Here we can learn about Splash!

[MiLo Minis]

Splash is probably one of the most misunderstood patterns.

Splash is an incomplete dominant and needs two copies for the full pattern expression. The first two pictures in Lauralee's first post are examples of homozygous Splash expression. The third photo in Lauralee's post is heterozygous Splash.

MiLo Mini's horse is more than just Splash. Splash alone will not create a completely white horse - it needs help from another pattern - Sabino - to accomplish that. Likely the cause of the extensive white is primarily sabino - the Splash in this case is just secondary and causing the eye to become blue but not really contributing to the overall pattern.

And or cource Getitia's boy is homozygous Splash + Sabino - sabino is giving the rough edge effect to his Splash markings (Splash alone will have crisp, clean edges).

Ashley's - first one is Tobiano with Splash and sabino. Second is tobiano plus Splash - the splash could very well be homozygous given the shape and placement of the remaining body markings.

ForMyACD's horse is a heterozygous Splash.

Becky's first 4 pictures are all homozygous Splash. In big horses the dark front end is more rare but it is a common expression of the pattern in miniatures. Again, the max white isn't just Splash as homozygous Splash won't create an entirely white horse - it needs help from sabino for that to happen.

Meavey's horse is a low expression homozygous Splash. Might have sabino too as some of the edges to the spots appear a bit fuzzy.

Lotto is a beautiful example of Splash but again - he is not just Splash as Sabino is also present giving him that big exaggerated mustache and edges on his spots that are not crisp.

Greenwoodminis - first photo looks to be tobiano + Splash - could be sabino also. Your stallion is a tobiano + sabino - could also have Splash but hard to tell from that photo.

Mona's Voodoo is homozygous Splash + Sabino. When homozygous Splash expresses in this manner it can be mistaken for tobiano. Of course with a Frame parent he could also be frame - frame could very easily hide under those markings.

Susan does your little one have a tobiano parent? That's a pretty normal expression for tobiano + homozygous Splash.

Even horses that appear to be just Splash can also have Sabino and/or Frame. Sabino can expressed extremely minimally - as little as a pink spot on a colts dangly with no other white markings and can possibly express as minimally as a small roany patch. Splash has been known to express as minimally as a faint snip.

It is very, very rare to find a miniature who is one pattern alone. Minis have the ability to restrict expression of all patterns more than big horses do so. While the same rules for patterns apply to minis we also need to remember that a mini who appears solid or has very little white may really be restricting the expression of a pattern beyond the "normal" expected range of expression.

Lewella How can you tell just by looking whether they are homozygous or heterozygous? Getitia's Shawnee has crisp edges to his colour, there is no roany mix of hairs between the black and white. He is my Mack's daddy and his dam was also splash with crisp edges. Are you referring to the jagged look to the white rather than straight lines sort of? I always thought that Sabino caused roaning on the edges of the colour. I am not arguing here cause I don't know enough to argue just want to get more info on what to expect from Mack's get and who he should or shouldn't be bred to. :bgrin

 

[Mona]

Mona's Voodoo is homozygous Splash + Sabino. When homozygous Splash expresses in this manner it can be mistaken for tobiano. Of course with a Frame parent he could also be frame - frame could very easily hide under those markings.

And how right you are! This stallion was tested, and he was LWO+.

:

 

[ThreeCFarm]

Here's Redrock Neon Starlight ,another heterozygous splash. Her dam is Becky's splash mare, East Acres

Stary Night.

You may not be able to see it in these pictures, but Starlight has one blue eye and one white hind coronet.

Winter face shot:

 

[Lisa Strass]

Splash is probably one of the most misunderstood patterns.

Lewella, I'm glad to see you say this because Splash is the pinto pattern I have the hardest time understanding!

:

 

[Karin - NaKar Miniatures]

Okay, I am trying to learn here. Question? Do Splash always have blue eyes? Second, when the horse has white on face and a pink bottom lip, what is that a sign of? I had been told that it could be a sign of the horse carrying the splash/overo gene.

 

[Stephanie]

This is a picture of our 2 year old Horse Song Electric Blue. She's splash + sabino.

