Roan Testing
OnOur roan test is a marker test. This means that rather than testing for the mutation that causes roan, we test for a genetic variant that’s strongly associated with roan in a number of breeds. Hopefully in the future we will find…
Mystery solved October 2017
OnOur monthly mystery horse is Apoco-D Paris, a miniature horse mare. Paris looks brown or black all year round, but is registered as chestnut. Her parents were black and palomino, and she has had several foals of various colours (silver taffy, black,…
Sex chromosome disorder testing for horses
OnWe regularly get inquiries about testing for sex chromosome disorders so this is something we will definitely look at getting up and running in the future! Repro vets in particular would really like to have a quick test to rule out Turner’s…
Colour feature: d1 (nd1)
OnDun and d1 (nd1) are different versions (alleles) of the same gene. The coat colour and markings associated with d1 reflect what is commonly referred to as counter-shading.These horses are expected to have a dorsal stripe and possibly other markings usually associated…
Taking samples for testing – how long do they last?
OnWe use DNA from hair roots to test for single-gene traits such as inherited disorders and coat colours. DNA in hair samples can last for five years or more if you treat it like potatoes: keep them dry and in the dark….
Foal Immunodeficiency Syndrome (FIS)
OnThis one is for breeders producing pure and part-bred Gypsy horses, Fell Ponies and Dale Ponies: we now have FIS testing. Foal Immunodeficiency Syndrome (FIS) used to be called Fell Pony syndrome. It is a fatal inherited disorder that has been found…
Tests for Friesians
OnSince December last year we’ve been able to do BOTH hydrocephalus and Friesian Dwarfism testing. These tests are relevant to pure- and part-bred Friesians. Your horse does not need to be registered for us to test it. Test foals, test part-bred horses,…
Improved red/black testing
OnWe have a new, improved version of the red/black (aka extension) test! This means we’ve been able to drop the price to bring it in line with all our other coat colour tests. For those who haven’t tested with us before, it’s…
How the Vikings spread gaited horses across the world
OnSome horses have special gaits, which are more comfortable for the rider than walk, trot or gallop. Now, a study by an international research team under the direction of the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) in Berlin revealed that…
Mystery solved May 2016
OnOur second monthly mystery horse is Rahane Nigel, a.k.a Winnie. Winnie is a Welsh B gelding. He is registered as palomino, but has dark points and both dark and light colouring in his mane and tail. Is he buckskin with a silver…