Chestnut Dun (Red Dun)
Chestnut dun, also called red dun, is a chestnut base coat lightened by the dun gene. The result is a soft orange-red or apricot shade with slightly darker points and primitive markings.
Looks Like (Phenotype)
A chestnut dun horse has a light, warm body colour with darker red shading along the mane, tail, and lower legs. You can usually spot a dark line running down the spine (we call this a dorsal stripe), and sometimes faint stripes on the shoulders or legs.
A horse is truly dun if it has a clear dorsal stripe that runs down the spine, and there should be stripes on the shoulders or legs. Looks a bit like zebra stripes. This is the best sign of the dun gene at work. But to be 100% sure, make sure to test!
Variations
The depth of colour can differ slightly between horses. Some chestnut duns appear soft peach or apricot, while others are more copper-red. Foals are often born with clear dorsal stripes and may lighten as they grow older.
Behind the Colour (Genotype)
The dun gene lightens the body while leaving the mane, tail, and markings darker. Only one copy of the gene is needed for the effect to appear.
Related Colours
Bay Dun | Brown Dun | Black Dun | Dunalino