| The Tobiano (pronounced: tow be yah' no). The | | | | horse. i.e. star, snip, strip, or blaze. The body can be |
| Tobiano coat pattern is governed by a dominant gene, | | | | many different color patterns but again normally will |
| meaning that there only needs to be one copy of the | | | | have white legs. If the Tobiano Horse is Homozygous |
| gene for the tobiano coat pattern to be present. | | | | Tobiano (will always produce a spotted foal) the |
| Homozygous refers to having identical alleles for a | | | | pattern may have what we call "paw prints" or lots of |
| single trait. Homozygous: (Ho-mo-zi-gus) means two | | | | small black spots within the white. See photos below |
| copies of the same gene. Horses that are | | | | of a weanling homozygous tobiano paint colt and a |
| homozygous for the tobiano gene will have two | | | | homozygous tobiano paint stallion. |
| copies of the tobiano gene, one inherited from each | | | | The tobiano pattern in horses and ponies appears to |
| parent. A horse must have two tobiano parents to | | | | be inherited as a simple dominant gene. A spotted foal |
| have inherited two tobiano genes. If the foal gets a | | | | can be produced by a tobiano x non-tobiano mating, |
| tobiano gene from each parent this means the foal will | | | | but never from a non-tobiano x non-tobiano mating. |
| be homozygous for tobiano. Only genetic testing will tell | | | | Tobiano foals with only one spotted parent will not |
| you more conclusively that the horse is homozygous | | | | breed true for tobiano because they have received a |
| for the Tobiano gene. Most labs only require you to | | | | "Not-tobiano" gene from their solid parent that they will |
| collect sample by pulling (do not cut off) 20-30 mane | | | | pass on, at random, to half of their progeny. The |
| or tail hairs with roots attached. This test is necessary | | | | mating between two tobianos can produce true |
| because a lot of the times the value of the horse will | | | | breeding (homozygous) tobiano horses. Breeders that |
| go up if he/she is tested to be homozygous for | | | | can recognize homozygous horses may use them to |
| tobiano gene. Especailly if this is a breeding stallion this | | | | breed so that "every" foal has the tobiano pattern. The |
| test is important because many people do not want | | | | tobiano coat pattern gene in the Paint or Pinto horse is |
| the gamble of getting a solid colored foal if they can | | | | a dominant gene, whereas, the "overo" coat pattern |
| breed to a stallion that will be a guaranteed color | | | | has a recessive gene. The tobiano paint horses can |
| producer. If the sire is tested homozgyous tobiano and | | | | consist of just about any color, size and shape. Any |
| the dam is also tested homozygous tobiano then | | | | breed of horse can be homozygous tobiano as long |
| normally a test is not needed if you can prove that | | | | as you have the tobiano gene from each parent. No |
| both the sire and dam have been tested. | | | | more worries about getting that solid colored foal with |
| The white on the body will generally cross the topline | | | | breeding homozygous tobiano horses. We need to |
| of the horse. Tobiano Paint Horses have the most | | | | make sure we don't sacrafice the quality when |
| common spotting pattern, characterized by rounded | | | | wanting to breed homozygous tobiano horses and |
| markings with white legs and white across the back | | | | make sure that they have the quality needed along |
| between the withers and the dock of the tail, usually | | | | with the color guarantee. Breeding for quality should be |
| arranged in a somewhat vertical pattern. The head | | | | your top priority and the color is always a bonus. |
| usually dark and with markings like that of a normal | | | | |