Varnish roan

Varnish roan

Varnish roandescribes ahorsewith coloration similar toroan,but with some changes in color over the years, though not to the extreme of agray.This type of roaning only occurs in conjunction with theLeopard complex.Varnish roans are born with a dark base coat color, usually with some spotting. As the horse ages, white hairs increase over most of the body, and many spotted markings blur or fade. The varnish roan pattern often appears to spread from the white of any original markings. This color pattern is best known in theAppaloosabreed of horse.

Varnish roan isnota result of the roan or theGraygene, but part of theLeopard complex.A horse may have varnish roan coloration in conjunction with other leopard patterns.

Characteristics

By adulthood, the varnish roan usually has a base coat of intermingled dark and white hairs, though more white hairs than dark, with mottled skin, color mainly on the cheeks of the face, and around the knees. The darker areas remain at bony points (on the face, usually in a distinct V on the bridge of the nose; on the cheeks, point of shoulder, elbows, knees, point of hips, hock) and it can be seasonal as well. Although classic roans are roan from birth, varnish roans are often born with spots and "roan out" as they age. A horse's appearance can change almost completely, although the original markings are usually visible.

The pattern is not completely stable. The horse is born another color (usually another leopard pattern), and the Varnish pattern gradually overtakes it by adulthood. After the horse is mature, the coat color may lighten slightly when the horse has a long winter coat, and darken slightly in the summer when the winter coat sheds out. However, unlike the gray gene, the color doesnotget progressively lighter every year for the life of the horse, though it may look a bit different from year to year while the horse is young.

Varnish vs true roan

The varnish roan is not a true roan, it is actually one of theleopard complexcoat patterns associated withAppaloosa,Knabstrupper,Noriker horseand related breeds. Varnish roans are not true roans and can be distinguished from true roans by the following:

• Leopard complexcharacteristics. Varnish roans, like all horses with theLpgene, have mottled skin, striped hooves, and white sclera.
• Varnish roans change color seasonally, often becoming less spotted as they age, and often having their coats become lighter when a winter coat grows in, though they do not progressively lighten in the manner of agray horse.
• Bony areas retain their pigment longer. These areas include the bridge of the nose and cheekbones, ears, points of shoulder and stifle, as well as the legs.
• Appaloosacharacteristic parentage.

Genetics

Varnish roan is thought to occur due a single, simpledominant geneon equinechromosome1 (ECA1).It also appears that specific white patterning genes produce the assorted blanket, leopard, and snowflake coat patterns.Without these white patterning factors, horses with one or two copies of the dominantLpgene are "varnish roans." Varnish roans can be considered to have many, many very small leopard spots that reflect the mottling of the underlying skin.

A horse may be varnish roan as well as true roan and gray, but such combinations are extremely uncommon. The breeding ofgraysis discouraged by theAppaloosa Horse Cluband not allowed byKnabstrupperbreed registry.

See also

• Equine coat color genetics
• Appaloosa
• Equine coat color
• Roan (horse)

References

• "Introduction to Coat Color Genetics"fromVeterinary Genetics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis. Web Site accessed January 12, 2008