A tool designed to predict the coat color of a newborn horse based on the genetic input of its parents allows breeders to anticipate potential outcomes. This prediction relies on established genetic principles governing equine coat color inheritance, often presented through Punnett squares or similar visual aids. For example, breeding a chestnut mare to a bay stallion might yield a bay, black, or chestnut foal depending on the underlying genotypes of the parents.
Predicting offspring coat color provides significant advantages in horse breeding. It assists breeders in selecting pairings to achieve desired coat colors, potentially increasing the market value of the foal. Historically, predicting color relied on anecdotal observations and less precise estimations. Modern tools, incorporating broader genetic understanding and complex inheritance patterns, offer greater predictive accuracy and allow for more strategic breeding decisions.