Genetics

1. Dominant White (W) - affects all horses who carry the W allele, regardless of the other color genes that they carry.

If your horse carries the W allele, then they'll be completely white, and have dark eyes and pink hooves.

The coat name will always be "white".

Ww = dominant white

ww = not dominant white

If your horse is not dominant white, then their coat will be determined according to the other color genes that they carry as listed below.

* Note that for any of these genes, if it says "Affect all horses", then it means "all horses except for dominant white horses". *

Genes that determine the base color of a horse

2. Extension (Ed,E,e) - determines whether or not a horse has black pigment.

Ed = always dominant black => coat name will include the phrase "dominant black"

E = has black pigment

e = no black pigment => horse is always chestnut

Coat names:

Shades of dominant black (dark to light): jet, (no prefix) dominant black, summer, bronze

Shades of chestnut: black, liver, red, (no prefix) chestnut, bright, golden.

3. Agouti (Ap,A,at,a) - Affects only EE and Ee horses (doesn't affect ee and EdX horses).

Determines the distribution of the black pigment over the horse's body.

Ap (A+) = brown or wild bay

A = bay or brown

at = seal brown

a = black

Combinations and coats:

ApAp, ApA, Apat, Apa = brown (EE horses) or wild bay (Ee horses)

AA, Aat, Aa = brown (EE horses) or bay (Ee horses)

atat or aat = seal brown

aa = black

Coat names:

Shades of bay: blood, red, (no prefix) bay, bright, golden, sandy

Shades of brown: dark, sepia, (no prefix) brown, chocolate, auburn

Shades of seal brown: ebony, (no prefix) seal brown, burgundy

Shades of black: raven, (no prefix) black, ebony, coal, sable

4. Silver (Z) - Affects only EE, Ee and Ed horses (doesn't affect ee horses).

Dilutes the manes, tails, points, and coat color so that they'll look silvery.

Coat name will include the word "silver".

ZZ,Zz = silver

zz = not silver

5. Flaxen (flfl) - Affects only ee horses (doesn't affect EdX or EX horses).

Brightens the manes and tails of chestnut horses. Coat name will include the word "flaxen".

flfl = flaxen

FlFl,Flfl = not flaxen

6. Mushroom (mm) - Affects only ee horses and EE/Ee + ApX/AX horses (doesn't affect EdX horses or EE/Ee + atat/ata/aa horses).

Causes the red pigment in the coat to appear more greyish/brownish. The coat name will include the word "mushroom".

mm = mushroom

MM or Mm = not mushroom

7. Cream and pearl (CC,Cc,Ccp,cpcp) - Affect all horses.

In general, the cream gene dilutes the coat color of the horse, but the intensity of the effect and the color that it generates depend on the genotype:

Allele combinations and coats:

cc,ccp = non-diluted

Cc = partially cream-diluted

CC = fully cream-diluted

Ccp = cream-pearl

cpcp = pearl

Coat names: base color with cc/ccp - with Cc - with CC - with Ccp - with cpcp

Chestnut: palomino* - cremello - cream pearl - pearl

Bay: buckskin** - perlino - amber cream pearl - amber pearl

Brown: brown buckskin - perlino - brown cream pearl - brown pearl

Seal brown: smoky brown - perlino - sable cream pearl - sable pearl

Black: smoky black - smoky cream classic cream pearl - classic pearl

* Shades of palomino: dark, golden, copper, bright, blonde, Isabella

** buckskin + silver = yellow pale silver

8. Dun (DD) and linebacked (d1) - Affect all horses.

The dun gene (D) dilutes the coat of the horse except for their points, which remain dark.

It also lightens the hairs at the base of their mane and tail. In addition, it also causes primitive markings (meaning a dorsal line on their back, and zebra stripes on their legs).

In the case of black-duns, their heads are also darkened.

Allele combinations and coats:

DD,Dd1,Dd2 = dun

d1d1,d1d2 = not dun, only linebacked, meaning that the horse has primitive markings but their coat and the base of their mane and tail are not diluted.

d2d2 = not dun, not linebacked

Coat names:

For d1d1, d1d2: coat name will include the word "linebacked".

