satin gene discussion again....

Hi all...I know I know ... the "satin" question pops its ugly (well quite pretty) head again. Lol. I ran across an earlier posting of this question from last year and was curious about it:

Satin Gene?

I have personally never heard of this "satin" gene until now. I was researching this metallic sheen/look because a mare I got in late Oct. 2009 looks to have what that other girl is talking about. And yes...I know the difference between "shiny" coat and this "metallic" color that shows up on horses. It is almost like the same thing that some champagne horses have. My quarter horse mare is a really deep red bay color. But she has these, almost like sunburst color, hairs in her coat. I have had several bays before...none that have this! My boyfriend always tells me how amazing she looks in when the sun hits her coat. I have been around horses for more than half my life ...and have never witnessed this other than in some pictures of champagne horses and the Akhal Teke horses. She is purebred quarter horse and I have her pedigree to go back all the way to one of the founding horses Eclipse. The theory (what really does happen in rabbits that have it) is pretty convincing to me. Something about the hair shaft being clear...or hallow and letting the light reflect off of it better makes sense to me, as it only shows up in the sunlight. And if they are hallow then they can reflect the light that comes in and the color that shines out is what color the horse is (for example: my mare is a redder colored bay....so she reflects red). Its almost like thinking of a candle in a red glass holder...the light that comes out from the holder is red light. (Just a thought)

I'd like to hear from people that have witnessed this same occurrence. It is not just shiny! Unfortunately, cameras do not pic the color up. I guess if you had a $8,000 one it might, but that I do not have. Lol.

I have included a few pics of some horses that show it...note they are not only just the Akhal Teke breed. I know its crazy that pictures don't make it show up...but I promise its there! If you don't believe me .... I invite you my house to come and see it for yourself! Lol You definitely won't think I'm full of crap then hahahahaha!

If it exists...i wish my horse had it haha

Never heard of it, but if it is real then I know all the breeders I know would LOVE their horses to have it! Would save a lot of cost on show sheen :)
If its real I wish my two had it!

I know they have it in cats - it's called "glitter" and it's that the end of the hair shaft is actually hollow.

I think it has to be something, because Akhal Tekes don't have champagne.

Yes, in rabbits it is a well documented gene causing pigment distribution in the hairshaft to be finer, and translucent, meaning it reflects/refracts light differently. Not only are they 'shinier' looking, the color appears deeper and richer. I believe in rabbits it is a simple recessive-- so it can be "set" in populations.

Here is an angora rabbit with "normal" wool vs. a satin Angora--



And in a short haired rabbit--



It would sure be interesting to examine the hair shafts of "metallic" horses under a microscope in comparison with horses who do not have the metallic glow, to see the difference.

I'm referring here in these two pictures the one of my Red QH mare in the bottom picture. She had this shine/bloom to her most of the time, but not always. It was more common for her to look like this in the warm Summer months after she shed her Winter coat. She never got supplements of any kind, just grain and hay. I did groom her a lot, she is on a regular worming schedule and I used to ride her nearly everyday. Now that she is retired at 23 years of age and I'm laid-up after back surgery with more surgery to come she does not have that shine to her, but she is just as healthy.


I am another one that has never heard of a "satin gene" in horses. Not debating the possibilty though.

Haha... dang ... sorry that 1st rabbit pic makes me think of "Poof!!" LOL. I think of that lil girl in "DESPICABLE ME" movie. :-D "Its sooo fluffy!!!"

...very cute.... ok back on topic lol...

Thanks everyone for the comments.
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I think it's very neat. Anyone know if it can be hereditary?

I have met an appy stallion with that shine, and the owner does nothing to get him shiny. It is natural. Very beautiful horse. And being new here I don't know how to post pictures...

dunfold - you go to the button below named "Go Advanced"...Than in the "Additional options" section below the text box where you type...you click on "Manage attachments" and there you can upload them from your computer or off the web. Hope this helps!