Dapples - how and why?!

[Whizz105]

Just wandering where Dapples come from as they are seen on all colour types? (just on foal watch and the camera is picking up Dapples and mind started wandering!!)

Is it anything to do with a type if colour gene?

 

[Enfys]

I have horses of a variety of colours here and it is my palominos that seem to show dapples in winter. The buckskins and duns show them better in summer, the champagne doesn't dapple at all despite both sire and dam dappling. I was always told that dapples were a reflection of condition but I think it must be something a bit more than that, never really thought about it that hard. It is pure coincidence that the ones in my bunch that dapple are all dilutes of some variety as I have had bays, and obviously greys, that are dappled too. Mine are Quarter Horses, Paints and QH crosses.
Juno (dunalino technically) never gets much of a coat and her dapples were very obvious yesterday.

Zeus (February):

Much less obvious in high summer:

 

[cruiseline]

I understand that dapples are genetic, I should say epigenetic. I also believe that nutrition and heat have something to do with it, as they are only expressed in certain situations, not all year round. If you look closely you can see how dapples pool in rings on the skin of a hot horse.

This is very interesting to look at.

http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/image_galleries/ir_zoo/horse.html

You can see dapples on the skin from the infrared camera.

 

[amy_b]

Iv wondered in the past if it is to do with heat because on greys they often have lines on thier ears that are lighter that follow the veins...

 

[lauren1988]

No idea about dapples (although most horses I know tend to show theirs more in summer), just wondering how foal watch is going? I noticed you posted at 2.34am! Hope you are managing to get some sleep

 

[Enfys]

I understand that dapples are genetic, I should say epigenetic. I also believe that nutrition and heat have something to do with it, as they are only expressed in certain situations, not all year round. If you look closely you can see how dapples pool in rings on the skin of a hot horse.This is very interesting to look at.

http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/image_galleries/ir_zoo/horse.html

You can see dapples on the skin from the infrared camera.

Interesting, and yes, as Whizz says, very obvious on some greys.

Taking the two of mine pictured:

Both out 24/7.
The mare (in-foal) Juno has been rugged all winter - MW blanket, no neck, Zeus has not.
Neither grow a very thick coat.
Juno has natural shelter and a windbreak, Zeus has a shelter,
both are on ad-lib timothy/alfalfa.

Cruiseline, I know you live in a hot country, do you notice horses there are dappled more? Does exterior temperature make a difference to core temp? We have had an average temperature of -10C for the past 3 months.

 

[cruiseline]

Cruiseline, I know you live in a hot country, do you notice horses there are dappled more? Does exterior temperature make a difference to core temp? We have had an average temperature of -10C for the past 3 months.

I think I probably see as many here as I would in the UK, I do think the horses health is a factor in dapples, but also a possible genetic link too.

Do others think that we see more dappled horses that are grey and dilute than any other colour????? If that is the case, heat may be a factor as white does reflect heat and darker horses will absorb it.

Probably far more complicated than I think

 

[KarynK]

I think I probably see as many here as I would in the UK, I do think the horses health is a factor in dapples, but also a possible genetic link too.

Do others think that we see more dappled horses that are grey and dilute than any other colour????? If that is the case, heat may be a factor as white does reflect heat and darker horses will absorb it.

Probably far more complicated than I think

Maybe the lightening of the coat by grey and dilute make them more visible? Though on my dun they were not really visible in the coat but were when he was clipped, but dun is a bit of a strange dilute in many ways.

My Black and Tan certainly has them in summer but they are not visible in the winter coat but is that because she is nearly black and has a thicker coat?

They could of course be very ancient and a form of camouflage? In greys they might even indicate deeper hairs as they stay dark longer than the rest of the coat?

I think maybe dominant inheritance from my mare but not sure on that one as the white on mine has a habit of hiding things like that!!!

 

[Whizz105]

Some interesting thoughts! I do think that health enhances Dapples already present but not the reason for their existence... Can't seem to find any studies on this subject... It does seem common sense that light and heat are factors... Not sure on camouflage as not mentioned in old photos cave paintings like the dorsal stripe?

KaryaK I too see Bella's Dapples in the summer and not in the winter - except I can only see them now due to the infa red camera.

Lauren1988 - sleeping during the day... No foalie yet!

 

[cruiseline]

If you can see them on the infrared camera, then the heat idea might have some truth?

Let us know when foalie arrives

 

[only_me]

interesting! I also wonder about the dapple "gene". I was always told it was down to the horse being in good condition, but there are plenty of horses in good condition who don't have dapples!
Would be interested in knowing WHY dapples appear!
I have owned a dapple grey, who completely greyed out-
When he was rising 5 (please excuse AWFUL picture, but shows his colour well)

And when he was 10 (I think)

Merlin had dapples too - but he also had a mealy muzzle and his soft points were dunnish in colour

and this was him in october, on his holidays where he was out 24/7!

 

[hattie2525]

My palamino has dapples too but only in winter when his coat has grown out again, in summer even when he is in top condition there are none. Very odd. I also work with a stunning 10 yo dark dapped grey who was passported as a yearling with her colous registered as black so she too is greying out very slowly via dapples.