For dun horses: non-dun base color - with dun & cc - with dun & Cc - with dun & CC

Chestnut: red dun - Dunalino - cremello dun

Bay or Brown: dun - Dunskin - perlino dun

Seal brown: slate grulla - silvery slate grulla - smoky slate grulla

Black: grulla - silvery grulla - smoky grulla

Special cases:

Apricot dun = mealy + red dun

Claybank dun = regular/cream pearl + (no prefix) dun

Coyote dun = sooty + mealy + (no prefix) dun

Muddy dun = sooty + red dun

Shaded slate/regular grulla = mealy + sooty + slate/regular grulla

Yellow silver = silver + (no prefix) dun

9. Champagne (Ch) - Affects all horses.

Dilutes the base color of the horse, in a manner which turns black hairs to brownish, and chestnut hairs to golden. It affects the mane, tail, and coat. In addition, it also adds a metallic hue to the coat. Champagne horses also have pink skin, meaning that the skin on their muzzles and around their eyes is pink.

ChCh,Chch = champagne

chch = not champagne

Names: base color - with Ch & cc - with Ch & Cc/CC

Chestnut: golden champagne - ivory champagne

Bay: amber champagne - cream amber champagne

Brown and Seal brown:  sable champagne – cream sable champagne

Black:  classic champagne - cream classic champagne

10. Grey (G) - Affects all horses. The coat name will include the word "grey" as a suffix.

Causes horses to turn grey, where the extent of the greying process depends on the horse's genotype:

+ GG = fully grey; the horse will become greyer as they age, until their coat is entirely white-grey by the age of 10 (or younger).

+ Gg = partially grey; the horse will become greyer as they age, but the greying process will randomly stop at some point.

Some horses might remain dark-grey, others might be light-grey, and, in rare cases, some might end up white-grey. In addition, the points, mane, and tail might keep some of their original color.

+ gg = not grey

11. Rabicano (rbrb) - Affects all horses. The coat name will include the word "rabicano".

Causes white spots and dotted stripes around the horse's barrel and, in some cases, on their neck and croup. Can also cause whitening of the hairs at the top of the tail, and whitening of some of the hairs in the mane.

rbrb = rabicano

RbRb,Rbrb = not rabicano

12. Roan (Rn) - affects all horses except for some leopard ones (see the gene below).

The roan pattern and its name depend on the genotype:

RnRn = corn roan = causes the entire body of the horse, except for their head and points, to appear whitish.

Rnrn = roan = when only the group, back, and part of the barrel appear whitish.

rnrn = not roan

Coat names: the coat name will include the word "roan" or "corn roan".

Special cases:

+ Strawberry roan = chestnut + roan

+ Golden roan = palomino + roan

+ Red roan = bay + roan

+ Purple roan = brown (EE + ApX/AX) + roan

+ Blue roan = black (EE/Ee + aa) + roan

13. Leopard (L) and Pattern (Patn) - Affect all horses.

These are the genes behind all of the "Appaloosa" patterns.

First, the Leopard gene sets whether or not a horse will be leopard:

LL, Ll = horse will have one of the six leopard patterns. It'll also have striped hooves, mottled skin on their muzzle and around their eyes, and white sclera.

ll = horse not leopard (regardless of their Pattern genes).

Then, if the horse carries at least one L allele, then their coat pattern is determined according to the exact combination of leopard and pattern alleles that they carry:

LL PatnPatn, LL Patnpatn, LL patnpatn

Ll PatnPatn, Ll Patnpatn, Ll patnpatn

Names and description of the patterns - if the coat name of your horse contains one of these words, it means that your horse is LL or Ll for leopard:

1) Snowcap = the croup, hip, and sometimes also the back of the horse are solid white. 

LL patnpatn

2) Blanket = The top of the body is white, and contains large spots that have the base color of the horse. The white area always starts on the croup and hips, but can extend to the back, barrel (but not abdomen), neck and, in rare cases, the face. It doesn't reach the abdomen and legs.

Ll Patnpatn

3) Leopard = Looks like an extended blanket that also covers the horse's abdomen and, in many cases, their legs as well. The horse will be covered with spots, where their exact size and pattern is partially genetic and partially random.

Ll PatnPatn

4) Few-spot Leopard = horses who are entirely white, and have many little colored dots on their legs. In some cases, they might also have several dots on their bodies.

LL PatnPatn

5) Snowflake = small white dots on the body. Ranges from a few white dots on the croup, to countless dots all over the body. Sometimes the horse will also have a small white blanket over their croup and hips.

Ll patnpatn

6) Varnish = white hairs that mix with the regular (colored) hair of the horse's coat. It doesn't affect the head, legs, and part of the neck. In addition, the expression on the rest of the body is not even, as some parts of the body will be whiter than others.

