You are welcome if you have a dun horse, are interested in the gene/marking pattern, or are involved in or want to help with research about it. Research in this group was limited, at first, to LOOKING at horses; LOOKING at their pedigrees (ancestors and progeny), and LOOKING at hairs under a microscope (pigment clumps show up well at low magnifications.)

Many members of this list and others have submitted blood samples from duns, including apparently-homozygous duns, and non-dun members of dun families, for an actual GENETIC LABORATORY STUDY, by Dr. Gus Cothran at Texas A & M. This work is on hold pending funding and sufficient samples.

At the same time, the Kiger groups and at least one benefactor have thrown their support behind the efforts of Dr. Cecilia Penedo of UC Davis who has discovered markers for the dun gene and developed a test for that.

One topic we discuss on this list is the differences (if any) among the genetics which cause dilution of the body color plus striping, and whatever causes strong, clear dorsal stripes "only", striping on foal coats only, and striping on horses that are turning gray.

PICTURE SIZE LIMITS: do not send pictures without MAKING SURE they're a reasonable size. Attach, do not embed. Please send no more than THREE per post. Thank you!

WHEN YOU APPLY TO JOIN, BE SURE TO MENTION DUN HORSE COLOR OR I MIGHT THINK YOU'RE A SPAMMER.