Dapples

[Susara]

To what extent is dappling a genetic trait? I know about the silver dapple gene and of course the grey gene causes dappling as they go grey, but are other dapples also genetic? For instance dappling on a bay? I've heard many people say their horses start to dapple when they're in really good condition and fit. Is it my imagination of have I never seen dapples on chestnuts?

[Gracie]

Chestnuts dapple too, as far as I can recall. (I could be wrong, I am just going by memory) and I am pretty sure my first chestnut mare had some dappling. I have also heard it's when a horse is really healthly and in good condition....

myth or fact I wonder??

[Keket]

No, chestnuts definitely dapple. Coquette is a chestnut and she's got some dapple in her, mostly in her summer coat.

You can kind of see it in this picture:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/darknepthys/Coquette/1.jpg

Not sure about the condition part. Coquette's in good condition, but she's also still young (four), so not sure if it's just her colouring working itself out, or if it's a condition thing.

[galadriel]

Dapples do tend to indicate good health, but not all horses in good health will get them. Some horses just seem more prone to them :) Duchess tends to dapple thoroughly in the spring:
http://galadriel.shaftnet.org/horses/duchess/m-duch-glossy-dapples.jpg

But none of my other horses get more than a suggestion of dapples, if that.

[poppy 99]

To what extent is dappling a genetic trait? I know about the silver dapple gene and of course the grey gene causes dappling as they go grey, but are other dapples also genetic? For instance dappling on a bay? I've heard many people say their horses start to dapple when they're in really good condition and fit. Is it my imagination of have I never seen dapples on chestnuts?


My chestnut gets dappled when she is really fit, but only with her summer coat

[domane]

What a great thread! I'm very interested in this one :) I thought that dapples were only associated with grey too :o but Cherry surprised me when her summer coat came through....
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a179/domane/Shiny2.jpg

She now has a thick winter coat and I am amazed that this year I can still see the dapples..... you can see them on her bum, even though her coat has darkened considerably...
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a179/domane/Image001-3.jpg

Perhaps they will disappear when winter really sets in but I've had her over a year now and most definitely don't remember seeing them at all this time last year....

[Sparklie]

Twig doesn't have much dappling in the summer but he does in the winter...you can really see it when he's clipped!

summer...no dapples
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/SparklieH/P1010152.jpg

winter...very dappled!!
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a231/SparklieH/P1010051.jpg

[JOJOBA]

Jack is chestnut and he has black dapples on his bottom and pale ones on his belly and legs... I'll look for a pic... sorry it's not that good :o
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l127/JackandJo/Jack61.jpg



Also Hector had dapples (sometimes) - I have a good pic of that -
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/jojobapics/dapple.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/jojobapics/cantering2.jpg


xxx

[ImaLittleBoston]

Willow dapples in the summer, and loses them in the winter
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m311/harnisk1/i116359889_18831_5.jpg
and just because..
"grr mum! feed me NOW!"
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m311/harnisk1/DSCF0039-2.jpg
But shes not a chesnut, I just think its cool because I grew up thinking it was just for greys.

[Susara]

Oh, these dappes are really stunning! Keep bringing on the pics.

[valiant]

At my RI's yard there's a 9yo palomino, quite a darkish palomino. He goes dapple in summer. He is a ArabxSaddlerxcobX , nice looking but fat and unfit (not broke yet!!) . :confused:

[Alex T]

i have a chestnut mare who can be very dapply:p
this is a photo taken this summer gone
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k252/wheelbarrow_2006/DSC00065.jpg
and one at the begining of this winter
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k252/wheelbarrow_2006/Image005.jpg
when i first got her she was fresh out of racing and was more liver chestnut with loads of dapples and even zebra stripes down her legs!!

[Susara]

Alex T, you definitely don't have a 'plain old chestnut' there! Have you askd on this forum what people suspect the genes are behind the colouring? She's beautiful!

Valiant, love your pedigree description :)

[Alex T]

susara - no i havent hehe i get rather confused at the gene thing.most of her close relatives are liver chestnut but if you go back alittle more there mostly grey!!

[sheryl]

Here is a photo of my 3 yr old gelding. (He's not really that fat! Just an awkward angle I think)
He's gone this dappled with his winter coat.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k153/sheryl4lee/DSC01071.jpg