LL Patnpatn

14. White spotted (Ws) - Pinto gene, affects all horses.

Causes the build-up of white flecks and patches from the legs to the upper body, and from the muzzle or profile to the entire head.

WsWs,Wsws = white spotted

wsws = not white spotted

Above a minimal amount of white, the coat name will include the word "sabino", except for the following cases:

Pintaloosa = white spotted + leopard (Ll/LL)

Tovero = white spotted + tobiano (see below)

Pinto = white spotted + frame/splash/manchado (at least one of these three)

15. Tobiano (To) - Pinto gene, affects all horses.

Causes white patches on the neck, back, croup, and legs. The head, chest, hips, and abdomen remain in their original color. Some horses express maximum tobiano, which means that their entire body will be white except for their head and a small part of the chest.

ToTo, Toto = tobiano

toto = non-tobiano

The coat name will include the word "tobiano", except for the following special cases:

Pintaloosa = tobiano+ leopard (Ll or LL)

Tovero = tobiano + frame/splash/sabino (Sb or Ws) (at least one of these three)

Pinto = tobiano + manchado

16. Splash (Spl) - pinto gene, affects all horses.

Causes the build-up of solid white "layer" from the legs and muzzle to the rest of the body. The shape of the white area is random. The tail will usually be white at the bottom.

SplSpl = splash

splspl = not splash

The coat name will include the word "splash", except for the following special cases:

Pintaloosa = splash + leopard (Ll or LL)

Tovero = splash + tobiano

Pinto = splash + manchado/frame/sabino (Sb or Ws) (at least one of these three)

17. Sabino (Sb) - pinto gene, affects all horses.

Causes the build-up of white flecks and patches, from the legs to the upper body, and from the muzzle to the entire head. The extent to which the horse is white depends on the genotype:

SbSb = extensive or maximal sabino; most of the horse's body will be white.

Sbsb = regular sabino; the head, legs, and part of the body are white.

sbsb = not sabino

Above a minimal amount of white, the coat name will include the word "sabino", except for the following cases:

Pintaloosa = sabino + leopard (Ll/LL)

Tovero = sabino + tobiano

Pinto = sabino + frame/splash/manchado (at least one of these three)

18. Frame (Fr) - Pinto gene, affects all horses.

Causes white patches on the sides of the body, mostly on the barrel and neck. These white patches don't cross to the other side of the body (contrary to tobiano white patches that do cross). In addition, the head will be bald or at least partially white.

Frfr = frame

frfr = not frame

(FrFr doesn't exist in horse isle because it's lethal in real life)

Above a minimal amount of white, the coat name will include the word "frame", except for the following cases:

Pintaloosa = frame + leopard (Ll/LL)

Tovero = frame + tobiano

Pinto = frame + sabino/splash/manchado/white spotted (at least one of these three)

19. Manchado (mama) - Affects all horses.

Causes a white pattern that starts at the horse's topline and extends downwards. The white area is not solid, but instead, it includes small patches that have the color of the horse.

mama = manchado

MaMa, Mama = not manchado

The coat name will include the word "manchado", except for the following cases:

Pintaloosa = manchado + leopard (Ll/LL)

Pinto = manchado + frame/splash/tobiano/sabino (Sb or Ws) (at least one of these four)

20. Mealy - Pangare (Pg) - Affects all horses.

Causes lightening of the legs, belly, barrel (partially), buttocks, muzzle, and of the skin around the eyes. The extensiveness of the mealy pattern depends on the genotype:

PgPg = heavily mealy

Pgpg = light mealy

pgpg = not mealy

The coat name will include the word "mealy", except for the following cases:

Dark brown = mealy + seal brown

Buttermilk buckskin = mealy + buckskin (Ee, not EE)

Perlino stays perlino even with mealy

Apricot dun = mealy + red dun

Coyote Dun = sooty + mealy + (no prefix) dun

Shaded slate/regular grulla = mealy + sooty + slate/regular grulla

Sorrel = chestnut + mealy (e.g. red chestnut = red sorrel, chocolate chestnut = chocolate sorrel, etc.)

21. Brindle (brbr) - Affects all horses, though not always visible on black horses.

Causes visible stripes all over the horse's body. The coat name will include the word "brindle".

