Brown body with black mane, tail, lower legs and ear tips, due to the presence of black pigment restricted to the points by the Agouti gene.
Typical Genetic Formula
E/_ A/_
Possible Genotype Variations
E/e A/a
E/e A/A
E/E A/a
E/E A/A
The Genetic Basis
For a horse to be born Bay, it must receive the following combination from its parents:
- Its ability to express or produce black pigment indicates it received the dominant E allele from at least one parent.
Understanding the Alleles
The horse Bay has a specific combination of alleles. Below, we explain each genetic component that forms this coat:
- A/ (Agouti): The Agouti gene, when active (with E present), restricts black pigment to the extremities. Carried with no visual effect in e/e animals.
