Flaxen lightens the mane and tail of a chestnut to a color lighter than the color of the body. It can range from white or silvery or only slightly lighter than the body color. The shade/intensity of flaxen can change seasonally or with age. Sometimes both the mane and tail are flaxen, sometimes just one of them. Flaxen chestnuts are sometimes referred to as having blonde manes and tails.
Flaxen is genetic in some way. But at this time we don't know exactly how it's genetic and there isn't a test. It appears to be recessive based on a limited study, but it might also be controlled by multiple genes. It's also likely there's multiple genetically different types of flaxen. A famous line of dark chestnut flaxens in Chincoteagues are descendants of Surfer Dude.
Palominos have white manes and tails, but that's a characteristic of palomino and not related to flaxen chestnut. Silver dilutes can sometimes have flaxen manes and tails, but is a common characteristic of silver and not related to flaxen chestnut.
There's a type of flaxen in bays, often called Gulastra Plume, but it does not appear to be related to flaxen chestnut. We also don't know the genetics behind it. It's much less common than flaxen chestnut and hasn't really been seen in Chincoteagues. The only flaxen bays in that are seen with any regularity are foals. The cause or inheritance of flaxen bays is not known at this time however it does appear frequently in some breeds.
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Flaxen chestnut in winter coat. Sire and several foals are also flaxen.
Dreamer's Gift (Surfer Dude x Lyra's Vega) Pedigree |
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Flaxen chestnut. Both parents are bay. Maryland Assateague Horse.
TJ Hollywood (Delegate's Pride x Susi Solé) Pedigree |
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Flaxen chestnut. From a line of flaxen chestnuts on both sides of her family.
Dreamer's Stardust (Ken x Dreamer's Gift) Pedigree |