
Flaxen vs plume
How do you tell the difference between flaxen and plume on a chestnut-base? I recently read a few of the topics on plume which have now led me to doubt that my 'flaxen' chestnuts are flaxen.

Re: Flaxen vs plume
Gaagii wrote:.
BlackOak2 wrote:.

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Re: Flaxen vs plume
This is a good question, and perhaps only Gaagii can answer fully.
Plume can reach to the ends of the hair, but doesn't usually. So the main difference between flaxen and plume is that flaxen colors the entire mane and the entire tail with a color flush, whereas plume does not. As far as the leg flushing is concerned, flaxen and plume are not too similar. Flaxen comes from the hoof upward, but plume acts much more like dun, originating from the back of the ankle and flushing forward.
Plume can reach to the ends of the hair, but doesn't usually. So the main difference between flaxen and plume is that flaxen colors the entire mane and the entire tail with a color flush, whereas plume does not. As far as the leg flushing is concerned, flaxen and plume are not too similar. Flaxen comes from the hoof upward, but plume acts much more like dun, originating from the back of the ankle and flushing forward.
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Re: Flaxen vs plume
Thanks!BlackOak2 wrote:This is a good question, and perhaps only Gaagii can answer fully.
Plume can reach to the ends of the hair, but doesn't usually. So the main difference between flaxen and plume is that flaxen colors the entire mane and the entire tail with a color flush, whereas plume does not. As far as the leg flushing is concerned, flaxen and plume are not too similar. Flaxen comes from the hoof upward, but plume acts much more like dun, originating from the back of the ankle and flushing forward.
It's this horse that makes me question whether I have flaxen or plume:
At first I thought 'Obviously flaxen chestnut' but then I saw Gaagi's posts about plume and I just thought '...wait'. Then I checked that horse's relatives that are bays and, lo and behold, they have awfully greyish manes for bays. And then I also noticed that I had greys with white in their manes.
Anyway, do you think these are plume? There are a few others that I haven't linked, too.
Then there were a couple of bays with manes more grey than black but it's hard to see on my tablet - I'll try to link them when I get to my computer.

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Re: Flaxen vs plume
Plume is easiest (at least for me) to tell when the mane is still standing. And when paired with flaxen... impossible for me.Malakai10 wrote:Thanks!BlackOak2 wrote:This is a good question, and perhaps only Gaagii can answer fully.
Plume can reach to the ends of the hair, but doesn't usually. So the main difference between flaxen and plume is that flaxen colors the entire mane and the entire tail with a color flush, whereas plume does not. As far as the leg flushing is concerned, flaxen and plume are not too similar. Flaxen comes from the hoof upward, but plume acts much more like dun, originating from the back of the ankle and flushing forward.
It's this horse that makes me question whether I have flaxen or plume:
At first I thought 'Obviously flaxen chestnut' but then I saw Gaagi's posts about plume and I just thought '...wait'. Then I checked that horse's relatives that are bays and, lo and behold, they have awfully greyish manes for bays. And then I also noticed that I had greys with white in their manes.
Anyway, do you think these are plume? There are a few others that I haven't linked, too.
Then there were a couple of bays with manes more grey than black but it's hard to see on my tablet - I'll try to link them when I get to my computer.

Although I would be suspect of that chestnut as well. Personally, I think you probably have a combination of plume and flaxen. And I could be wrong with that. I've seen these silvery style flaxens before, so I don't know if it's a combination that causes it or if it's just the flaxen. I do want to say that flaxen can be cryptic, where you can't even tell it's there, to almost white in color. What this chestnut horse is though... *shrugs*... I'm still sticking with combo.
As for the other ones... Plume isn't my strong suit and when combined with dilutes, it's increasingly hard for me to pin it down. So I could be wrong with these... and also, I think it was decided that plume is recessive style, so even though the horse may NOT show it, it doesn't mean that the horse can't pop foals WITH it.
Cash Flame I'd vote no. No visible plume.
Invitation Glory, I'd also vote no, but suspect.
Invitation Outline, I'd also vote no.
Yarn Lonestar, I'd vote probably yes. The foal image shows perhaps just a little lightening to the base of the tail that may... (or may not) be plume.
Firefly Power I'd also vote no, but suspect.
Plume is buildable. Have to start somewhere and the ancestors of such could be entirely bland.
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Re: Flaxen vs plume
ThanksBlackOak2 wrote:Plume is easiest (at least for me) to tell when the mane is still standing. And when paired with flaxen... impossible for me.Malakai10 wrote: Thanks!
It's this horse that makes me question whether I have flaxen or plume:
At first I thought 'Obviously flaxen chestnut' but then I saw Gaagi's posts about plume and I just thought '...wait'. Then I checked that horse's relatives that are bays and, lo and behold, they have awfully greyish manes for bays. And then I also noticed that I had greys with white in their manes.
Anyway, do you think these are plume? There are a few others that I haven't linked, too.
Then there were a couple of bays with manes more grey than black but it's hard to see on my tablet - I'll try to link them when I get to my computer.![]()
Although I would be suspect of that chestnut as well. Personally, I think you probably have a combination of plume and flaxen. And I could be wrong with that. I've seen these silvery style flaxens before, so I don't know if it's a combination that causes it or if it's just the flaxen. I do want to say that flaxen can be cryptic, where you can't even tell it's there, to almost white in color. What this chestnut horse is though... *shrugs*... I'm still sticking with combo.
As for the other ones... Plume isn't my strong suit and when combined with dilutes, it's increasingly hard for me to pin it down. So I could be wrong with these... and also, I think it was decided that plume is recessive style, so even though the horse may NOT show it, it doesn't mean that the horse can't pop foals WITH it.
Cash Flame I'd vote no. No visible plume.
Invitation Glory, I'd also vote no, but suspect.
Invitation Outline, I'd also vote no.
Yarn Lonestar, I'd vote probably yes. The foal image shows perhaps just a little lightening to the base of the tail that may... (or may not) be plume.
Firefly Power I'd also vote no, but suspect.
Plume is buildable. Have to start somewhere and the ancestors of such could be entirely bland.
