* Chestnut Mare: Has the basic coat color "bay" and the red "extension" gene.
* Cremello Stallion: This is a dilution of a "bay" base coat. It has the "creme" gene, which dilutes the red pigment to a very pale yellow.
Here's the breakdown:
* Base coat: Both the chestnut mare and the cremello stallion have the "bay" base coat.
* Extension gene: The chestnut mare has the "red" extension gene.
* Dilution gene: The cremello stallion has the "creme" dilution gene.
Possible Foal Colors:
* Cremello: The foal inherits the "creme" dilution gene from the stallion, making it a cremello.
* Chestnut: The foal might inherit the "red" extension gene from the mare and not the "creme" gene, resulting in a chestnut foal.
It's important to note:
* Genetics are complex: The inheritance of coat color is a bit more complicated than this simple explanation. There are other genes involved, and the exact color of the foal can vary depending on the specific alleles present in both parents.
* Testing: If you want a definitive answer, it's best to have the parents tested for their specific genetic makeup.
Let me know if you'd like to explore other coat color combinations!