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It’s been a while since I researched white markings in horses, but these two I think I’ve got!

Tobiano produces patches of white that tend to cross the spine and have a smooth, rounded appearance. The white markings might have an “edge” to them of a slightly different color.

Frame produces white markings that tend to have a jagged appearance and focus on the horses sides and neck, and usually don’t cross the spine. (Hence the “frame”- it makes the horse’s base color look like it’s framing the white.)

Give me a second and I’ll find some examples!

Tobiano:

Ze Show Pony Cups
White markings cross the spine, and though there are some jagged edges, by and large they have a rounded appearance.

Frame:

Ze Show Pony Choices
Jagged markings that don’t cross over the spine.

Of course, there are a LOT of variations in how much white a horse has; I’ve seen nearly entirely white tobianos, and ones who only have high white stockings. Frame can be as little as a tiny white spot on the belly, or highly extensive as above, or any amount in between. We also only see one side of a horse in HAJ- the other side could have completely different markings! And then when you bring combinations of genes into it, it can get complicated. :)) that’s the extremely basic gist of it though.

As to why some people choose to breed for it- it’s an aesthetic choice and technically low risk if you manage it right. For example, only ever breeding a heterozygous frame horse to a non-frame horse. I personally don’t encourage it in my lines, but that’s because I tend to be forgetful and like colors and patterns that breed true.

@erisna-Thank you for the details. I have a love of black-and-white tobiano,so this will help me with my breeding. Your tobiano example is good-looking.
I was surprised by my Freaky Friday horse, as I was told frame and got an almost-completely white horse with only a few specks. Genetics are a weird thing sometimes.

I meant a paper I wrote last semester, but that works too!

Frame needs another gene to show, so looks best with W20, W2 etc. The Freaky Friday horses are homozygous for frame (overo lethal white) which in real life die, thus why they are freaky! The Freaky Friday horses are white, or mostly, like a real life lethal white foal would be though

Frame is a favorite! They're so pretty! Tobianos as well. Here is a few of mine!

13433152
She is frame with W20 and diamond sparkle . There is no other kit genes that would affect her frame.


13633578
Here is one that has another factor
She is frame with SW1 and hom W20 frame can give some horses blue eyes.

Now tobianos are more sharp jagged marks that can cross over the body .


13633614
Here is a tobiano with W20 and shatter glass



Grahams time2g
Here is another tobiano with W20. Tobiano can be almost solid with just white stocking or be very loud as well!

Now a tovero which is both in one horse.


13139613
This one's a tovero he's got both frame and tobiano as you can see there's alot of white covering his body. If you look at his pedigree his dam was frame and sire was tobiano and distinguish a good difference on how the genes affect the markings on the horse.

Here is another tovero



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