Researching the bloodlines involved in the various colors present in our breed is one of the things I most enjoy. For years I suspected that the silver gene existed in the breed, and one of the horses who drew my interest was a mare named Orcland Youlenda. At the 2000 AMHA Convention held here in Atlanta, Nancy Caisse of Townshend Farm presented a slide show of horses of the past from the New England area. In her presentation was a color slide of Youlenda's dam, Paleface (Squire Burger, chestnut X Zona Skinner, registered as chestnut but actually silver dapple). The mare was clearly a bay silver! I was very excited to see this picture as it confirmed my belief that silver had indeed been present at one time in the breed. The question was, did it still exist- or had the gene died out?

In February 2002, the silver dapple gene was proven to still be present in the Morgan breed, thanks to the efforts of Nancy Castle and Sherry Siebenaler working with Bobbie Zeulner, owner of the first confirmed (via DNA Red Factor test) silver dapple Morgan, Zeulner's Sunka Wakan. Silver dapple Morgans are rare (there are less than twenty verified silver dapple Morgans alive at present, all of which are pictured on this site), but now we know they DO still exist!

The Silver Dapple Morgans Project website grew out of my research of- and love for- this beautiful and unusual color. It is my hope that by sharing this information, more silver dapple Morgans will be identified. The purpose of the Silver Dapple Morgans Project is to collect pictures and information on known silver dapple lines in the Morgan, to further knowledge and awareness of the color in our breed, and to discover previously unknown sources of silver in Morgan pedigrees.

If you have more information on potentially silver lines of Morgans, or have pictures of silver Morgans to add to this page, please contact Laura Behning.

The Silver Dapple Morgan Gene Pool CURRENTLY LIVING VERIFIED SILVER DAPPLE MORGANS This list represents the only known breeding stock. Also known to exist are two geldings, one possibly still living (aged) but sterile stallion and one no longer fertile mare. If you are aware of a currently living silver dapple Morgan stallion or mare that you do not see listed here, please contact Laura Behning. 1. Foxton Fawn (Society Statusmaster X Foxton Felicia), 1987 brown silver dapple mare, owned by Lisa Holec. 2. Foxton Smokey Dawn (Topside Midnight X Foxton Felicia), 1990 black silver dapple mare, owned by Foxton Morgans. 3. Amanda's Suzie Q (Devan King X Taha Holly Q), 1994 chestnut (carrying silver) mare, owned by Tamar's Ventures. 4. Zeulner's Sunka Wakan (S Bar B Blksaddle Chester X Zeulner's Marvelous Melody), 1998 bay silver dapple stallion, owned by Zeulner's Morgans. 5. TMV Silver Hawk (Carbide Smoke X Amanda's Suzie Q), 2004 dark bay silver dapple stallion, owned by Tamar's Ventures. 6. Schaenzer's Silver Eagle (Zeulner's Sunka Wakan X Granaway Bonne Amie), 2004 dark bay or brown silver dapple stallion, owned by Rainbow's Gait Ranch. 7. Whiting's Bright Star (Foxton Blackjack X Foxton Fawn), 1998 black silver dapple mare, owned by Inya Kara Morgans. 8. Whiting's Fancy Star (Foxton Debonair X Foxton Fawn), 1999 brown silver dapple mare, owned by Joyce Urroz. 9. Zeulner's Silver Legacy (Zeulner's Sunka Wakan X Oregon N Blksaddle Ecstacy), 2005 black silver dapple stallion, owned by Sterling Morgan Horses. 10. Lone Pine Starlite (Dutch Royal Tribute, bay X Pegasus Polka Dot, chestnut carrying silver), 1998 bay silver dapple mare, owned by Upsondowns Morgans and Stone Pine Morgans. 11. Erber's April Joy (Erbers CF Onyx X Pegasus Prime Joy), 1998 bay silver dapple mare, owned by Upsondowns Morgans and Stone Pine Morgans. 12. Foxton Frosty Dawn (Foxton Society Beau X Foxton Smokey Dawn), 2002 dark bay or brown silver dapple mare, owned by Brookridge Morgans. 13. Unconventional (Gone Gold X Foxton Frosty Dawn), 2006 bay silver dapple colt, owned by Brookridge Morgans.

Pictured above, left: Foxton Frosty Dawn (Foxton Society Beau X Foxton Smoky Dawn), 2002 dark bay silver dapple mare owned by Laura Behning. Right: Foxton Fawn (Society Statusmaster X Foxton Felicia), 1987 brown silver dapple mare owned by Lisa Holec. Both mares tested homozygous for black on Red Factor testing by UC Davis.