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CHOCOLATE (SILVER DAPPLE) A chocolate horse is a black horse with a silver dapple gene modifying the black body to a shade of brown/chocolate, and lightening the mane & tail to slate, flaxen, white, or silver. Occasionally, there will be very little to no lightening of the mane & tail. The lower legs will usually show some signs of dappling. Dappling on the body sometimes occurs, but often not. Shades of chocolate can be anywhere from a light silvery tone or light tan to almost black, with any of the shades of mane & tail mentioned above. The genetic symbol for silver dapple is Z, but there is as yet no test for this gene. The silver dapple gene is dominant, but only affects black pigmented hair. Thus, if the horse is black based the silver dapple gene will affect the color. If the horse is red based, it will not affect the color, but will be carrying the silver dapple gene. This is why some chestnut horses “throw” chocolate foals. |