The pattern of the stripes is random, but their color depend on the extension genotype of the horse:

brbr + EE/Ee/EdX = brindle, black stripes

brbr + ee = brindle, whitish stripes

BrBr,Brbr = not brindle

22. Sooty (Sty) - Affects all horses except for brindle, champagne, cream CC, or pearl cpcp horses.

Causes darkening of the horse's body, especially on their head, neck, back, and croup. The extent and intensity of the darkening effect depend on the genotype:

StySty = darkest sooty

Stysty = lighter sooty

stysty = not sooty

The coat name will include the word "sooty" except for the following cases:

-- Brindle - brindle horses will stay "brindle" even if they carry the sooty gene.

-- CC and cpcp - won't have sooty in their coat name even if they carry the sooty gene.

-- Champagne - won't have sooty in their coat name even if they carry the sooty gene.

+ Mahogany bay = sooty + bay

+ Chocolate chestnut = sooty + chestnut

+ Coyote Dun = sooty + mealy + (no prefix) dun

+ Muddy dun = sooty + red dun

+ Shaded slate/regular grulla = mealy + sooty + slate/regular grulla

+ Voronaya = StySty + Raven black

Rare patterns - there are three rare patterns in the game:

1) Dark mane & tail (dmtdmt) - Affects only grey horses. During the greying process, the mane and tail turn grey, but remain darker than the body.

2) Grey mane & tail (gmtgmt) - Affects all horses. the mane and tail are greyer than the body. The shade of grey is picked randomly by the server.

3) Gulastra Plume (gplgpl) - Affects all horses. Causes whitening of the tail in a form of a gradient, where the bottom of the tail is always whiter than the top. The exact gradient, and intensity of the white color, are both picked randomly by the server.

Genotypes:

gplgpl = gulastra plume

gmtgmt = grey mane & tail

dmtdmt = dark mane & tail

NopNop, Nopgpl, Nopdmt, Nopgmt, gplgmt, gpldmt, dmtgmt = don't have any rare pattern.

Coat name: nothing (coat name remains the same).

1) There are two genetic factors that determine the appearance of manes:

Mane-length

The length of the mane is determined by a number the only the game sees.

There are four lengths: no-mane, short mane, medium mane, and long mane.

Hair-type

The hair type gene determines the texture of the hair in both the mane and tail.

There are five textures, four of which are caused by a unique allele combination:

SkSk, SkCs = silky

CsCs = coarse

WvWv = wavy

CsWv = wavy-coarse

SkWv = moderate wavy

The exact style/shape of a mane is determined by the mane-length trait AND the hair-type gene (more about it later).

2) Do hair-type alleles appear in the genetic report?

The mane-length "number" and the hair-type alleles are Not included in genetic reports. We did this because of two reasons:

1. These genes are not "real" - While there is a genetic mechanism behind the texture and length of manes of real horses, they are not made of one known gene, meaning that you can't "genetically test" real horses for hair type.

2. It is pretty easy to tell the mane genetics of a horse by taking one look at their mane, so there's no need to invent a magical test that reveals the mane-genetics of a horse. Plus, it can also serve as a nice perk for players who are willing to put effort into learning how manes work in HI. ;)

3) How to tell the mane genetics of a grown horse?

As mentioned above, the exact style/shape of a mane is determined by the mane-length trait AND the hair-type alleles.

When it comes to horses who are over 1-year old, it's easy to tell their mane-genetics by looking at their manes and remembering the following:

Hair-type alleles = hair type - what the mane looks like

+ SkSk = Silky - the hairs of the mane and tail look straight.

+ WvWv = Wavy - the hairs of the mane and tail look like vertical waves.

+ SkWv = Silky x Wavy - hair looks moderately wavy; there are vertical waves, but they are not as extreme as in WvWv.

>> Haflingers have all of these three hair types. Check their avatar in the BBB to see what SkSk,SkWv, and WvWv look like.

+ The shape of the mane: in terms of shape (not hair texture) SkSk, WvWv, and SkWv manes look identical. The only visible difference is in the waviness of the hairs.

>> For short or medium manes - Check the avatar of the Thoroughbred in the BBB.

>> For medium or long manes - Check the avatar of the Haflinger in the BBB.

If your horse has a mane with a more "unique" shape, then they carry at least one Cs allele (in parenthesis, check this breed in the BBB to see what the mane looks like):

+ CsCs = Coarse

++ Short mane: erect, including the forelock (Przewalski's Horse).

++ Medium mane: "puffy", the hairs are not flat as in silky or wavy manes, but instead they form a visible bulk. The forelock is also bulky (Norwegian Fjord - has both short and medium CsCs manes).

