Free Assistance for Horse/Foal Color

Reminders...

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. Please be objective. :-)
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).
FREE FREE FREE! :-) If you have a Facebook account, search for groups that have "equine" and "color" in their titles.

Full Disclosure: There are people that will give you wrong answers, and there are argumentative goofballs on those groups....but if you are open minded and smart about seeing who is genuinely trying to help without being a bully, you will probably get some good tips.
And hey...it's free, after all! ;-)

Here are a couple of Facebook color groups, but definitely search for others, especially if you know a specific gene that may be in question:

Equine Coat Color Genetics group: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Equine-coat-color-genetics/110278442328466?fref=ts

Champagne, Silver, and other Rare Horse Colors: https://www.facebook.com/groups/39527561921/

Horses of Unique Color: https://www.facebook.com/groups/730409560399592/

There are many other color groups on Facebook that may help you for free.

Special notes:

Please check this page (opens in a new window) for examples of FOAL coat colors. Possibly, one of these foal photos will help you determine your foal's 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.
Coat Color Calculator: If you are wondering what color your upcoming foal might be, you can visit http://www.horsetesting.com/CCalculator1.asp and input genetics you know about the sire and dam, and it will give you percentages. Even if you don't know some of the genetics the sire and dam have, it's kind of fun to do.

Equine Color and Genetic 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: http://ahdc.vet.cornell.edu/
University of Kentucky: http://www.ca.uky.edu/gluck/AGTRL.asp#color
University of Minnesota: http://www.vdl.umn.edu/ourservices/equineneuromuscular/home.html (disease testing)

Private Laboratories:

Animal Genetics, Inc. http://www.horsetesting.com/Equine.asp
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.

This page last updated 05/28/21
If you notice this date being 2 years or older, please let us know that we need to check out this page!