Dominant White Standardbred at Fair Winds Farm!

So last week Heather and I met with the owner Mark Mullen of Fair Winds Farm in Cream Ridge NJ.  Last month a 95% white colt born out of the Brown mare Coochi Mama and the bay stallion Art Major.  Color genetics geeks know what that means.  A de novo dominant white mutation on the KIT locus! (Translation:  A new mutation/change in the colt's DNA caused a new white pattern)

Since I live in the state, and cool horse color stuff like this almost never happens here, I promptly called up the farm and asked if I could visit, take pictures, geek out over the foal and interview the farm owner.  They agreed to a meeting and with Heather as my navigator/photographer we head over to Cream Ridge.  After arriving we were allowed into the enclosure to get better shots and video of the little yet to be named KIT mutation.

It was in the mid 90's when we drove up.  Needless to say it was hot.  The most interesting thing to note was that although his dam did not like the heat, the colt seemed fine because his white coloration reflected the sun.  Another fun thing about the colt is that he appears to be Chestnut (not extremely common in standardbreds) on top of being Dominant White...  well, underneath the Dominant White, but you know what I mean.  The most amusing and neat part about his tiny bits of color?  His tail has a racing stripe.

It sadly might roan out and fade as he gets older.  But it is very cool.

 After petting the little guy, with Heather taking pictures, while I took video while he tried to eat my camera, we all sat in a field on the property to do an audio interview with Mr. Mullen.  As you may be able to tell I was excited and nervous to actually be there.  I even mispronounced Mr. Mullen's name in the beginning.  I don't have much audio interview experience as you may tell.  Talking to myself and a microphone, totally.  Describing equine themed plays and Broadway productions with close friends, yup.  Talking to living people who are respected in their industry who I only just met in person, had to get used to it.

Without further ado, there is the video with the audio interview!

Mr. Mullen does not own the colt, but takes care of the colt and his dam on the farm.  The owner, Pete Congilose, currently has a naming contest going on for the little guy.

 You can mail him at whitecolt@ustrotting.com to tell him your suggestions.

As of now White Knight and Blank Canvas are top choices.  So is Micky Blue eyes, but the colt is dominant white, so his baby blues have already faded to brown.  My horse crazy niece is obsessed with the Disney movie Tangled and wants him to be called Maximus.  Although I have no idea for a proper race name for the guy, I kind of hope his barn name will be Kit to stand for his new color mutation on the KIT locus. ;)

HUGE thanks to Mr. Mullen and the staff at Fair Winds Farm.  They were wonderfully nice and understanding of two horse crazed color enthusiast coming to their farm.  We will be trying to visit the little guy again after he is weaned in the fall.