Frequently Asked Questions?
Question: I cant tell what color my foal is it started out one color but keeps
changing?
Answer: It is quite common for a horse foal to change color
several times before it reaches it's final color. Some colors such as Roan will
change seasonally, and some such as gray will continue over the life of the
horse. Markings however do not usually change from what they are born with
although they can appear to due to the size change of the body they are on.
Question: Is knowing my horses color genetics really necessary before breeding?
Answer: No it is not required to know your horses genetics
it is just a good idea. By knowing as much as you can about your horses genetics
you will have a better idea of what colors to expect, and what potential mate to
pick that will best compliment your horse. It is important to find a mate that
will strengthen any weakness your horse may have. In our opinion personality and
conformation is as or more important than color
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Question: It says Bay on my horses papers but she is black?
Answer: The answer to this question is a matter of
technicality and genetics. Allot of registries do not strive to make sure the
recorded color is genetically correct, thus the "new" colors now being
discovered which have been around all along. The N.Q.H.R. feels it is important
to record the proper colors as best we can with each "new" advancement in color
research to avoid future "surprises" in offspring and the debilitating and
sometimes fatal diseases which are also cropping out due to inbreeding. It is
possible due to multiple color factors, and modifiers combined together for a
horse that is genetically bay to appear black or brown. If you purchased a Bay
that appeared Black expecting to be able to throw Grulla or Blue Roan for
instance then you would not likely attain that goal unless you bred to a mate
carrying the needed genetics to produce these colors. Likewise you could not
breed a true black horse to a buckskin and get a sorrel. By knowing the true
genetic color history breeders can more efficiently produce desired colors.
Question: My full quarter horse has allot of white markings does that mean it
can throw paint markings on its foals?
Answer: Assuming your horse is bred to another quarter and
not a paint then no your chances of getting a paint are slim to none. You may
however still get a loudly marked foal similar to your horse. It all depends on
how many genes are passed from your horse and how many are inherited from the
other parent. Now bred to a paint mate your horse may have more chance of
throwing paint markings than one that has little or no white markings, but it is
not a guarantee unless the horse you breed to is Homozygous for paint markings.
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Question: My foal was born with a yellow body and black mane and tail but its
legs are yellow too would it still be considered a buckskin?
Answer: Buckskin foals are generally born with no or little
black hair showing on there legs as a kick back to their wild heritage. In the
wild the less distinguishable pattern a foal has the better it can blend with
the herd and hide form predators. If you look at the breeds that still retain
the wild markings you will notice their bellies will be lighter and fade
gradually into the golden colored bodies so they can blend with the tall
grasses. Zebra's use the opposite effect they use there stripes to blend in with
the herd so they are harder to be singled out by the predators.
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Question: My foal has blue (or gold, green) eyes but a colored body, I thought
only double creme or paint horses have light eyes?
Answer: Several colors of horses can be born with lighter
colored eyes, the main ones being Overo marked paints, Cremello (Double creme
gene on red base), Perlino (Double creme gene on bay base), and Smokey Black
(Double creme gene on black base). Occasionally Palomino (Single creme gene on
red base), or buckskin (Single creme gene on bay base), and generally the
champagne foals will be born with bronze, blue, or greenish hazel eyes. You can
learn more about any of these colors by choosing there link in the menu bar
above and to your left.
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Question: Are there any color combinations I should avoid when breeding my
horses for health purposes?
Answer: The only color combination we are aware of where we
mainly deal with Quarter and paint horses is the breeding of two Overo marked
horses. It does not happen every time two overos are bred but their is a deadly
occurrence called lethal white syndrome that happens frequently when two overo's
are bred. Research is still being done to determine the exact genes responsible.
You can read more about this deadly factor by clicking
here.
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Question: How are new colors being discovered in breeds that have been around a
long time? Are these new colors really new?
