Chestnut Filly with dorsal stripe??

[Oncoming Storm]

So, my horse trainer also breeds. She breeds for the Champagne color family but none of her brood is homozygous champagne. The only two colors to come out of her stallion and mares are (various) champagnes and bays. Well this year, one mare popped out a chestnut. But she doesn’t look like a normal chestnut as she’s growing up. I’ve seen a lot of chestnuts but never one with a dorsal stripe. She also has black patches? I know certain horses can color shift since we had one foal go from a tan color to a bay. I’m just curious since we’ve never had a foal like it. I’m not sure what the mom’s background is. All I know is that she’s a Creme draft with a pinch of Friesian somewhere in there. The sire is a Creme draft/Holsteiner. Anybody have any ideas?

 

[TheDawg]

@Overo Mare might know maybe? Or @Baymule maybe. Adorable baby though!!!

Maybe @Kusanar Or @Bunnylady too maybe???

 

[Painted Calls]

I believe that's just countershading. Wait until she sheds that foal coat. Then you'll have a better idea.

Unless your trainer doesn't mind you clipping a patch of fur over that stripe to check.

 

[Peaches Lee]

I'm no color expert but it doesn't look like a true dorsal stripe to me. Perhaps just darker under her foal coat. A color test would be the best answer though! (now that I'm curious!)

 

[Painted Calls]

I'm no color expert but it doesn't look like a true dorsal stripe to me. Perhaps just darker under her foal coat. A color test would be the best answer though! (now that I'm curious!)

I agree. I'm pretty positive it's countershading.

 

[Oncoming Storm]

I'm no color expert but it doesn't look like a true dorsal stripe to me. Perhaps just darker under her foal coat. A color test would be the best answer though! (now that I'm curious!)

I didn’t think it was a true dorsal stripe either since it’s not black, but it just had that form. I would definitely want to color test her but she’s not able to be handled and touched. She’ll come up to you but you can’t really touch her without her walking off.

I agree. I'm pretty positive it's countershading.

I’ve never heard of countershading. That doesn’t seem to be very common in this brood.

 

[Painted Calls]

Countershading isn't necessarily common at all. It describes what you're seeing though. It's definitely not a dorsal stripe if neither sire or dam were dun.

Can't be touched? Are they just breeding horses like wild rabbits?

 

[Oncoming Storm]

Countershading isn't necessarily common at all. It describes what you're seeing though. It's definitely not a dorsal stripe if neither sire or dam were dun.

Can't be touched? Are they just breeding horses like wild rabbits?

The mares stay in an open field and the foals aren’t really started until they’re yearlings. She doesn’t bring the mares in to foal in the barn. They’re associated and not afraid of humans since we’re out there every day feeding and handling the mares, but you can’t pet the foals yet. Not sure why she does it like that but it works for her.

 

[Oncoming Storm]

So uh…this is her now. Slightly different than when I last saw her.

 

[Painted Calls]

Countershading it was. Gosh she's cute.