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Interview with Celeste Huston about “horses of
color” and her passion for “genetic color testing”
Celeste writes: “How did I become so excited
by horses with color?”
“In 1986 I had retired from showing in the Arabian
horse circuit. I continued my breeding program with
several Sidi Brahim gray Arab broodmares. I also had
a truly fine Andalusian stallion, Branbury’s
Toronado, whom I stood to just a few outside mares.
Fad
A lad was 26 when he passed on and the Toronada went
to a fantastic owner as a gelding. I had lost a gray
stallion prior to Fad a Lad to melanoma. I was
determined to NEVER buy or breed another gray horse.
Why? Melanoma is so prevalent in gray horse coats.
My gray mares had small tumors which mastastasized
and several of those mares passed on from melanoma
as well.
About this time, I received a call about a black and
white paint stallion, which was being sold. I begged
my friend to forget it and not call me back about
this horse but alas, she sent me pictures of this
outstanding specimen and I was smitten. Thus I
bought my first COLOR horse, Bold Win, in 1987.
Every year, was like Xmas for me, and my clients. I
was getting the most exciting colors from Bold Win
and now I know why; he carried a crème gene,
therefore he was a Smokey black! I learned by
experience and from breeding many mares with
different patterns and solids, that my boy had
something different, as the palominos and buckskins
kept coming from this black tobiano stud. Bold Win
was with me until 2007 and died at 28 years old
The crème gene was a mystery to me, until Dale
Robertson, the actor, and I had a long discussion
about it. He said “a true black stallion will not
have any red in his coat when out in sunlight.” Bold
Win did have a tad of red, as does our AQHA smokey
black Colonels Gotaspot. That is when I began to
research color genetics. The test for the crème gene
was not even necessary as the stallions proved to me
they carried a crème gene and when bred to a dilute,
I would get cremello color every now and again. I
did, however, get into doing DNA testing in the year
2000.
I had moved to Santa Ynez in 1995, where I developed
my dream ranch and began to have very big breeding
seasons with the stallions. When we moved,. I also
brought an appaloosa stallion, Sweet Sir Vallant,
who took us throughout the Santa Ynez valley in our
coach. I acquired another awesome stallion, a silver
grulla, named TM Cody B Smokin , and a dun silver
dapple stallion AQHA, a known Son of a Cinnamon!
What a fine band of boys, that, had the ranch,
raging with a rainbow of quality and color! All the
pedigrees of these stallions were impeccable and
foundation lineage of “bull dog- type, strong
working cow horse pedigrees.”
Several months ago, along came our new stunning
palomino, Real Cool Scotch who will wow them, He is
a 23 point halter winner at 2 years old and is on
the AQHA circuit. I could not resist! We will stand
him 2009, along with AQHA Colonels Gotaspo, a smokey
black, our Black tobiano Gypsy Horse Stallion,
Huston, and our Chocolate Silver Dapple Stallions,
St. Clarins and his silver dapple son, Sir Keith,
who also carries a crème gene, which is rare.
When the gypsy horses came galloping in to my life,
I had to down size my Quarter Horse stallion
population, to make room for my newest interest.
As responsible breeders, we have an opportunity, in
North America, with this new breed, the Gypsy Horse.
No, we have an obligation to ensure that we are
breeding for the best characteristics and genetic
make up of this wonderful horse.
It is with this mission in mind, that I dare
editorialize on the Silver gene factor and its
suspect contributions to genetic anomalies in the
equine world.
The silver dapple color had always intrigued me,
though not until I owned, stood and researched it
did I find out how special this particular color is.
It is probably the most exotic and unique color in
the horse world. I had bred AQHA grullas for 6 years
as I was becoming addicted to the gypsy. I was very
excited by the dilute colors, however, the silver
dapple Z gene, is in its own right a different
genetic world.
I have had personal discussions with Dr Phillip
Sponenberg, a foremost author of 3 volumes of Equine
Genetics. He is a scholar and a world of information
for me that I deeply appreciate so much what I have
learned from him. We met when he emailed me asking
if he could use 2 of my horses in his book Vol. 3
Equine Genetics, as representing the silver dapple.
He used St Clarins and a tobiano spotting pattern,
Cici’s Dottie Lady.
As we spoke, I learned detail about the Z gene Being
a curious person who wants to do right by my
breeding program, I learned that though beautiful a
color, there is a danger in which indiscriminant
breeding can provoke into a time bomb. What is there
which could cause such a dramatic statement?
