Horse Color Explained: A Breeder's Perspective [Paperback]

Jeanette Gower (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2000

A simple yet thorough guide to horse color and equine color inheritance, featuring 185 color photos.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Why do horses end up the color they are? The answer to this question lies in genetics. Often, however, horse breeders don¹t explore the probabilities of coat color and markings because the science of genetics seems too complicated. Now this handy guide explains the principles of color inheritance simply and practically so all breeders can make informed decisions. With an abundance of color photos, explanatory diagrams, and charts, Horse Color Explained provides essential information on rare colors, white markings and patterns, coat-color changes, Paint-Horse genetics, mating outcomes, and responsible breeding practices. Jeanette Gower, an authority on color genetics, has more than 25 years of practical experience; she is also a respected judge and equine studies lecturer.

About the Author

Jeanette Gower, an authority on color genetics, has more than 25 years of practical experience; she is also a respected judge and equine studies lecturer.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Trafalgar Square Books; 1st US 2000 edition (August 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570761620
• ISBN-13: 978-1570761621
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #809,040 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for basics, but be careful., August 5, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Horse Color Explained: A Breeder's Perspective (Paperback)

I have studied equine genetics for many years, and I am well aware of what is scientifically known and what is more "heresay" or speculation. There are many shades of many colors out there, and it is important when we say "If you cross this with this, then this is what you'll get", to be sure that there is a scientific basis for what we're saying. Ms. Gower does state many things that are scientifically known, which is good. However, she also states many things as fact that are based on her own "breeding experience" and are not actually known to be true at all. We as breeders and geneticists do not know of any genetic basis for the difference between "red chestnut" and "yellow chestnut", yet Ms. Gower claims to know the exact chances for producing foals of these colors. This can be extremely misleading for breeders reading the book. I was most impressed with her pictures--which are truly comprehensive and beautiful--but people reading her book should check other sources as well to know for sure if the information they're reading is fact or theory.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The title says it all - a great horseman's reference book, November 1, 2000

By 

Sally Sparrell (Waynesville, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Horse Color Explained: A Breeder's Perspective (Paperback)

The thing that grabs your attention when you first see this book is the photos on the cover. You may think to yourself: "Wow, is that really a brindled horse? - weird." Then you notice the photo of the Paint, and the other horse's picture above the brindled one. Hint: it isn't a grullo. At least the fourth horse on the cover is simple, it's black, but then look closer, it isn't, it's brown. These are just a few of the surprises that you'll find in this most fascinating book about horse coat color and the genetics that determines it. For most breeders defining color is important, and this comprehensive, very easy to read book is a must. The everyday horseman will enjoy this book for it's wonderful color photos, including some surprising color patterns, as well as the easy to read explanations.

The first part of the book is the most important to read thoroughly. The author does an excellent job charting and explaining genetics, making it uncomplicated and easily understood. It is so well done that anyone involved in breeding horses will be able to make better decisions based on the probabilities of certain crosses and even how to avoid undesirable traits such as CID, HYPP, and lethal white syndrome.

The whole book is filled with numerous charts, tables, diagrams and such excellent pictures that it's very easy for the reader to learn the subtleties of horse coat color and patterns. The appendices are very thorough, though I did find one typo in table A that was mildly confusing. Table C corrects the problem.

The author is Australian, an authority on genetics, as well as knowing the various requirements for many breed and color registries. Although there seems to be an emphasis on the Australian breeds, which shouldn't surprise, there are many photos and descriptions of the genetic make-up of European and American breeds, too. As a Quarter Horse breeder, myself, I found all the information extremely useful for my program, as should all horseloving people. I definitely recommend this book. By the way, the true genetic color of the "grullo" on the cover is explained on page 112.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful for horsemen, breeders, equine artists, and laymen!, July 18, 2001

By 

Paige Easley Patty (GA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Horse Color Explained: A Breeder's Perspective (Paperback)

An excellant book, far better than I had expected. Very well organized, starting with the most basic of colors through the more complex patterns and mixes thereof, Jeanette Gowler concludes with examples of the unusual and very rare. Cover to cover color photos are extremely well done, showing both examples of the same horses both 'in color' and 'out of coat' for different seasons for comparison, detail shots/close ups are provided, and multiple examples are illustrated within each group. And although the author concentrates rather heavily on breeds of horses presently in Australia, she still covers a wide range around the world and quotes other researchers in the field. Additionally she provides some information where she disagrees with previous publications on equine colors and their inheritance. I believe that this book is the best in its field that I have found to date, both for breeders, buyers, and equine artists like myself who want to get it right. Added to a group of such books on this topic, one can see the recent changes evolving in our understanding of equine genetics in general through this book, and use the mulitiple studies by differing author/reseachers for comparison and cross reference.