Horse Color Dilutes - Dun Gene
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.
- 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
- Horizontal marks on legs
- Can go above hock / knee
- May be very dark or so light they are hard to see
- Shading over withers and shoulder can be dark or so light it is hard to see
- Rings or stripes on the forehead
Different Dun Shades
- Created by dun gene on bay coat
- Most common type of dun
- 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
- 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
- Shades range from light to dark
- Head darker color than body
- Light shades called ‘Claybank Dun’
- Created by a dun gene on a black base coat
- Grullo is Spanish word so females are referred to as Grulla
- Smoky blue color ranging from light to dark
- Black points
- Darker heads
- Primitive markings are distinguishing and black
Mixed Dilutions
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
May 13th, 2008 at 3:30 am
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
May 13th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
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.
July 17th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
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?
July 18th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Hi Brooke,
Sounds like your red dun is displaying a sooty modifier which often results in sooty coloring on the face and topline.
August 7th, 2008 at 3:13 am
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.
August 7th, 2008 at 5:30 am
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.
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:30 pm
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.
October 5th, 2008 at 9:29 am
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!