Learn about one of the tests we do: Mushroom

Mushroom is a dilute coat colour found in Shetland Ponies. A mutant form of the MFSD12 gene dilutes red pigment in the ponies' coat, which is why mushroom is most obvious in red-based ponies (e.g. chestnuts). In red-based ponies, the mushroom dilution gives a distinctive smoky brown or sepia toned coat colour, often accompanied by a flaxen (whitish-blond) mane and tail. The mushroom dilution also affects body pigments for bay-based horses, but these ponies won't have flaxen-coloured manes and tails.

Two gene copies (one from each parent) are needed to cause the mushroom dilution in ponies, affecting both males and females equally. Carriers (one copy) will not have a mushroom-coloured coat but can pass the gene on to offspring.

Gene or region and technical reference

Gene: MFSD12 (causative). Reference: Tanaka et al. (2019)

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