[.ca] Horse Color Explained: A Breeder's Perspective (ISBN 1570761620)

Review of Horse Color Explained by Jeanette Gower:
I really enjoyed the book and felt I got a lot of information out of it. It was explained in a way I could easily understand and explanations were followed up with a lot of pictures. This is a very important book for horse breeders interested in color.

Helps me a lot...:
As breeder with only a few mares, in a variety of colors, using outside stallions, this book is great to help me figure out what I might or might not get crossing certain colors. I knew my old chestnut mare always gave me the color she was bred to- the baby picture of the palomino would have helped me last year know he would turn gold as he grew, which he did. I find it very helpful ,and can use my discretion on "absolutes" of expected colors. Includes colors I never heard of, nor am likely to see in my quarter horses. Not too interested in breeding paints anyway...

Good for basics, but be careful.:
I have studied equine genetics for many years, and I am well aware of what is scientifically known and what is more "heresay" or speculation. There are many shades of many colors out there, and it is important when we say "If you cross this with this, then this is what you'll get", to be sure that there is a scientific basis for what we're saying. Ms. Gower does state many things that are scientifically known, which is good. However, she also states many things as fact that are based on her own "breeding experience" and are not actually known to be true at all. We as breeders and geneticists do not know of any genetic basis for the difference between "red chestnut" and "yellow chestnut", yet Ms. Gower claims to know the exact chances for producing foals of these colors. This can be extremely misleading for breeders reading the book. I was most impressed with her pictures--which are truly comprehensive and beautiful--but people reading her book should check other sources as well to know for sure if the information they're reading is fact or theory.

Best I have ever read!:
As a breeder of quarter horses this book has become a fundamental resource for our breeding program to evaluate potential crosses to ensure that certain color issues (i.e., too much white, rn to rn issues, etc) do not occur. Well written and illustrated, it is by far the most comprehensive and useable book on this subject I have ever come across. Highly recommended for breeders in particular.

Some facts are well explained, but...:
I am very interested in Horse Color Genetics and have read quite a bit on the subject. As a Paint breeder however, I am not very happy with this book. I feel Gower has stated her opinion to much. She makes too many statements that are pure "taste" and not fact. Especially when it comes to Blue eyes, mixing Paint patterns and cremello's. Other than that she does explain very well.