b'Fjord Color Fjord Color Inheritance and Testing Decision GuideWritten and photos by: Cherrie Nolden, 1dr FjordsNowthattheNFHRhastransitionedovertoanew database for the Fjord pedigree information, we have the opportunity to include color genotypes for our Fjords. The 6 color names used for Fjords, brown dun, red dun, grey, yellow dun, white dun and kvit, are good descriptions for what we see, but are insufficient to describe the colors thatthosehorsescarryorcanpassalongtofuture generations. Given the simple gene inheritance for these colors, there are some basic truths and assumptions that canbeeasilymadeaboutanyFjord,givenitshistory, phenotype and what is known about its parents, relative to the color genes any particular Fjord carries. If none of those inquiries are sufficiently enlightening, testing the horsesDNAforthe3causativegenesofAgouti,Red Factor, and Cream Dilution, will tell us what colors that horse inherited and thus can pass to offspring. These approachescanbeusedtopopulatethenewNFHR database with the color genetics of many of the recorded Fjords.TheattachedColorDecisionTreecanhelpan owner decipher the lab color test results for the recording of their Fjords phenotypic color.Basics of Fjord colors:There are 3 genes that create Fjord colors: Red Factor genesrecessiveallelemakesredduns,Agoutigenes recessive allele makes greys, and Cream Dilution makes whiteduns,yellowduns,greyswithcream,andkvit Fjords. Brown dun is produced by the combined effect of the dominant alleles of the Agouti and Red Factor genes.Whentestingforbodycolor,thesegenesarethe only3thatarecurrentlytestableandrelevantfor Fjords. Variations in body colors like shade or intensity, stripe thickness and color intensity, primitive dun mark expression, Njal marks, pangare, and white marks are all governed by multiple genes without a known or simple inheritance pattern.White marks are undesirable in the breed, and just like in all other breeds of horses, are typically larger and more often expressed on the red base colors of red dun and yellow dun. They are certainly not limited to the red B_Newborn red dun w cream hooves 1dr Rasmus base colors though.28 Fjord Herald Issue #148Fall 2023'