Snowdrop can lighten the coat, mane, tail and eyes of horses. One copy of snowdrop doesn't affect the coat. Two copies of snowdrop dilute black pigment to a pale, cream color.
Colors
At the moment, we only know that one copy of snowdrop has no effect, and that two copies of snowdrop dilute a black base coat (and likely have a similar impact on chestnut and bay). This section will be updated once we have more information.
Black Snowdrop
Black snowdrop is a horse color caused by two copies of snowdrop on a black base. The coat is pale cream in color.
Hannelore Roodhooft
Gene
MATP gene
The MATP gene is responsible for the dilutions cream, pearl, sunshine and snowdrop in horses.
Hannelore Roodhooft
Presence in horses
Snowdrop was recently (2020) discovered in a black-based Irish Cob mare that looked like a double dilute horse, but gene testing didn't show any of the dilutions known at the time. This led to further research. The snowdrop allele has, so far, only been found in the mare's family line.
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