The silver dilution only affects black pigment, and therefore doesn't show on chestnut bases (they can, of course, still carry silver and pass it on. It lightens the mane, tail and sometimes also eyelashes/facial hair to a silver or nearly white color. Silver is also linked to eye problems (MCOA).
Colors
Silver black
Silver black is a horse coat color caused by the silver dilution on a black base. The mane and tail have a silvery color.
Hannelore Roodhooft
Silver bay
Silver ay is a horse coat color caused by the silver dilution on a bay base. The mane and tail have a silvery color.
Hannelore Roodhooft
Cream combinations
Silver smoky black
Silver smoky black is a horse coat color caused by the silver dilution and one copy of the cream dilution on a black base. The horse has a brown, caramel-like color.
Hannelore Roodhooft
Gene
PMEL17 gene
The PMEL gene is responsible for the color silver in horses.
Hannelore Roodhooft
Presence in horses
Silver is the signature color of the Rocky Mountain Horse. The dilution is also present in several pony and draft breeds and in some warmbloods, more commonly in breeds of European descent.
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