What makes a flaxen chestnut?
Having blond hairs in the mane or tail of chestnut horses creates a color pattern which is called the “flaxen” trait.
Is flaxen chestnut rare?
Flaxen Chestnut horses are rare because their unique looks are attributed to the Flaxen gene. This gene causes the mane and tail of chestnut-colored horses to be lighter than their coat colors. It’s not uncommon for the mane and tail to become almost gold-like in appearance.
What is a flaxen sorrel horse?
In the United States, a sorrel has the same colored mane and tail as their coat color. The term flaxen is used to describe a pale yellowish-gray resembling the color of straw. Multiple genes cause the flaxen-colored mane and tail in Chestnut.
What kind of tail does a flaxen horse have?
The result is a chestnut horse with flaxen mane and tail, which may range from a striking pure white to yellow or orange. While the coat remains within the normal chestnut range, it is possible the flaxen may more or less lighten the lower legs and belly of the horse, much like pangaré does.
Is there such a thing as a chestnut flaxen horse?
Whatever the cause, the gene is widespread among horses, appearing in almost every breed. In some cases, it is seen as a basic requisite of the breed, as with the Haflinger Horse, which are all chestnut flaxen.
What kind of gene does a flaxen have?
Flaxen is often abbreviated as F or f, though its genetics remain largely unknown. It appears to be recessive, possibly polygenic (meaning more genes or alleles could be at play), which would explain the wide range of colours possible.
What kind of body does a liver flaxen have?
The most striking appearance is easily the liver flaxen chestnut, where the body can be a very dark chocolate brown to black, and the mane and tail may lighten to a dirty broken white.
Is there such a thing as a flaxen horse?
Certain horse breeds such as the Haflinger carry flaxen chestnut coloration as a breed trait. It is seen in chestnut-colored animals of other horse breeds that may not be exclusively chestnut. The degree of expression of the trait is highly variable, with some chestnuts being only slightly flaxen while others are more so.
What makes a chestnut horse have a flaxen tail?
A chestnut horse with flaxen mane and tail. The flaxen gene is a trait which causes the mane and tail of chestnut-colored horses to be noticeably lighter than the body coat color, often a golden blonde shade. Manes and tails can also be a mixture of darker and lighter hairs.
Is the flaxen gene recessive in black horses?
Studies on Morgan horses have indicated that the flaxen trait is inherited. One found that flaxen chestnut horses mated with other flaxen chestnut horses consistently produce only flaxen chestnuts, which, if Mendelian inheritance is assumed, would make it a recessive gene. Flaxen does not affect black or bay horses, only chestnuts.
Flaxen is often abbreviated as F or f, though its genetics remain largely unknown. It appears to be recessive, possibly polygenic (meaning more genes or alleles could be at play), which would explain the wide range of colours possible.
