Roan in Miniature Horses

Roan allele Rn

I was going to write something up about roans, but Ride A Roan's website and the various color testing sites explain it so much better!


These are photos of some of the roans we've had over the years. Each row is of the same horse as a foal and as they've aged and/or various times of year.

• Top two rows - blue roan (father/daughter).
• Third row - bay roan
• Fourth row - red roan
• Last row - good question as we've not had her color tested! Her dam is the bay roan and her sire is a palomino pinto (possibly caring the silver gene), likely a buckskin roan (?).

RESEARCH INFORMATION

Online

Color testing can be performed through Animal Genetics, UC Davis, Veterinary Genetic Services and a few others. The price varies depending on the test. A full panel can run $100, individuals $25-40-60 depending on which color/coat pattern being tested. Tests use pulled mane or tail hair and take usually a few days to a week.

Color Coat Calculator at Animal Genetics Lab.

Horse Coat Color Table at UC Davis

Books

• Equine Color Genetics - D. Philip Sponenberg, DMV, PhD
• Horse Color Explained - Jeanette Gower
• Horse Genetics - Ann Bowling
• Horse Color - D. Philip Sponenberg, DMV, PhD & Bonnie Beaver