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Brindle?

rubberduckyyy August 16, 2011 August 16, 2011

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This is my friend Sarah's horse. She's had her for 5 years or so and we've always wondered about her. She has an allergy that makes her hair fall out in the summer, but even when you shave her in the winter you can still see her "brindling." What do you guys think? Brindle or not?

Threnody Tue, 08/16/2011 - 12:19

Probably environmentally caused by her allergies. Looks like her hair follicles have been damaged by her recurrent allergic episodes.

EDIT: On the other hand. Is there a possibility that she has Curly breeding? If her mane and tail also fall out in the summer she could have the Curly gene. Not sure from the pic of her but it could be another possible explanation. Any winter unclipped images?

rubberduckyyy Tue, 08/16/2011 - 13:01

She's an Appendix (sorry I forgot to say that) so I don't think she could have Curly breeding...? I don't know much about the Curly gene. And her mane/tail doesn't fall out. But I thought it was strange because her hair seems to fall out in the kind of stripe-y brindled pattern, especially over her ribs. Except I didn't think their faces "brindled" out like that, so that's where I was confused. Also, Sarah says her dam had that same "pattern". Can allergies be genetic?

And here's a picture of her unclipped in the winter:

Threnody Tue, 08/16/2011 - 18:44

Probably allergies causing the hair texture to be altered. And allergies can be hereditary. Thanks so much for the extra info! ^_^

rubberduckyyy Sun, 09/11/2011 - 00:14

I think I can manage that! Also, if I may ask, what exactly do you do with it? I've seen where you've requested hair samples on other posts but I didn't know what you did with it. Just curious :grin:

hoofpick Sun, 09/11/2011 - 20:57

Sounds sinister doesn't it? :grin: What I do is look at it under a microscope. Each color present differently (some very similar) and sometimes so differently like dun. It is not 100% at all but "most" of the time I can tell you that "probably (not definite)your horse is dun or dilute". So with a horse that may be dilute ,I can look at the hair and say probably and then the person can go ahead with DNA testing with a bit more idea what to test for. It does not take place of DNA and I would love to know the DNA results of ones I have looked at to see if I got it right. :HB
And no I haven't looked at the pearl dogs yet as life got away from me again and will get myself to it asap ymwhisle