Horse Color Dilutes - Dun Gene

March 10th, 2008 by Paige

Dun Horse

The dun dilution gene is generally quite obvious due to the specific (almost primitive) markings that indicate its presence. The quick and easy way to determine a dun gene is to look for a dorsal stripe down their back.

Some animals will display darker striping of the legs, withers and face and can be mistaken for a sooty / smutty gene.

Basic Dun Gene

  • Dilution gene that affects black and chestnut pigments
  • Changes the physical color of black, bay and chestnut horses
  • Arabian and thoroughbred don’t present dun characteristics
  • Mistaken for buckskin when present on a bay base

Dun Terminology

Dun gene causes primative markings on the horse occur in different combinations and vary from animal to animal.

Dorsal Stripe

Dorsal Stripe

  • A dark line from the base of the mane to the base of the tail
  • Sometimes goes through the tail giving it a dark stripe
  • Also called eel stripe, lineback, backstripe
Zebra Stripe

Zebra Stripes

  • Horizontal marks on legs
  • Can go above hock / knee
  • May be very dark or so light they are hard to see
Shoulder Stripe

Shoulder Stripes

Image from sylvasprings
  • Shading over withers and shoulder can be dark or so light it is hard to see
Cobwebbing / Spiderwebbing

Cobwebbing / Spiderwebbing

Image from Grulla Blue
  • Rings or stripes on the forehead

Different Dun Shades

Bay / Zebra Dun

Bay Dun Horse

  • Created by dun gene on bay coat
  • Most common type of dun

Dark Dun HorseLight Dun Horse

  • Come in many shades ranging from light to dark
  • Gene dilutes body hair more so points stay darker
  • Heads / face darker than rest of body
  • Dilution with a combination of other genes cause a variety of colors and combinations
Red Dun

Red Dun Horse

Image from Engage Farms
  • Created by a dun gene on a red base coat
  • Often confused with chestnut
  • Do not have black points
  • Primitive markings are distinguishing and a darker shade of red

Dark Red Dun HorseLight Red Dun Horse

Images from b5z & Equine World
  • Shades range from light to dark
  • Head darker color than body
  • Light shades called ‘Claybank Dun’
Grullo or Grulla (male - female)

Grulla Horse

Image from LD Acres
  • Created by a dun gene on a black base coat
  • Grullo is Spanish word so females are referred to as Grulla

Dark Grullo HorseLight Grullo Horse

  • Smoky blue color ranging from light to dark
  • Black points
  • Darker heads
  • Primitive markings are distinguishing and black

Mixed Dilutions

Perlino Dun

Perlino Dun Horse

Dun and cream gene on a bay coat
Image from Tocara Farm
Dunalino

Dunalino Horse

Dun & cream dilution genes on a chestnut base
Image from Windy Pine Acres
Dunskin

Dunskin Horse

Dun & cream dilution genes on a black base
Image from Equine Now

Rare Dilution Mixes

Silver Dapple Dun

A combination of silver and dun genes on a black base. Even more rare than the silver dapple color. So rare, in fact, that I couldn’t find a suitable picture to show.

Champagne Dun

A combination of champagne and dun genes on a black or chestnut base. Also rare enough I couldn’t find images.

Learn more about horse colors

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8 Responses to “Horse Color Dilutes - Dun Gene”

  1. shelly MonsterID Icon shelly Says:

    I have a mare that is dun, reg-red dun, to me she looks like a palimino dun. she has a white mane and her tail is almost all white. her body looks like a palimino color. her dun points are tan not red. what do you think? shelly

  2. Paige MonsterID Icon Paige Says:

    Sounds like she is a red dun with a creme dilution gene. I believe that gene will dilute the colors of the dun markings too.
    Send me a picture. I’ll post it and see if anyone has a better explanation.

  3. Brooke MonsterID Icon Brooke Says:

    Hi have a colt who is just starting to shed out. I thought he was a Red Dun, but looking at the hair that’s showing around his eyes and at the base of his ears…he looks smokey black. Is it possible to have a smokey Red Dun?

  4. Paige MonsterID Icon Paige Says:

    Hi Brooke,

    Sounds like your red dun is displaying a sooty modifier which often results in sooty coloring on the face and topline.

  5. traci MonsterID Icon traci Says:

    Hi,

    I have a Grulla colt. Dam is Brown and Sire is Dun. He is Homozygous E/E, a/a/, N/N. He can not throw “red” He was born with his primative markings and the AQHA as well as myself gave him the “grulla” color. He has since matured to a 2 year old and he is as dark (black)as his primative markings…is there such a thing as a “Black Grulla”. How can I prove it now that he is older. Maybe i should cal him a “Black Dun”?

    Any thoughts….i could send a pic…let me know.

  6. Paige Filler MonsterID Icon Paige Filler Says:

    Hi Traci,

    From my understanding, a black dun is the same thing as a grulla, a dun dilution on a black base.
    I imagine as he ages his coat color will start to fade and his primitive markings will be displayed again.

  7. erin MonsterID Icon erin Says:

    The photo of the grulla foal, was it sent from Oregon from Bonnie..looks familar …wondering if its my import Sorraia stallion Sovina’s granddaughter.

  8. Paige MonsterID Icon Paige Says:

    Could be, if you click on the image it will take you to webshots where it will show you who uploaded it. Looks like a beautiful foal, I’d love a picture of your Sorraia stallion!

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