Chestnut

Chestnut comes in several shades. Some of the more common shades are liver chestnut (dark brown), and sorrel (light brown).
Then there are the Flaxen chestnuts with white mane & tail. Also known as Palominos.

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  • classic chestnut, sometimes called sorrel
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  • chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail
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  • dark liver chestnut

Genetics


ee: Horse is chestnut, it has black pigment in skin, but red pigment in hair.

Chestnut is formed by the recessive "e" or "red" gene. It is one of the two base color genes that all horses possess, the other being the "black" or "extension" gene "E." Other coat colors, such as red dun, palomino and cremello, are created when additional dilution genes of various sorts act upon the base "e" gene.

Therefore, while it is possible for two non-chestnut parents to produce a chestnut foal, a chestnut bred to a chestnut will only produce a chestnut.

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