American Brindle Equine Association
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The brindle pattern is best described as an irregular pattern of vertical drippy or water like stripes on a horse, donkey, or mules body. These marking can be dark on a light colored coat or light on a dark coat. They can be visible year round or seasonally and can cover either the whole body or only certain areas.
Horses of many diverse breeds have been reported to display the brindle pattern and or coat texturing, and as such the registry shall be open to and breed of equine. Horses, donkeys, and mules of all sizes are accepted by this registry including ponies and miniatures. No equine exhibiting zebra breeding will be registered with the ABEA, however chimeric and mosaic horses shall be accepted so long as they possess a brindle pattern.
Registration is open to any equine exhibiting brindle characteristics regardless of size, breed, age, gender or species. Memberships are not necessary, and plans for future programs hosted by the ABEA will be open based on the equines registration status not the rider.
Not much is known about the genetics involved resulting in the brindle pattern, and it is now known that there are at least three distinctly different types of this pattern. One only outwardly appearing brindle that is likely the result of a mosaic or chimeric equine, one which seems to appear brindle and be able to pass on the brindle characteristics suggesting that they are indeed inheritable in some cases, and also a possible carrier which may only exhibit brindle coat texture but whose offspring exhibit the pattern.
As of late, there are quite a few equine cropping up whose owners suspect are brindle. These include but are not limited to the following: heavy dun factor, leg barring, regular spaced rib barring, unusual dorsal stripe, fishnet/giraffe spots, and zebra outcrosses. To help further brindle study, none of the aforementioned will be admitted into the registry except for non-zebra equine who also clearly show brindling in conjunction with these other patterns.
Some experts, such as Dr Philip Sponenberg, believe brindle to be a unique gene that reorganizes the counter-shading caused by the “sooty gene” into brindle stripes.
This registry is run solely by volunteer effort. Any money gained goes into maintenance and upkeep of the registry. Any excess money will be donated to an animal rescue dealing with equine at our discretion.
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