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We will be taking a winter break from July 6-19 (NSW school hols). You can still place orders now, and also while we are on break. If we receive but don't finish testing your samples they will be first in line when we re-open.

Grey

Summary

Horses and ponies that go grey are special. They go through a beautiful range of shades on their way to becoming completely white or flea-bitten grey. Dapple grey is a particularly beautiful stage that is reached before the horse becomes completely white.

Grey horses also frequently develop melanomas. Grey horses that are 'a a' at the agouti gene have the highest incidence of melanoma. Genetic testing can confirm whether your horse has the gene variant that causes greying with age and increases the incidence of melanoma.

There is a rare form of grey (called G2) with a much slower greying process and less risk of melanoma. This test does not differentiate between normal grey (G3) and the rare G2 allele.

Gene or region and technical reference

Gene: STX17 (causative). Reference: Rosengren Pielberg et al. (2008)

Reported alleles

n. Test developed using animal controls.

Gr. Test developed using animal cases.

Panels: groups of tests that are often ordered together

This test is in the Arabian health & colour panel.

This test is in the full colour panel.

This test is in the Gypsy health & colour panel.

This test is in the Miniature health & colour panel.

This test is in the patterns panel.

This test is in the QH health & colour panel.

This test is in the Shetland Pony colour panel.


horse

Grey (left) can produce spectacular coat colours.