Belton [Bt]

Marking Modifier

Rarity: Uncommon

Belton is a gene which modifies white marking on the Rukaan by causing holes in them which show the underlying color and markings. It affects all white markings that the Rukaan has, including free markings like natural white. If the Rukaan has no white markings, Belton will not be visible in their design.

Extent

Belton affects between 25% and 100% of the total area of the Rukaan's combined white markings.

If no white markings are visible, Belton will not be visible in the Rukaan's design.

Minimum Extent

Belton must affect at least 25% of the Rukaan's combined white marking area

Maximum Extent

Belton can affect up to 100% of the Rukaan's combined white marking area

Examples

White with Belton on Splash Accents and Blanket Appaloosa, Red with Belton on Splash Accents, Black with Belton on Piebald, Liver with Belton on Natural White.

Marking Shape and Density

Shape: Belton spots can be roughly oval shaped (similar to scorch marks or leopard appaloosa spots) or ticked (similar to fleabit grey)

Size: Belton spots range from small tick marks to about the size of the Rukaan's nose. A Rukaan can have spots of various sizes.

Density: Belton spots do not have to have a uniform density. They can be sparse and isolated in some areas while dense in others. Belton spots can touch and overlap slightly but should not clump to the point where you cannot distinguish individual spots.

Placement: Belton spots should be naturally distributed and cannot form shapes or patterns. They can form loose clumps, but each individual spot must be identifiable. All the Rukaan's white markings will be affected by Belton spots.

Lif S-042

Maximum spot density shown on face

A Rukaan can have a variety of spot sizes

R-3200

Largest spot size (above nose)

R-3199

Ticked Belton

R-3198

Spots of varying densities

Marking Edges

Edges: Belton spot edges can be hard or slightly soft. Belton spots can have a semi-transparent halo even in white markings that do not normally allow a halo.

Edges cannot be a mix of soft and hard edged, or haloed and not haloed.

R-3198

Belton spots with hard edges

R-3200

Belton spots with slightly soft edges

Lif S-042

Belton spots with halos

Marking Color

Belton spots do not have a color as they are simply a hole in a white marking that shows whatever lies underneath that marking. Holes are always complete and never semi-transparent. If a spot has a halo the halo can be semi-transparent, but the halo must be surrounding a complete hole.

Skin and Eye Color Effects

Belton spots will cause the underlying flesh under the spot to revert to the color it would have been without the white marking present.

Belton spots have no effect on eye color.

Lif S-042

Flesh under white markings is pale and undiluted flesh under Belton spots is dark

Element Effects

Ancient Element: Belton spots with a white marking may cause spotted depigmentation in ancient element similar to leopard appaloosa's effect on ancient element.

All Other Elements: No effect

S-005 Tuulikki

Ancient Element with Spotted Leopard Appaloosa White Marking. Belton can cause the same holes in pale patches of ancient antler affected by white markings.

Coat Type Effects

Belton Spots may flow with the direction of the fur on coat types with longer hair.

R-3198

Belton spots on plume coat flowing with the direction of the longer tail hairs

Interactions with Other Genes

Color Modifiers: Color modifiers have no effect on this gene, as Belton Spots are a hole rather than a marking.

Tint: Tint cannot directly affect Belton spots. However, Belton spots can optionally affect or not affect tinted white markings.

Mismark: Mismark has no effect on this gene, as it is a marking modifier and not a marking.

White Markings: Belton spots occur within the white markings, and share the layering rules of the white markings. White markings generally go over other markings with the optional exception of scorch marks. Belton will affect all the Rukaan's white markings.

Inspiration

Belton spots can appear as belton spots in dogs or tobiano with belton spots in horses. These spots are sometimes called ink spots or cat tracks in horses. (Note that the terminology for these spots is variable and not universal.)