HGG Community Forums

You think based on what?

I'm not sure, but I think it's somewhat heritable. If the WF of the parents is widely different--none and extensive--the foal's WF is usually somewhere in between. I've never plotted it out, but I do know that if both parents have a relatively high WF, the foal will have the same. If they both have low WF, the foal's WF will probably be low.

Personally, if I have a stallion with a Kit mutation, for instance, and no white factor or minimal WF, I tend to breed him to mares with Medium to Extensive so that the foal will show the pattern (the opposite of your trend *G*). It usually works for me.

I have bred for White Factor before, because like you, I like very little white. I always tried to find White Factor None horses (especially blacks).

I think that the amount of blanket/spots on an appy is a completely different genetic factor than white factor which controls the amount of basic chrome.

We used to have a PATN: listed on the horse's genetics test that pertained to appy only, that showed None (no spots or blanket) up to Extensive (leopard). The game has been updated with new appy genetics and it doesn't show the same, but I think it's still not related to WF.

http://hj2.huntandjump.com/horse.php?horseid=360606

Just bred this filly from a large WF mare and a no WF stallion. Filly tests as medium WF. I realize a single example doesn't make a trend, but it is a concrete example!

I haven't color tested many of my foundations...if you are interested in a wider pool of results k can do a bunch of color testing in my Uluru pasture. He's medium WF with tobiano, splash and rab. I color test most of his intact foals looking for satin carriers anyway, so it wouldn't be a hardship go color test some more of the mares to get a good comparison from a middle of the road WF stallion--see if the foals' white factor consistently trends toward their mom's from middle.

OK I think my answer is yes, it's heritable, with some room for variation, and at first glance it looks like there's a lot more room for variation in the midtones of WF (as opposed to none or extensive).

Of the horses I looked at, which had WFs of None and Minimal

Horse who have a WF of None:
3 none x none
3 none x minimal
4 none x light
2 minimal x medium
1 light x light
1 none x large

Horses who have a WF of Minimal:
1 none x minimal
1 none x light
2 none x large
1 none x extensive
1 minimal x light
2 minimal x medium
1 minimal x large
1 light x medium
1 light x large

This is certainly not a comprehensive scientific cross section but it's enough for me to come to the above conclusion.