HGG Community Forums

Heartwood · Feb 20, 2019 7:37 PM

As a new player I've been trying to get a better understanding of the genetics for this game (they're so delightfully complex) and I've been wondering for a while whether or not there's any specific way to predict dapples (outside of S+ and silver blacks)? With my untrained eyes I can't seem to detect any particular correlation between genes and appearance of dapples. What am I missing?

For example:
I love this gorgeous White Spotted Bay girl and can't for the life of me figure out how she gets her gorgeous pattern.

Lyra of the Tower

More often it's very faint as in the case of this Bay:

Cassiopia in the Garden

And this Chestnut Splash Appaloosa:

Lady of the Roses

It may be something obvious haha, but can anyone help me out?

ConfluenceStable · Feb 20, 2019 8:10 PM

I'm no dapple expert, but it looks like SstySsty may have something to do with it. It could be that any darkening gene makes the dapples more prominent and visible.

manesandtails · Feb 20, 2019 10:09 PM

I think Confluence is right. It looks like horses with SstySsty are more prone to getting dapples, I went on a hunt through all horses on the game with at least one copy of Ssty and found a bunch,

This girl (vv) for example has two copies of SstySsty and has bright bright dapples

TN2 Gold x Liver DP

Maybe it's her CcrC genes? Maybe not, because this girl (vv) has two copies of Ssty and CcrC and no dapples

3609268

So I searched some more and found a girl (vv) with ONE copy of Ssty and bright dapples

LS2 Islingr Spa

So, in conclusion (after my long rambling and examples) it looks like Ssty and S+ is what effects the dapples, but I see no gene that continuously or directly effects the brightness of the dapples (but again I'm no expert, this is just through my short search)

I hope I helped? Or at least gave some good examples.

SandyCreekAcres · Feb 21, 2019 1:20 AM

Classic Champagne (champagne on a black based horse) often gives dark dapples.

Silent Bubbles

Feathered Silence

Wolvevenfrost · Feb 21, 2019 2:57 AM

Oh yes I love the dark dapples! But I just love dapples in general haha!

Fizzy Wizzy Dizzy

Heartwood · Feb 21, 2019 10:08 AM

Thank you so much for the helpful insights Confluence! I'm definitely seeing a pattern where hom Ssty seems to enhance them when they exist, but I have to agree @manesandtails, it does seem to be random, I loved the examples, and thanks for the help, I guess it's just one of those intriguing mysteries of the game :-?

bluchrystals · Feb 21, 2019 10:09 AM

I wonder if hidden dense P (can't remember how to spell that :D ) has something to do with the dapples without sooty.

Heartwood · Feb 21, 2019 10:10 AM

@SandyCreekAcres & @Wolvevenfrost oooooh :x I don't have any dark dapples like that but they sure are lovely!! Thanks for the tip about classic champagne!

Heartwood · Feb 21, 2019 10:12 AM

Hm I wonder, that's an interesting thought, though I'm still such a novice at detecting DP outside of livers and cherry drops, haha.

But since my chestnut is hom Ssty I guess she can't have DP. The mystery endures!