Both photos by Sheila Miller

By Tana



AQHA Dun Stallion, Big Jimeny Jumpup, by Suzi Romine

By Suzi Romine. This AQHA shows the extremely rare "varnish roan" pattern, a part of the leopard-complex of genes, which are responsible for "appy" coloration in the
Appaloosa and other spotted breeds. Leopard-complex genes in the Quarter Horse are extremely rare due to the color restrictions of the AQHA. Spotting has never been acceptable, but the one "appy" pattern that mimics roan is Varnish, and thus has remained in the breed even today. It's often confused with roan, a color pattern common in the quarter horse, however it is genetically very different. Roan produces white hairs over the body but leaves the legs and face unaltered. Varnish, as seen here, sprinkles white hairs on the legs and face, often in the soft areas of the body, while leaving the bony areas dark.

Bay dun AQHA mare, by Teresa Rogers.

Hunter Bay Creek, AQHA Foundation stallion, by Melody.

AQHA "Cropout", a palomino sabino Quarter Horse. True cropouts do not exist, as a true croput would be the result of two solid parents having a pinto foal. Pinto genes are dominant, and that means that when Quarter horses produce a cropout, one of them, too, is a pinto, just minimally marked. There have been many pinto Quarter Horses that are registered AQHA. Because sabino, frame, and splashed white genes can be mimnimally expressed, the gene can be passed on through horses that adhere to the "White Line Rule" of the AQHA and still carry pinto genes. Many foundation quarter horses, such as Old Fred and Joe Reed, carried pinto genes.

Sunny D Light, by Holly Charland

by Kelly

HR Jumpin Stuff by Suzi Romine