Light fox
A light fox is a fox whose mane and tail have been lightened by the flaxen gene . In a broader sense, all brown horses with a lighter mane and tail are sometimes referred to as light foxes.
Appearance
Light foxes can have fox colors from a light yellow-brown to red-brown to a deep dark black-brown on their bodies. The mane and tail are white or clearly lightened. Often the legs up to the knee and ankle are a few shades lighter.
genetics
The allele Flaxen (f) only has an effect in foxes and in them only on the long hair , which is lightened compared to the top coat. If a fox has the Flaxen gene, it becomes a light fox. Since it is recessive towards the neutral allele F, which does nothing, it has to be homozygous (ff) in order to be able to develop its effect.
This gene only affects the fox because it does not affect black color pigments.
Possible confusion
- Darker palominos can look the same or very similar to foxes with flaxes
- Brown wind colored and black wind colored horses can sometimes hardly be distinguished from foxes with flaxes
Races
Haflingers are always foxes with the flaxengen, as are Jutlanders and the Black Forest draft horse , which is bred at the Marbach stud . The Italian draft horse , the Schleswig draft horse and the Frederiksborger often have this color, even with Norikers . So one can generally say that the gene is mainly found in cold blood breeds.
Haflingers often look like they are gradually fading towards the bottom and they have a light-colored mouth. This is due to the fact that in addition to flaxes, many Haflingers also have the "pangare" gene, which causes the flour mouth.
