This pattern is seen less often than the other paint patterns. The pattern normally makes the horse look as if it has been dunked in white paint, or solid color has been poured on from above. As with the other patterns, splash white when minimally expressed can result in a seemingly ‘solid’ colored horse.
Horses with splash white minimally expressed tend to have a bottom heavy blaze and some white on the lower legs.
Hint of Conclusive
Near-solid splash whites give themselves away by having white faces with blue eyes along with four white legs.
Splash white markings: (with the usual disclaimer that not ALL are ALWAYS seen, nor are ANY, ALWAYS present)
A lot of the time, splash white is confused with sabino. The difference is that in splashed white the edges are crisp and clean, not lacy and with no roaning.
Kenos Dynamite
-head usually has a lot, or is completely, white with just the ears having color. The top of the neck as well as the ears are almost always colored, but the eyes are only rarely surrounded by color.
Papas Prairie Lad
-usually have white legs
-often has a two toned tail with the white on the end of the tail
-the body white starts on the belly and goes straight up the body
Colonels Smoking Gun
-Blue eyes are very common
-splash whites often have white crossing the back somewhere between the withers and tailbone
-Here is a short video of Colonels Smoking Gun (splash white):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4zLgmzg4LY&mode=related&search=
Gunner stands at McQuay stables. http://www.mcquaystables.com/
Splashed White Genetics
In my reading, I have found a lot of differing opinions or ‘facts’.
I have read that:
“Splashed white is caused by a dominant gene, Spl.”
“Splashed white is thought to be an incomplete dominant. What this means is that heterozygous splashes have less white than homozygous splashes- the gene has an additive effect when there are two of them present. It is like the cream gene in this respect. Heterozygous splashes can actually mimic "solids" or sabinos, as their markings can be so minimal. Sometimes only a "bottom heavy" face marking (often just a lopsided snip) and/or one or two blue eyes (or a partial blue eye) gives a clue that the horse is actually carrying splash. Although blue eyes can be due to other causes, the consistent appearance of blue eyes in a family or bloodline is usually a good indicator that the splash gene is present.”
“There is evidence that the solid white offspring of Splashed White parents are homozygous and will always throw spotted foals when bred to solid-colored horses.”
And from
“Recent evidence is consistent with this pattern being caused by a dominant gene.
… … …
No homozygous splashed white horses have ever been documented, leading to the suspicion that this is yet another gene that cannot exist in homozygous form.”
It sure does make it hard for those of us who would like to learn, when there is so much contradicting information out there. I would normally go with the APHA version, but a lot of their print seems to be out of date.
I’m sure one of you knows where to point my eyes for reading on this topic. I’d be happy to take all suggestions.
Also from the APHA:
“There may be a genetic connection between the Splash pattern and deafness, although by no means are all splash horses hearing-impaired.”
.jpg)