++ Long mane: longer yet flatter than the medium mane, except for the forelock that is huge in size and creates a visible bump (Gypsy Vanner has long CsCs and WvWv manes. Take a look at it to compare these different styles of manes).

+ CsWv = Wavy-coarse

++ Short mane: looks like a series of large spikes, especially in the forelock that has large spiky hairs. Players often call this type of mane "fish mane".

(Timor Ponies, note that they can also have short SkSk and CsCs manes).

++ Medium mane: has the same shape as a medium-coarse mane, but the hair is wavy rather than straight.

(American Cream Draft, their medium "coarse" manes are always wavy-coarse).

++ Long mane: has the same shape of a long coarse mane, but the hair is wavy rather than straight

(Gypsy Vanner has long CsCs, WvWv, and CsWv manes).

+ CsSk = Silky-coarse

Short mane: spiky (players often call it "fish mane"), especially in the forelock that has large spiky hairs.

(Timor Ponies, note that they can also have short SkSk and CsCs manes).

Medium mane : completely identical in appearance to a medium SkSk mane.*

Long mane: completely identical in appearance to a long SkSk mane.*

*In the case of these manes, you can look at the parents to get an idea of the genes of the horse. If one parent has a coarse or wavy-coarse mane, then there's 100% chance that your horse carries the Cs allele, and is therefore SkCs.

4) How to tell the mane genetics of a foal?

As the foal grows, their mane grows with them until it reaches its maximal length. This means that you can't tell their mane-length until they are 1 year old.

However, you can tell their exact hair-type when their mane is still short, because almost every allele combination looks different when the mane is short*. :)

* Except for CsSk and CsWv, though you'll be able to tell which one they are if their mane grows, or you can check the foal's parents.

5) The information above explains how to tell the hair-type alleles of a horse. What if I want to know their mane-length "number"?

There is no mutability in mane-length, so the exact number is irrelevant.*

The foal will usually have the same mane length as one of his parents, unless you cross a long-maned horse with a short-maned horse, in which case the foal can be born with a medium mane.**

* If your foals mutated outside the range of their parents AND grandparents, then it's a bug. Please report about it in Bugs forum, and make sure to include the horse's ID in your post.

** Remember that in rare cases, foals can also inherit the mane-length of their grandparents. This means that if you cross two horses with the same mane-length, but one of the grandparents has a different mane-length, then the foal can be born with the grandfather's mane-length rather than with the mane-length of his parents.

Netting. Also known as "lacing," this is a giraffe-like, reticulated pattern that appears on the backs of horses. It varies from just a bit along the topline or extending further down the horse's sides.  Netting always consists of white hairs. A horse must have the dapple trait for netting to express. It will start showing as early as 2.5 years, and will get more extensive with age. Lace does NOT fall under 'rare patterns', and is rather a rare form of dappling that can occur in any breed that can be dappled.

Bleach Marks. This somatic mutation is a lightening of the coat, making the horse appear to have been 'bleached,' giving the horse grey spots with colored rims. It will show from birth, and will lighten with age, eventually going completely white. Rarely, a horse over 14 years can develope 'fleabitten' inside of the bleached areas.

Birdcatcher Spots. Birdcatcher spots are white flecks or marks on an otherwise dark body, ranging in size from a few single white hairs to making the horse look like they're covered in ping-pong balls! While it's unknown what gene is responsible for birdcatcher spots, it's not thought to be genetic in most cases (and is NOT genetic on HI3.). A horse must carry at least one of the pinto genes, or the Lp allele, or have loud markings (stockings and/or a wide blaze).

Bend-Or Spots aka Grease. These unique markings are darker pigmentation, ranging in red to black, typically found on palominos, chestnuts, and even darker colored horses. In Horse Isle, these spots can extend all the way to the neck and face, or be so small it's a little hard to see, being just a few spots on the rump. Any horse who doesn't have an appaloosa coat can be grease.

Tetrarch Spots. These are white spots on a grey coat, named for the grey Thoroughbred stallion that made them so well known and passed the mark on to his descendants. While we don't have The Tetrarch here, we do have his very special mark! A horse must be grey and carry ll for leopard and have white markings* (preferably on both legs and face).* It appers from birth, usually as fuzzy white patches. It can be very minimal, or very extensive. It is often on both sides of the horse, and often on the legs. It is usually easier to spot on younger horses.

