HGG Community Forums

Snowflake is an untestable gene that shows up when homozygous in Appaloosas. It can only be GMTd onto foundations I believe. A homozygous snowflake Appaloosa will be able to be entered into the snowflake appy breeders club, but only homozygous. The tiny little spots are most likely varnish, which is another untestable Appaloosa gene. The varnish, depending on how “severe” it is, will cause a horse to turn white with age. I believe someone has an example of a black Appaloosa that is completely white because of the varnish effect.

Here is an example of one of my Appaloosas with varnish. You can see the tiny little spots all over the coat where she appears to be “whiting out”.

G1 1775934

Liver is a combination of a testable gene, Sooty (displayed as Ssty) and an untestable gene Dense Pheomelanin (DP). Three of these 4 “darkening” genes are required to make a red based chestnut or palomino horse either liver for chestnuts, or chocolate for palominos. Other genes, such as red based champagne, can carry DP and will be slightly darker, but their name does not change when they have either 3 or 4 of the genes. If a horse is black based, you will not see a name change when the darkening genes are present (I believe, I do not breed black based horses).

Hope that helps!

Thanks everyone!