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Dapples
Topic Started: Jan 19 2007, 10:45 AM (330 Views)
justkidding
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Schooling
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Please Please Please, tell me everything you know.

i put this topic in feed room because i was curious to see if dapples were affected by diet, or if it is specifically genetic, or maybe just luck??

I know there are coat junkies out there, so can someone give me the 411 on dapples??
:)
thanks!
-JK
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citydog
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Schooling
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Ooooooh. I've been wondering this for years, so would also like input.

The reason I've heard the most is that they are a sign of general good health and good feeding (presumably that makes the coat so shiny and healthy that the dapples are visible).

For some reason I can't retain anything about coat color genetics, so would love to hear anything more. :)
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justkidding
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Schooling
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ok good, i knew i wasn't the only person who was curious!!
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Painted Lady
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Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
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I was always told it was a sign of good health and feed. However I am skeptical on that because I know several horses that live off of just hay and they are dappled. Yet that isn't a favourable choice of feeding. So what the real cause is, I haven't a clue! But would love to know.
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gracetw22
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Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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Mine will get three or so occasionally. I have him on rice bran oil, so I am doing the dapple dance for his spring coat... we'll see. It has made it stunningly shiny though. :woot:
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chai
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I think they are related to diet, health and...honestly...happiness. I have always given my big TB mare Wheat Germ Oil for her coat, but after we moved our pony to a boarding barn, my TB's dapples disappeared. They came back within a month of our pony coming home.
Then, about a year later, my TB was diagnosed with Lyme and Erhlycchia within a 4 month period. Her coat looked awful: dull, thick, almost Cushinoid even after her normal spring shedding. After her IV Tetracycline treatment, she shed out again and grew an amazing, shiny coat full of dapples. I see them on my Shire now, too, and he loves his life of leisure here on the farm.
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justkidding
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Schooling
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oh good, i feed wheat germ and canola oil, so i will join in the dapple dance and hope she has them when she gets clipped!

:luck:
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Holsteiner
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Schooling
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Dapples come from mostly genetics, but good feeding and supplements will help bring them out more. Flax seed has improved my geldings coat to the point where he almost looks like a dark bay appaloosa in the spring and summer! :lol:
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gunnar
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You're BANNED!
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Gunnar always had lots of dapples in August! He seemed to have that overshine thing going and with his dapples people always asked if he was cut late?? ;) Guess they thought all that beauty came from testoterone! :unsure:

Bodie is not a dappler! He has a long coat all year and really only looks good when frsehly clipped! :clap:

Rosie had a few but her coat is sort of rough and not too shiny, ever! :oops: Just yesteday I tried the elbow grease trick and curried her forever. She got a little shinier! :clap:

They both get flax seed and Rosie even is on high fat diet so you would think they would be shiny. Rosie is outside and looks sunburned. <_<

Genetics must have a big part along with general health and happiness!
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Renn/aissance
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Hakuna matata!
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Quote:
 
Gunnar always had lots of dapples in August! He seemed to have that overshine thing going and with his dapples people always asked if he was cut late?? ;) Guess they thought all that beauty came from testoterone!


Fuzzy, whom I am 99.9% sure was gelded late, was constantly dappled- even through his winter coat. He has spoiled me, because Tip is always thinking that he wants to dapple up, but they never quite pop. It has been very frustrating because I was always told that dapples were related to good nutrition and good grooming.

So I am very happy to learn about the genetic aspect! Can someone explain more?

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justkidding
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Schooling
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i've been reading a lot about something called the "silver dapple" gene. hold on, i'll pull it up....
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justkidding
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Schooling
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http://www.horsecolor.com/dilutions/silver_dapple.htm

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