All Horse Breeds .

The gray gene (G) is an autosomal dominant gene, therefore, a horse which has only one copy of the gray allele, even if it has a gene for another coloring, will always become gray. If a gray horse is homozygous (GG), meaning that it has a gray allele from both parents, it will always produce gray offspring. However, if a gray horse is heterozygous (Gg), meaning it inherits one copy of the recessive gene (g), that animal may produce offspring who are not gray (depending on what color gene an offspring inherits from its other parent). A gray horse must have at least one gray parent. It is now possible to determine whether a horse is homozygous or heterozygous for gray ot if the horse does not carry the gene at all. this is useful to know whether a non gray foal will become gray or not and since, graying is associated with the development of melanoma, this test is particularly useful. Gray is controlled by a single dominant allele of a gene that regulates specific kinds of stem cells. The identification of the gray mutation is also of great interest in of medical research since this mutation also enhances the risk for melanoma in horses; About 75% of grey horses over 15 years of age have a benign form of melanoma that in some cases develops into a malignant melanoma

Hair Sample from mane with roots (approx 30 hairs) , Buccal Swabs or 1 ml whole blood in EDTA tube.

How to obtain a viable hair sample

Pull around 30 hairs from the mane of the horse with the roots (in faols hair from the tail maybe taken). Wrap the hairs around your finger or a comb, as close as possible to the skin to ensure you obtain the hair roots. Keep dry, put in a bag, label the bag with the horse name, test (s) required. Place in an envelope and send back to us together with the order form. Broken or cut off hair will not be accepted.

4 - 5 weeks

£ 66.00 (including VAT)