Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've learned about genetics in school, but my horse just doesn't seem to fit. Her mom is a sorrel and her dad is black as night. And some how she turned out Palomino. I've looked back through her lineage and found no Palomino in any of her lines. Mainly Sorrel, Black, and bay. Both of her half brothers are black roan. Can anyone tell me why shes Palomino.

>>I've learned about genetics in school, but my horse just doesn't seem to fit. Her mom is a sorrel and her dad is black as night. And some how she turned out Palomino. I've looked back through her lineage and found no Palomino in any of her lines. Mainly Sorrel, Black, and bay. Both of her half brothers are black roan. Can anyone tell me why shes Palomino.
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Well....truth be told it honestly looks like there's been a mix up! There's absolutely no way to get a palomino from a true black and a sorrel. You HAVE to have the creme genetics there somewhere. The only other possibility is if the sire is not a true black, and is instead a sooty black with the creme genetics. But for him to be that, there would have to be a creme colored horse in his lines - palomino, perlino, cremello, sooty black, buckskin,...etc.

Remember when looking through "color" histories, that papers are not always accurate as to their true colors. Between human error, breed registry "quirks", etc. you can't always go by what's on the papers!
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PH Cody
HorseHobbyist Site Coordinator

Most palaminos are born to chestnut/sorrel parents. The palamino color is just chestnut/sorrel but half the hair shaft does not have any color in it. Altho the sire being blak is a little odd. Most times if you breed 2 palaminos the foal will be chesnut/sorrel. So I hope that helps you a little bit.