Answer: We believe the majority of the new colors are not
new they have existed for a long long time but due to the way most registries
lump colors into a small group of names they have been unnoticed as individual
colors until one person or a small group take a interest in reproducing just
that color. Golden Champagnes for instance have now been traced back to the
beginning of the Quarter horse and several other breeds. They were generally put
in with palomino's but never quite fit due to their unusual pink skin and
mottling. Brindles also have been unrecognized as they are recorded only by
their base color with out notation to their stripes. It has only been in the
past few years that the double creme gene horses (Perlino, and cremello) have
been recognized. Previously they were just not allowed to be registered even
though out of two registered parents. The NQHR has always recognized and
embraced the difference of horse colors, some even before they had names.
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Question: What is Homozygous?
Answer: Homozygous is the term used for a horse that is
guaranteed by genetic means to produce a certain color or marking. For example a
black homozygous Tobiano horse is guaranteed to produce Tobiano marked
foals even if bred to a solid horse not carrying paint, but it would not be
guaranteed to throw black. If a horse is homozygous for a color such as black
then it is guaranteed to throw black offspring even when bred to red horses.
In a way the double creme horses such as cremello, perlino,
and smokey black are homozygous. Because they have two creme genes all their
offspring are guaranteed to inherit one cream gene and be either palomino, or
buckskin depending on the other genes involved. Thus the value of a double cream
horse in breeding for those colors is invaluable.
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Question: How can you tell if a horse is homozygous?
Answer: There are basically two ways to tell if a horse is
homozygous for a color, one being to have them tested, two is much longer and
not as sure of an outcome which would be to keep a strict record of all foals
produced over a several year period. If they produce only horses that are
geneticaly that color, or with a certain marking or modifier then you can be
fairly sure they are homozygous for that one gene. Horses can be homozygous for
more than one gene! Regarding homozygous for Tobiano they will in every instance
we have seen have a few small body colored spots that fade or mottle into a larger white area.
Example pictures:
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Question: What is the difference between a quarter horse and a paint besides
markings?
Answer: That is a tough question one which has sparked a
few debates. Some say they are two very separate breeds. Bloodlines wise modern
paint horses are more quarter horses than Indian pony. They have been just bred
to expand on the larger white markings.
Historically Pintos were Indian ponies that had allot of
the same history as the foundation quarters they were a mixture of Spanish
barbs, Arabs, Thoroughbred, and with a little of this and that brought in by the
settlers, but they were bred for agility and fearlessness in battle or the hunt
rather than bulk and working ability like the quarter horse. You can take full
offspring from one pair of horses and by breeding them to different mates over a
period of time with different desired characteristics or markings you can create
separate breeds. It basically all about what you mingle in the family tree, what
is desired in characteristics, working ability, color, or markings.
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Question: Why does the National Quarter Horse Registry allow paints into its
registry?
Answer: Our stand on paints is that modern paints are as
quarter bred and type (sometimes more) than the full blooded quarter horses. The
N.Q.H.R.'s goal is to blend fresh bloodlines of horses with proper "type" into
the majorly inbred world of the quarter horse preferably without sacrificing the
foundation lines we still fight to preserve.
Many people disagree with this theory and that is fine
they have other choices for registering their horses. We do strive to keep the
two separate by marking regulations but recognize the
benefit of mingling the two as is beneficial to both "breeds". Paints are not
the only breed we accept new bloodlines from. Our Quarter type section is based
on the body type that we are trying to preserve rather than the bloodlines which
may or may not be known. We have seen spectacular specimens of what a quarter
horse is supposed to be come from multi generational mixes between certain lines
of mustang and quarter horses, or actual mares in Spain bred to full quarter
stallions.
Here are a few examples we are especially pleased
with the outcome from breeders around the world:
Question: Have a question not listed here...
Answer: Feel free to use the form below to submit it to the
NQHR staff and we will be happy to respond as quickly as possible. No question
is to small and we aren't afraid of stupid questions. We love to talk horse....
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