Flaxen (f)
Flaxen is a recessive coat modifier in game that primarily affects red pigment in a horse's mane and tail.
Because Flaxen affects red pigment, a horse must have a chestnut base coat (e/e) for the modifier to visually display. Flaxen does not visibly affect horses with a black or bay base coat.
How Flaxen Works In-Game
Flaxen horses typically have lighter manes and tails, ranging from a yellow color to white.
In game, the horse's base coat remains unchanged, although there are plans to introduce subtle changes to areas of the body, such as the muzzle, that may be seen in horses expressing the Flaxen gene.
Flaxen Inheritance
Flaxen is recessive in our genetics system, meaning two copies are needed for the modifier to visually show on a chestnut horse.
- f/f - The horse has two copies of Flaxen and will always pass the Flaxen allele to its offspring. Chestnut horses with this combination will visually express Flaxen.
- f/n - The horse has one copy of Flaxen but does not visually express it. It has a 50% chance of passing the Flaxen allele to its offspring.
- n/n - The horse does not carry the recessive Flaxen allele and cannot pass it to its offspring.
Hidden Flaxen Carriers
Horses with black or bay base coats can still carry one or two copies of the Flaxen allele, even though the modifier is not visible on their coats.
These horses can pass the allele to their offspring, meaning two horses that do not visually display Flaxen may still produce a Flaxen chestnut foal, depending on their genetics.
For a foal to visually express Flaxen, it must inherit both a chestnut base coat (e/e) and two copies of the Flaxen allele (f/f).
Genetic Testing
The exact gene responsible for Flaxen has not yet been identified in real horses. However, our genetics system treats Flaxen as a recessive, testable modifier.
Players can have their horses genetically tested at a veterinary office to determine whether they carry Flaxen and whether they have one or two copies of the modifier.