Mosaic Coat. While entirely a chimera in real life, we've included the Mosaic mutation here as a rare, special sort of 'marking.' A chimeric horse is one that is genetically two horses, the result of one zygote being absorbed into the other in the very earliest stages of pregnancy. In-game, this appears as large splashes of color over a normal coat. There are four mosaic 'patterns'; scarf, shorts, sweater, and extensive.

1) Horses with the following coat colors can't be mosaic:

dominant white (W), double-cream dilutions (CC), ChCh champagne.

2) Markingless horses can't be mosaic.

3) Mosaic can occur on grulla horses (dun on black or seal-brown base).

Mosaic DOESN'T occur on bay-dun, brown-dun, and red-dun.

4) If a horse is grey:

  + They mustn't carry the rb (rabicano) allele.

  + The mosaic pattern on GG horses will grey out (by 5 years it'll be mostly gone).

5) Mosaics can be sooty, however they cannot be sooty brown, sooty bay, or sooty buckskin

The genes sooty, roan, and rabicano lower the chances of having a mosaic.

(Clarification: sooty, roan, and rabicano horses can be mosaic under specific conditions, but if your aim is to maximize the chances for a mosaic horse, then you better avoid these genes.)

These conditions might seem weird or random, but they are in place because:

  1. To prevent non-mosaic breeds from being mosaic.

  2. Technical limitations.

Flash Markings. This shocking white marking appears as white "lightning strikes" or swirls on any horse color, typically around the neck but it has been known to pop up on other areas, like the barrel or rump! A horse must carry at least one of the pinto genes, or the Lp allele, or have loud markings (stockings and/or a wide blaze)

No! All of these markings are completely genetic. Belton and rare pattern genes (Grey Mane & Tail, Dark Mane & Tail, and Gulastra Plume) can be passed on to offspring. Airbrush and badge markings are just cool markings and not officially considered mutations.

Tetrarch only appears on grey horses and originates from the horse's hocks. 

Birdcatcher appears on both non-grey and grey horses and is not seen on the horse's hocks.

1. Back Arch = determines the shape of your horse's back (straight -> concave). Can also affect the shape of the withers.

-- Too low = back is too straight. [Przewalski's Horse]

-- Too high = back is too concave (sway back). [none currently]

2. Back Length = determines the length of your horse's back (short -> long).

-- Too low = back is too short. [Breton]

-- Too high = back is too long. [New Forest Pony]

3. Body Width = determines the width of your horse's body (narrow -> wide).

-- Too low = body is too narrow. [Galiceno]

-- Too high = body is too wide. [Ban Ei]

4. Chest Shape = determines the shape of your horse's chest (flat -> bulky).

-- Too low = chest is too flat. [Shetland]

-- Too high = chest is too bulky. [Maremmano]

5. Crest = determines the size of your horse's crest (thin -> large).

-- Too low = crest is too thin. [Akhal-Teke]

-- Too high = crest is too large (makes the neck heavy). [Pure Spanish Horse]

6. Croup Height = determines the height of your horse's croup (horizontal -> high).

-- Too low = croup is too horizontal (if lower than the withers = uphill conformation). [Dutch Tuigpaard]

-- Too high = croup is too high* (if higher than the withers = downhill conformation). [American Quarter Horse]

* Together with a sharp slope (see scShb) can create a goose rump.

7. Ear Angle = determines the angle of your horse's ears (close -> floppy).

-- Too low = ears are too close (in extreme cases will be slightly arched towards each other; together with Ear Curve, the tips might even touch each other). [Thoroughbred]

-- Too high = ears are too far (in extreme cases the ears will be positioned to the sides). [Ardennais]

8. Ear Curve = determines the curvature of your horse's ear tips (upright -> curved inwards).

-- Too low = the tips of the ear are too upright. [most breeds]

-- Too high = the tips of the ear are curved inwards too much and point each other (together with Ear Curve, the tips might touch each other). [Marwari, Kathiawari]

9. Ear Size = determines the size of your horse's ears (small "pony" ears -> mule ears).

-- Too low = ears are too small. [Shetland]

-- Too high = ears are too long (all of the tier 2, 3, and 4 breeds get 100% penalty for mule ears).

10. Ear Width = determines the width of your horse's ears (narrow -> wide).

-- Too low = ears are too narrow. [Venezuelan Criollo]

-- Too high = ears are too wide. [Baca Chica]

11. Frontal Bosses = determines whether or not your horse has frontal bosses, and if they do then how prominent their bosses are (no bosses -> prominent bosses).

