Iridescent coats

[OEH]

I love horses with iridescent coats. My Obelisco has one and it makes him look at bit more special, it is also incredibly soft.

Does anyone know about the gene that causes it?

I'd love to know more.

I think you can just about see it in this photo.

 

[tabithakat64]

I've always wondered about this as my oldie has a metallic sheen to her coat even in her winter woolies

Your horse is stunning.

 

[lillith]

I seem to remember reading that the champaign and Akhal teke high gloss effect was related to a 'satin gene' I am fairly sure they have not isolated it in any way though. I think that the actual hair shaft is more hollow so the core (probably the wrong word) is almost like cross hatching as oposed to the solid core of the less shiny coats, the outer 'shell' of the hair was thicker too causing the sheen.

I know that someone on equinecolor.info was looking at hair shafts under a microscope as well - something about all dun hairs showing a 'loading' to one side of the hair which is what caused the lighter colour rather than the pigment actualy being diluted.

 

[OEH]

ooh lillith, that's really interesting, thank you.

tabithakat64- you can really see the iridescence in your girl's coat- it really is beautiful isn't it