 

[normajeanbaker]

Okay, I am trying to learn here. Question? Do Splash always have blue eyes? Second, when the horse has white on face and a pink bottom lip, what is that a sign of? I had been told that it could be a sign of the horse carrying the splash/overo gene.

I'd also be interested in knowing if they have to have TWO blue eyes, or do some only have 1?

Jen

 

[Lewella]

Crisp edges mean no jags, no juts, no "lacy" effect. If they aren't straight, they aren't crisp. Does that make sense? If you do an online search for the APHA QH crop out stallion Gambling Man you will see an excellent example of crisp, clean Splash markings that aren't being polluted by sabino. Sabino does not always cause roaning. On a black base sabino is much less likely to cause roaning than on a chestnut base (black as a mild restriction effect on sabino expression).

No, not all Splash have blue eyes. Blue eyes are common but not a requirement of the pattern. Splash is the pattern most likely to cause partial blue eyes or one blue eye and one brown one. Pink on the bottom lip is a Sabino characteristic. The shape of the face white can help to determine which pattern or patterns is causing the face white but some individuals are going to be ambiguous. Sabino, Splash and Frame all cause face white. Tobiano, Sabino and Splash all cause leg white.

Since Splash is an incomplete dominant one gene and two genes create different levels of expression. Heterozygous does not add body white. High level heterozygous individuals may have almost totally white legs and dipped heads but once that white trickles up on to the belly or chest you know just from the expression that two copies of Splash are present.

Icelandics are an excellent breed to look at to understand heterozygous and homozygous Splash White expression. All face white and non-tobiano leg white in Icelandics is caused by Splash White.

You aren't the only one Lisa! Part of the confusion is that for so long Splash was thought to be rare but in fact it was just rarely recognized. Understanding that Splash is an incomplete dominant has led to a broader understanding of the pattern and more people being able to recognize it but we still have a long way to go!

 

[horsehug]

Hi Lewella,

Yes Champagne Nightcap, has a splash/tobiano sire (actually homozygous for tobi) , pictured here, and a mostly black mom also pictured here who has before also produced a foal that appeared to be splash.

She only has a few white spots around her withers.

Susan O.

 

[Watcheye]

I am learning a LOT. Thank you for these threads!! :aktion033:

 

[Getitia]

And or cource Getitia's boy is homozygous Splash + Sabino - sabino is giving the rough edge effect to his Splash markings (Splash alone will have crisp, clean edges).

Actually he is DNA tested LWO positive for Frame - He may well be sabino also (Sabino+splash+frame) - however he does not have one stray white hair anywhere in the exposed solid color .

To date, out of solid mares he has produced a number of Splash+Frame of his expressed pattern (confirmed dna lwo +) and has not yet produced a visual sabino nor any offspring with the traditional roaning you would associate with sabino (again out solid non spotted mares).

However the dam to Lori's colt was tobiano + sabino (she has the traditional roaning associated with sabino -although only very lightly expressed above her flanks on both sides.)

 

[Lewella]

And or cource Getitia's boy is homozygous Splash + Sabino - sabino is giving the rough edge effect to his Splash markings (Splash alone will have crisp, clean edges).

Actually he is DNA tested LWO positive for Frame - He may well be sabino also (Sabino+splash+frame) - however he does not have one stray white hair anywhere in the exposed solid color .

To date, out of solid mares he has produced a number of Splash+Frame of his expressed pattern (confirmed dna lwo +) and has not yet produced a visual sabino nor any offspring with the traditional roaning you would associate with sabino (again out solid non spotted mares).

However the dam to Lori's colt was tobiano + sabino (she has the traditional roaning associated with sabino -although only very lightly expressed above her flanks on both sides.)

It's very normal for black based colors to have no sabino roaning. E represses sabino expression. It is really a myth that all sabinos will have roaning - CheyAut's Thoroughbreds in the sabino thread are great examples of sabino without roaning. The Sb1 type of sabino will almost always have some roaning but the other expression genes of sabino do not appear as inclined to cause sabino to "lose form".

Lewella