-- Too low = horse doesn't have frontal bosses OR their bosses are not prominent enough. [most breeds]

-- Too high = horse has frontal bosses that are too prominent. [Datong, Moyle]

12. Girth Depth = determines the depth of your horse's girth (narrow -> deep).

-- Too low = girth is too narrow ("thin"). [Murgese]

-- Too high = girth is too deep ("fat"). [Percheron]

13. Girth Shape = determines the curvature of your horse's belly (flat -> curved).

-- Too low = belly is too flat (straight). [Percheron]

-- Too high = belly is too curved towards the flank. [Persano]

14. Hair Thickness = determines the thickness of your horse's tail (thin -> thick).

-- Too low = tail is too thin (together with Tail Length can create a rat tail). [Dutch Tuigpaard]

-- Too high = tail is too thick. [Friesian]

15. Head Angle = determines the angle of your horse's head (acute -> obtuse).

-- Too low = head angle is too acute (muzzle points towards the ground, together with Neck Angle can be below the vertical) [Friesian]

-- Too high = head angle is too obtuse (away from the chest, above the vertical). [American Miniature]

16. Head Depth = determines the distance between the top of the upper jaw (profile) and the bottom of the lower jaw (shallow -> deep).

-- Too low = the distance is too short (from side view: head looks thin). [Wielkopolski]

-- Too high = the distance is too long (from side view: head looks deep and bulky). [Ardennais]

17. Head Length = determines the distance between the eyes and the muzzle (short -> long).

-- Too low = distance is too short (muzzle is too close to the eyes). [Arabian]

-- Too high = distance is too long (muzzle is too far from the eyes). [Maremmano]

18. Head Width = determines the width (from the front) of your horse's head (narrow -> wide).

-- Too low = head is too narrow. [Galiceno]

-- Too high = head is too wide. [Ardennais]

19. Hooded Eyes = determines the degree to which your horse's eyes are covered by their upper eyelids (not covered -> hooded).

-- Too low = eyes are not covered enough. [New Forest Pony]

-- Too high = eyes are covered too much. [Akhal-Teke]

20. Hoof Size = determines the size of your horse's hooves (small -> large).

-- Too low = hooves are too small. [Noma]

-- Too high = hooves are too large. [Ban Ei]

21. Jowls = determines the size and shape of the bottom of your horse's ramus (the roundish part of the jowl-bone that creates the cheek; small -> large).

-- Too low = ramus is too small and flat. [Przewalski's Horse]

-- Too high = ramus is too large and roundish. [American Quarter Horse]

22. Leg Length = determines the length of your horse's legs (short -> long).

-- Too low = legs are too short. [Breton]

-- Too high = legs are too long. [Holsteiner]

23. Leg Thickness = determines the thickness of your horse's legs, and the size of the hooves (thin -> thick).

-- Too low = legs are too thin (and hooves are too small). [Akhal-Teke]

-- Too high = legs are too thick (and hooves are too large). [Ban Ei]

24. Mane Length = determines the length and shape of your horse's mane* (no mane -> long).

-- Too low = horse doesn't have a mane OR their mane is too short [Akhal-Teke]

-- Too high = mane is too long. [Friesian]

* See "the Genetics of Manes" guide in this forum for more info.

25. Musculature = determines the muscle volume of your horse (minimal muscling-> maximal muscling).

-- Too low = horse is not muscled enough. [Akhal-Teke]

-- Too high = horse is too muscled. [Ban Ei]

26. Muzzle Shape = determines the shape of your horse's muzzle (square -> elongated).

-- Too low = muzzle is too squarish. [Roman Horse of Maremma in Lazio]

-- Too high = muzzle is too long (especially visible in the shape of the upper lip). [Wielkopolski]

27. Muzzle Width = determines the width of your horse's muzzle (visible from the front; narrow -> wide).

-- Too low = muzzle is too narrow. [Peruvian Paso]

-- Too high = muzzle is too wide. [Breton]

28. Neck Angle = determines the angle and position of your horse's neck (horizontal -> upraight). Can also affect the shape and visibility of the withers.

-- Too low = neck is positioned too low. [American Quarter Horse]

-- Too high = neck is positioned too high. [Dutch Tuigpaard]

29. Neck Height = determines the smoothness and elevation of the connection between the neck and the withers (non-smooth -> smooth and elevated). Can also affect the shape of the neck, and the shape and visibility of the withers.

