Before You Spend $3...

Please read the following before you fill in the form. These bits of knowledge can solve many questions, and may save you $3:

A foal can not be grullo or dun if one of the parents did not carry the dun factor gene. So for example, a foal from a bay mare and a black stallion can not be a grullo.
A foal can not be roan if one of the parents did not carry the roan gene. So for example, a foal from a bay mare and a black stallion can not be a blue roan.
Buckskin and black foals often look grullo at birth. I can tell you my opinion on your foal's color. Please be objective. :-)
We have had many grullo foals, and can "usually" spot grullos and look-alikes if given good photos.
If you think your horse is grullo, try taking the short quiz here (opens in a new window).
If you think your horse is blue roan, try taking the short quiz here (opens in a new window).

Special requests/notes:

Please check this page (opens in a new window) before requesting help. Possibly, one of these foal photos will help you determine your foal's color.
I will need to look at photos to help you.
Please don't call on the phone and request a call back. Photos via e-mail are usually essential anyway, so e-mail or use of this form is the best method for us to communicate anyway. And, we get too many requests for me to return every phone call.
My replies might be lengthy or very brief, depending upon how easy it is to tell the color. :-)

Genetic Testing: Note that genetic testing is the best way to be sure of some colors. We can evaluate colors on a horse's pedigree and photos, but some horses are tricky and genetic testing (especially for Agouti) are often the only way to be sure. Tests usually run $25 to $50 each.

Color Testing Labs

There are many laboratories in the US and around the world that do horse color testing, disease testing, etc. When you choose a lab, make sure it is a reputable one! There are several university-related labs, which I recommend, and many private labs (some of which can NOT be recommended!). Here are a few I'm familiar with:

University Laboratories:

University of California at Davis: http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/horse.php
Cornell University: I've heard they do a lot of coat color testing, but can't find their link. If you have it, please send it to me for inclusion. Thanks!
University of Kentucky: http://www.ca.uky.edu/gluck/AGTRL.asp#color

Private Laboratories:

Animal Genetics, Inc. http://www.horsetesting.com/Equine.asp
Pet DNA of Arizona: http://www.petdnaservicesaz.com/Equine.html ONLY tests for Brown in horses (1/2010)
PROCEED WITH CAUTION IF YOU CHOOSE TO USE THIS LAB, BELOW, in my opinion:
DNA Diagnostics (aka Shelterwood Labs, and also affiliated somehow with Catgenes.Org) http://www.dnadiagnostics.com/ DNA Diagnostics/Shelterwood Labs offers a test for multiple characteristics at one price. I had seen a fair bit of chatter online about how they cash the checks and don't give the results of the test. So, I tested them by paying for three horse tests. Guess what...they sent back two of my horses' test results and after 4 1/2 months, the third was still missing in action! Repeated phone calls and e-mails were ignored by the lab. Finally, five months after the test, someone gave me the results for the third horse. If you choose to use this lab, my opinion is to only send them as much money as you are willing to lose, in case you don't receive your results. Update: A friend just called that used this lab and she still hasn't received her results after many months of waiting, phone calls, and e-mails. 3/2010. I know of another horse that tested homozygous for black that is not homozygous, as he has produced sorrel and palomino foals. In both cases, Shelterwood does not return their repeated phone calls.

If Those Tips Didn't Solve Your Dilemma...

Click here to Return to the Form (if it is not still open in another window) and I'll see if I can help!

This page last updated 04/03/10
If you notice this date being 2 years or older, please let us know that we need to check out this page!