Modifier: Dun

Occurs as: __ nD | __ DD
 Dun is a natural modifier gene in Nordanner. A modifier is a gene which 'modifies' the appearance of a horse, but have different effects than dilutes. Modifiers usually don't change the base coat color, or affect it very little -- instead, they add a different appearance to the underlying base. 
Dun is a modifier gene that creates dark striping down the spine, face, and legs of the horse. The gene may also affect the base, causing a lightening of the body, upper legs, and neck -- and creating darker points on the legs, muzzle, ears, and around the eyes of the horse. In addition, it may cause the lightening of guard hairs in the mane and tail.
Dun is a dominant gene, meaning that it only needs one copy, or allele, in order for it to be present. Dun also cannot be carried, and will be present in the phenotype of the horse if it has at least one copy of the gene. 
This gene does not change the base coat color of the horse, but instead creates an effect on top of it. It may also have characteristic names for the base coat -- i.e dun on black is "grullo", dun on bay may simply be called "dun", dun on buckskin "dunskin", dun on palomino "dunalino", etc.

Horses with this gene CAN:
  • Have a lightening effect on the body, upper legs, and neck of the horse with some sort of striping on the horse's back, face (webbing), legs and shoulders (barring). 
  • At minimum have a dorsal stripe from withers to tail, or barring on at least two legs. 
  • Have dun striping which is a consistent color across the design, and should be darker than the darkest point on the base coat. 
  • Optionally lighten the body, neck, and upper legs of the horse. 
  • Optionally have darker points than the base on the legs, muzzle, ears, and around the eyes of the horse. 
  • Optionally cause lighter guard hairs in the mane and tail. 
  • Appear under natural and genetic white. 
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Horses with this gene CANNOT:
  • Have a mane or tail which is lighter than the base without silver or flaxen present. The guard hairs should not lighten the entire mane and tail. 
  • Appear over mutations, breedable potions, or anomalies as it is a base coat modifier. 
  • Have eye color changes as a result of dun. 
The examples below show only a few of the accepted presentations, for you to get an idea of the range of presentations possible with Dun. 
Please note: Nordanner genes may simplify certain genes from real life. Genes may not present in Nordanner the way they do in real life or in other ARPG breeds, and are as close to being realistic as possible while still maintaining standards within the breed. ​