Varnish Roan Appaloosa Coat?

Question

So i was looking online to see if i could find pictures of horses that look like mine. While i was looking i came across a type of appaloosa coat called the varnish roan appaloosa coat. This is exactly what my horse is.

anyone have a varnish roan appy?

Anyone know anything about this coat or about any appy coats in general?

thanks

Answer 1

My parents had one before I was born; he was very tall, I know that. He looked a lot like yours.

Here, from http://www.mustangs4us.com/Horse%20Color...

"Varnish Roans start out as normally colored horses, often with appaloosa spotting. This form of roaning usually shows up as an Appaloosa horse ages, often blurring the Appaloosa markings, just like a paint brush can rub out and blend color spots on a wet canvas.

Similar to, but not the same as, greying, It does not start as early as greying does, and sometimes seems to "spread" from the location of the white in the original Appaloosa markings. Varnish Roan is not caused by the Roan gene, but is part of the Appaloosa complex.

And from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varnish_roa...

"Varnish roan describes an Appaloosa horse with coloration similar to roan, but with some changes in color over the years, though not to the extreme of a gray. Varnish roans are born with a dark base coat color, usually with some Appaloosa spotting. As the horse ages, white hairs increase over most of the body, and many spotted markings blur or fade. The varnish roan pattern often appears to spread from the white of any original markings.

Varnish roan is not a result of the roan or the Gray gene, but part of the Appaloosa complex, based to some extent on the Leopard (Lp) gene. A horse may have varnish roan coloration in conjunction with other appaloosa patterns.

By adulthood, the Varnish Roan usually has a base coat of intermingled dark and white hairs, though more white hairs than dark, with mottled skin, color mainly on the cheeks of the face, and around the knees. The darker areas remain at bony points (on the face, usually in a distinct V on the bridge of the nose; on the cheeks, point of shoulder, elbows, knees, point of hips, hock) and it can be seasonal as well. Although classic roans are roan from birth, varnish roans are born with spots and "roan out" as they age. A horse's appearance can change almost completely, although the original markings are usually visible.

The pattern is not completely stable. The horse is born another color (usually another appaloosa pattern), and the Varnish pattern gradually overtakes it by adulthood. After the horse is mature, the coat color may lighten slightly when the horse has a long winter coat, and darken slightly in the summer when the winter coat sheds out. However, unlike the gray gene, the color does not get progressively lighter every year for the life of the horse, though it may look a bit different from year to year while the horse is young."

Hope this helps you!

Answer 2

YOUR HORSE IS GORGEOUS!!!! i dont know very much about this breed, i have a red roan appaloosa, but i have never heard of a varnish roan appy. they must be rare!

good luck and congratulations!

Answer 3

Very pretty horse! No, I've never owned a varnish appy of any kind. They're like furry chameleons XD

As far as genes, Varnished appys are not results of a grey or roan gene. They may based on the leopard gene, but it's not certain yet.

I attached some good info about horse coat color genetics.

Answer 4

Some leopard lines consistently produce loud leopards.

A 'few spot leopard' is almost a sure-fire color producer even with one solid parent.  If each parent carries a copy of the Lp complex gene, color probability increases, even if both parents are solid colored.

If I were in a program breeding for 100% color, the stallion would be from a known leopard producing line (and maybe a 'few spot') and so would the mares.  I'd also be looking for stock that gaits i.e. 'Indian Shufflers'.  Ideally these horses would be six generation Appaloosa to Appaloosa breeding.

Answer 5

I had a varnished roan appy..

It is the silvering of the base colour, it looks like a roan, but unlike roans it will lighten with age.  There is an article on appy coat colouring on www.horse-canada.com called Seeing Spots...take a look!

PS: I love appy's, have fun with yours!!