What causes Ermine Spots??? (Genetics nuffy here)

IMO (And others) its a sign of white suppression.

Translation please... As I said, complete genetics nuffy here...

Ermines appear to be a sign that the horse carriers a gene that is "suppressing" or minimizing the white a horse has.

Ok, thanks for that... She only has those 2 small spots & 2 on the edge of her hoof.

Here is the princess in question.

[img]http://i55.tinypic.com/nyxkxf.jpg[/img]

Hi Sialer, I'm firenne on Eques :)

What white patterns woul be suppressed or can all of the white patterns be suppressed?

IMO all white patterns can be suppressed.

I think its not so much a case of the white being supressed as the gene effect causing the lack of melanocytes in certain areas being supressed, which would allow more spread and/or proliferation of melanocytes thus causing less white.

[color=#0000BF]Your little filly is very cute! I had a bay Quarter Horse mare that had tons of them on both her back feet. They are very unusual looking aren't they. Lol. I also remember seeing quite a few Quarter horses as well as Paints with them...so I would definitely say not pinto related. :) I think even 2 or 3 of my quarter horses I have now have them. Thanks for posting this thread...very interesting to find out what it is that actually causes it and if its something that can be passed.[/color]

[quote="sialer"] chestnut 'chestnut' & a chestnut 'ergot'[/quote]

I have found that tobianos tend to have solid chestnuts/ergots and splashes tend to have white.

[quote="Monsterpony"][quote="sialer"] chestnut 'chestnut' & a chestnut 'ergot'[/quote]

I have found that tobianos tend to have solid chestnuts/ergots and splashes tend to have white.[/quote]
I've noticed that same after MP mentioned it. Sabino seems more random?
The spots that aren't connected to the hoof or chestnut (what were they called? distals? fever scrambling my head) I think are the ones caused by a white supressor.

[quote="Morgan"][quote="Monsterpony"][quote="sialer"] chestnut 'chestnut' & a chestnut 'ergot'[/quote]

I have found that tobianos tend to have solid chestnuts/ergots and splashes tend to have white.[/quote]
I've noticed that same after MP mentioned it. Sabino seems more random?
The spots that aren't connected to the hoof or chestnut (what were they called? distals? [b]fever scrambling my head[/b]) I think are the ones caused by a white supressor.[/quote]

What's the matter Morgan, is living in a tropical paradise getting to ya? (as she ducks and runs for cover :rofl :love )

lol!! might be. something nasty is going around.It's like the winter colds everyone else gets morph into summer colds here. I was just stupid though and went and trimmed 5 horses in the rain when I already knew it was comming on. :hammer

Well Lace is almost certainly splash (IMO) and her ergots all have color on them. Virtually every flashy TB I have ever seen has had color on the ergots and chestnuts if applicable.