-- Too low = the connection is too low. [Thoroughbred]

-- Too high = the connection is too high. [American Saddlebred]

30. Neck Length = determines the length of your horse's neck (short -> long).

-- Too low = neck is too short. [Ban Ei]

-- Too high = neck is too long. [Holsteiner]

31. Neck Shape = determines the shape of your horse's neck (ewe -> swan). Can also affect the size of the crest.

-- Too low = neck is too ewe. [Akhal Teke]

-- Too high = neck is too arched (or even swan is above a certain level). [Arabian]

32. Neck Thickness = determines the thickness of your horse's neck (thin -> thick). Can also affect the shape of the neck.

-- Too low = neck is too thin. [Dareshuri]

-- Too high = neck is too thick. [Ban Ei]

33. Nostril Size = determines the size (flaring) of your horse's nostrils (small -> flared). Can also affect the shape of the muzzle as viewed from the front.

-- Too low = nostrils are too small. [Giara]

-- Too high = nostrils are too flared. [Arabian]

34. Posture = determines how far back your horse stretches their hind legs when standing (underneath -> fully stretched).

-- Too low = hind legs are positioned too much underneath the body. [Lusitano]

-- Too high = hind legs are stretched too far. [Tennessee Walking Horse]

35. Profile = determines the shape of your horse's profile (dished -> Roman).

-- Too low = profile is too dished or concave. [Arabian]

-- Too high = profile is too convex or Roman. [Kladruby]

36. ScShb = determines the slope of your horse's croup, and the volume of their hind muscles located at their buttocks (thin muscles and steep slope -> average muscles and rounded croup -> stock-horse hind muscles).

-- Too low = croup is too sloped and hind muscles are too thin. [Nokota]

-- Too high = hind muscles are too bulky (buttocks are too muscular). [American Quarter Horse]

37. Size = determines the overall size of your horse (small -> large).

-- Too low = horse is too small. [American Miniature]

-- Too high = horse is too large. [Shire]

38. Tail Angle = determines how high your horse holds its tail (low and close to the body -> high and far from the body). High angles increase the thickness of the hair of the tail (but Hair Thickness trait remains the same).

-- Too low = tail is held too low. [American Quarter Horse]

-- Too high = tail is held too high. [Arabian]

39. Tail Length = determines the length of your horse's tail (short -> long).

-- Too low = tail is too short* (together with Tail Length can create a rat tail). [Brabant]

* Shortest tail reaches to about the line of the fibula.

- Too high = tail is too long. [Gypsy Vanner]

40. Wither Height = determines the prominence and shape of your horse's withers (low -> prominent). Can also be affected by Back Arch, Neck Angle, and Neck Height.

-- Too low = withers are not prominent enough. [Sandalwood Pony]

-- Too high = withers are very prominent. [Zangersheide]

Other Features:

1) Feathers = determines the thickness and shape of your horse's feathers (if they have any; thin -> full).

-- Too low = not enough feathering. [Holsteiner]

-- Too high = full feathering. [Shire].

2) Appy Blanket and Appy Spots = together they determine the size of the horse's blanket and the number and size of their leopard spots. These two traits are the ones who create endless variability in leopard patterns. See the "Horse Colors and their Names" thread in this forum for more info.

3) Belton = determines whether or not your horse has belton spots, and the number of spots they have.

-- Too low = no belton.

-- Too high = too many belton spots.

4) Color Shade = determines the exact color of your horse's coat (dark -> light). See the "Horse Colors and their Names" thread in this forum for more info.

-- Too low = coat is too dark.

-- Too high = coat is too light.

5) Dapples = determines whether or not your horse is dappled, and if they are dappled then the extent of their dappling.

-- Too low = no dapples, or dappling is too faint.

-- Too high = dapples are too prominent.

6) Markings = determines whether or not your horse has markings, and if they have markings then how extensive these markings are.

-- Too low = no markings, or markings are too small.

-- Too high = too many, or too large, markings.

7) Pangare = relevant only for pangare (Pgpg, PgPg) horses. Determines the extent of their "mealiness". See the "Horse Colors and their Names" thread in this forum for more info.

-- Too low = mealy pattern is too faint.

-- Too high = mealy pattern is too strong.

8) Pinto Strength = determines the extent of the pinto pattern if your horse carries one of the five pinto genes (Fr, Ma, Sb, To, Ws). See the "Horse Colors and their Names" thread in this forum for more info.

-- Too low = pinto pattern is not visible enough.

-- Too high = too much white, pinto is not visible enough (e.g. maximum pinto).