grey (born smoky cream dun)
gris (né smoky cream dun)
Description
Very pale cream coat with blue eyes, similar to cremello and perlino. Results from two Cream gene copies on a black base. Distinguished by a slightly more neutral, cooler tone than cremello.
Visual traits
Very pale cream body · Slightly cooler tone than cremello · Blue eyes · Pink skin
Genetic basis
Extension E/-, Agouti a/a, double Cream CrCr — double dilution of a black base.
The Dun gene dilutes the base coat and adds primitive wild-horse markings: a dorsal stripe along the spine, leg barring, and sometimes shoulder stripes.
This horse also carries the Grey gene, but it has no visible effect here: an already double-diluted coat is born as pale as progressive greying would eventually make it. Only DNA testing can reveal its presence — the melanoma risk associated with Grey still applies.