Roan Horse

Roan Horse

Roan coat colour, in horses also known as roaning, is a white patterning with a mixture of white and coloured hairs over the body. The head, lower legs, mane and tail remain coloured. In horses that inherit the classic Roan gene, the white and coloured hairs are evenly mixed in comparison to horses that have an uneven distribution of white hairs. For this specific roaning pattern, the inheritance has not been defined.

Inheritance

Classic Roan inherits in an autosomal dominant manner. The specific mutation that causes Roan has not directly been identified. However, it has been linked to a mutation to the gene ‘v-kit Hardy-Zuckerman 4 feline sarcoma viral oncogene homolog’ (KIT).

In literature it is suggested that coat colour Roan is homozygous lethal, but evidence from studies with the Quarter horse breed indicate otherwise. Homozygous Roan horses have been proven to exist, but they are relatively rare.

Relevant tests

• P659