Why do you call Tobiano a pattern gene and not a color gene?
Over the years we have discovered that many newer breeders confuse colors (black, chestnut, bay) with patterns (or factors)(tobiano, overo, grey, roan, appaloosa) All horses have a color, but not all horses have a pattern or factor. A horse can have quite a mix of genes – a grey palomino tobiano inherited a bunch of them – The tobiano pattern, giving the horse spots, the diluent gene, causing the chestnut gene to be gold, and the grey gene, causing the horse to fade as it ages. When planning breedings, ask yourself do you want a certain color, or do you want to change the way the color is placed on the horse.
Over the years we have discovered that many newer breeders confuse colors (black, chestnut) with patterns (or factors)(tobiano, overo, grey, roan, appaloosa) All horses have a color, but not all horses have a pattern or factor. A horse can have quite a mix of genes – a grey palomino tobiano inherited a bunch of them – The tobiano pattern, giving the horse spots, the diluent gene, causing the chestnut gene to be gold, and the grey gene, causing the horse to fade as it ages. When planning breedings, ask yourself do you want a certain color, or do you want to change the way the color is placed on the horse.
