The Solid Paint Horse

Solid breeding stock paint horses may or may not have a color gene depending on their pedigree and the type of color that their parents had.   A breeding stock by one or two tobiano parents will not have any tobiano genes to pass onto their offspring.  If this horse is bred to a tobiano the color totally depends on the tobiano horse to produce the color.

A solid breeding stock with at least one overo parent may have an overo gene that is not expressed.  This horse may be able to produce the overo color when bred to a solid horse or a tob-overo foal when bred to a tobiano.  These breeding stocks, with an overo background, may have hints that they possess the overo gene.  For example, a solid horse with an inch of unpigmented skin does not have enough "color" to be classified as an overo but will this horse produce color when crossed with a solid  horse.  There is a chance, but at best, there is only a 50% chance.

If this same breeding stock, with an overo background, is bred to an overo horse, will she produce a lethal white foal?  It is possible, it has happened before.  So be careful and think about the different genetic possibilities when breeding paint horses.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions you can e-mail me at breeze@turbonet.com.