“SILVER DAPPLE OCULAR CHANGES IN HOMOZYGOTES <AKA>
Z/Z FOR SILVER ALLELE”
This is taken from Dr. Phillip Sponnenberg’s 2nd
edition of his book ‘Equine Color Genetics’ 2nd
edition’-published in 2003 from the Iowa State
Press.
“Re. silver dapple ocular effects. Ocular changes
are consistently associated with colors of this
grouping many breeds in which this allele occur, so
it is safe to assume that the ocular changes are
indeed part of this allele. Detailed studies have
yet to be done, BUT the anecdotal evidence suggests
that when heterozygotes are minimally affected and
vision is normal or nearly so. Homozygotes have
profoundly affected eyes, and some are affected to
the point where vision is NOT normal. A simple
breeding strategy to avoid producing visually
deficient horses of these colors is to mate SILVER
to NONSILVERS. This can be tricky in some breeds in
which this allele is common, because CHESTNUT and
SORREL horses will not express the allele, but can
carry it. They could pass it on to a foal and could
therefore be responsible for producing homozygotes.
In breeds in which this allele is common, it is
safest to mate chestnut, sorrel or colors derived
from these to bay, brown or black mates free of the
silver dapple allele. This strategy assures that the
production of homozygotes is avoided.”
“I also have spoken to Saskatchewan, Veterinary
University’s Bruce Grahn, DVM, Dipl. ABVP, ACVO, who
is the head ophthalmologist & geneticist, and is
leading a study of the silver gene and its effect on
the eye of the horse, and is confirming new findings
on the Z gene.* I also spoke at length with the head
of genetics at University of California, Davis. The
3 scientists all confirmed a strong belief that
breeding the Z gene to the Z gene, is possibly
resulting in a homozygous Z/Z color, and is risking
an ocular problem, which, could then be passed on
through generation after generation. The Z gene has
just been identified in the last few years and
research is in its budding stages, however, certain
facts are coming out and it is strongly suggested
NOT to breed Z to Z and certainly NOT to breed
relative to relative possessing the Z gene, without
taking on this risk.
The gypsy world has but a few gypsy horses with the
silver gene and all of them in USA are closely
related. Most all are from the Boss horse line. I
own 4 adult silver dapples, and have sold 3 of my
silver dapple foals. I am very concerned that in our
gypsy horses, we must be careful not to cause any
problems which can result from breeding sons and
daughters and aunts and uncles, let alone Z to Z! If
I thought I was wrong or had any doubts, I would not
be concerned, but I do have 2 fine gypsy silver
dapple stallions that I intend to continue breeding
and would rather not see indiscriminant, uninformed
breeders make mistakes which could affect us all
eventually. Our gypsy horses do not have a written
history. Their true lineage is all by word of mouth,
gypsy to gypsy, and dealer to dealer, so we had no
real documentation until we decided to test DNA on
the horses before registering them. This is thanks
to the USA’s gypsy breeders who want to set the
record straight as much as we can! I also suggest
NOT registering ZZ, homozygotes to the silver dapple
gene.
There will be those asking about the Rocky Mountain
Horse and Icelandic horse breeds. The RMH and
Kentucky Mountain Horses, are more in abundance than
the gypsy horses that carry the Z gene, therefore
more research is available within those breeds. They
have many ZZ running in their bloodlines, and the
RMH do have ocular changes as do the Icelandic’s
with ZZ gene. If a ZZ horse does not produce a ZZ
when bred to a Z mare or stallion, the ZZ horse will
pass the ocular change on and it can lie silent in
the Z horse. I have given the researchers from the
Canadian Veterinary School permission to come and
check out our horses, and have contacted as many
other Silver Dapple breeders or owners that I know
of, so we can help research the silver dapple color
in the gypsy horse. We have but 15 or so with the Z
gene in the USA who will be cooperative thus far.
There is no charge for this service. It is research
being done in a scientific fashion to help learn
more about the Z gene and different breeds. All
results are kept private.
If one is curious to speak with or write to me, I
would welcome any questions and would provide
answers, and or referrals to the proper persons who
have the proper answers. Also, I would be happy to
recommend the genetics lab where I have had my
testing done for those wanting accurate
information.”
Contact Celeste Huston at by email or call
805-688-8020. You can visit her web site at
www.cieloceleste farm.com.
