Liver_chestnut_in_horses Liver_(color)

an example of dark liver chestnut-colored horse.

in horses, liver chestnut chocolate-colored chestnut horse. dark liver chestnut has same recessive base genetics regular chestnut, shade dark brown rather reddish or rust color more typical of chestnut. horse appears dark liver chestnut has flaxen-colored mane , tail, colloquially though incorrectly called chocolate palomino , genetically chestnut black horse manifesting silver dapple gene. silver dapple dilution gene acts in manner similar liver dilution in dogs.

the darkest liver chestnuts may confused black, such horses distinguished other phenotypes absence of black hairs, , brown or reddish legs, muzzles, flanks , other soft areas. genotypes determine specific varieties of chestnut not known, genetics darken coat may have recessive mode of inheritance. sooty gene may 1 factor in creating darker color, though sooty coloration not evenly distributed throughout coat. genetic testing can distinguish chestnut black or bay horse.

other dilution genes in horses analogous creating dilution shades in dogs not create liver color in horses. these include dun gene, produces tan-colored or blue /gray solid colored coat , champagne gene tends lighten coat more mane or tail.