can vary somewhat, as with any pattern, and differences in seasonal expression are common and can be quite drastic.

There is also quite a bit of controversy surrounding its etiology. Old research concluded classic roan was most likely lethal in the H/Z state and aborted early in pregnancy, in the same way as dominant white is thought to do now. Breeding records seemed to uphold this in many cases, but in recent years, there have been several notable examples of breeders who claim they must have H/Z roans because they have 100% roan expression in their foals. Likewise, some breeds are said to be exclusively or almost exclusively roan, and therefore H/Z roans do exist within them.

Arguments have been made both for or against the possibilities, with different forms or combinations of roaning suspected. Classic roan is generally restricted to the stock breeds, drafts and certain ponies, and is notably absent from the classically hotblooded TB and Arabian - with one exception; the TB stallion Catch A Bird is one of the best known examples of the brindle pattern, and has produced offspring with a pattern that mimics classic roan.

In this case, a spontaneous mutation is considered, one which either "turned on" the gene, in a case of the same mutation occurring independently in the same population; extremely unlikely in general, but still possible, and more probable in closed, inbreeding populations; or a de novo mutation which happens to produce the same effect as classic roan; or some other form of genetic expression which we have not quantified.

lipigirl Thu, 06/18/2009 - 07:50

Does not look Roan to me either - but the first thing that I thought of was Rabicano - nice mare BTW !

Jordie0587 Sat, 06/27/2009 - 02:03

My vote is Roan possibly with Rabicano. Rabicano was my original thought (seeing just the ribs) but the dark face and dark legs solidify my opinon that she is definitey roan.