Horse Color Calculator

Using the Horse Color Calculator

The Horse Color Calculator is a tool designed to predict the coat color of a horse based on various genetic inputs. Follow this step-by-step guide to use the calculator effectively and understand the results it provides.

Step 1: Prepare Your Inputs

Before you begin, gather information about your horse’s genetic makeup. You’ll need details on the following genetic factors:

• Base Color: Determine if your horse is Chestnut (e/e), Bay (E/-), or Black (E/-).
• Agouti Gene: Identify whether your horse possesses a Homozygous (A/A), Heterozygous (A/a), or No Agouti (a/a) gene.
• Cream Gene: Verify if your horse has a Double Dilute (Cr/Cr), Single Dilute (Cr/N), or No Cream (N/N) gene.
• Dun Gene: Ascertain if your horse is Homozygous Dun (D/D), Heterozygous Dun (D/d), or possesses No Dun (d/d) gene.
• Silver Gene: Check if your horse is Homozygous Silver (Z/Z), Heterozygous Silver (Z/n), or has No Silver (n/n) gene.
• Grey Gene: Determine if your horse is Homozygous Grey (G/G), Heterozygous Grey (G/g), or has No Grey (g/g) gene.

Step 2: Enter the Inputs

Input the gathered genetic information into the calculator:

• Select the appropriate Base Color from the options: Chestnut, Bay, or Black.
• Choose the Agouti Gene value corresponding to your horse’s genetic type.
• Select the correct Cream Gene status for your horse.
• Choose the Dun Gene configuration.
• Select the proper Silver Gene description.
• Pick the right Grey Gene option that matches your data.

Ensure that all fields marked as required are completed before proceeding.

Step 3: Calculate and Review Results

After entering all the necessary genetic information, proceed to calculate the coat color of your horse. The Horse Color Calculator will display the results in two key areas:

• Resulting Color: This field will describe the expected coat color of your horse based on the input genetics. It considers gene interactions like cream and grey dilution effects.
• Color Modifiers: This section provides additional information on modifications such as the presence of Dun Factor, Silver Dilution (in certain base colors), and whether the horse’s color will grey with age.

Review these results to understand the genetic influences on your horse’s coat color.

Step 4: Interpretation and Next Steps

Interpret the output from the calculator to gain insights into your horse’s possible coat colors as it ages or under different breeding scenarios. Using these insights, you can make informed breeding decisions or simply enjoy the knowledge of your horse’s unique genetic makeup.

If any part of the resulting color or modifiers section seems unclear, revisit the gene inputs to ensure accuracy, and consult genetic resources for deeper understanding.