Splashed white 1/deafness (SW1)
Summary
Splashed white markings typically appear to be splashed up from underneath the horse. They can range from minor facial markings and socks to the white face, blue eyes, white legs and white belly of a typical boldly marked splash horse. Some, but not all splashed white horses are deaf.
Chestnut splashed white horses generally have larger markings than bay/brown or black splashed white horses.
Depending on the amount of white, splashed white can be indistinguishable from sabino 1 or frame overo markings. Testing is the fastest and most cost effective way to get a definitive answer on your horse.
The SW1 version of splashed white is present in a wide range of horse breeds.
Gene or region and technical reference
Gene: MITF (causative). Reference: Hauswirth et al. (2012)
Reported alleles
n. Test developed using animal controls.
SW1. Test developed using animal carriers.
Panels: groups of tests that are often ordered together
This test is in the full colour panel.
This test is in the Miniature health & colour panel.
This test is in the patterns panel.
