We’re adding another unique and rare marking to Legacy Horse Game V2—Badger Face!
If you’ve never heard of a badger face marking before, here’s what it is: a large, pigmented patch within a typically white facial marking. This striking effect is most commonly found on splashed white and frame overo horses, though there is speculation it may also appear in sabino patterns.
The Science Behind Badger Face (Or At Least What We Know)
Badger face markings are biologically unusual because they seem to break the expected rules of pigment migration in horses. Here’s a quick rundown of why that’s so fascinating:
- Melanocytes, or pigment-producing cells, migrate from the neural crest (the embryonic topline) during development to distribute color across the body.
- When melanocytes fail to reach an area, that area remains white—this is how markings like bald faces, splash patterns, and overo patches occur.
- In splashed white horses, the theory is that melanocyte migration stops early, leaving the lower body unpigmented.
A badger face marking on a splashed white horse, however, suggests that some pigment cells make it through to the face, leaving behind this unusual dark patch. But here’s the catch—no one actually knows why badger face happens! Even less is understood about why it also appears on frame overos, which follow a completely different genetic pattern.
How Will It Work in Legacy?
Since badger face markings are still a mystery in real life, we’re taking creative liberty and implementing them as a genetic trait in Legacy Horse Game V2! This means players will be able to breed for badger face markings on:
✔ Splashed White
✔ Frame Overo
✔ Sabino
We’re excited to bring this rare and eye-catching marking into the game and can’t wait to see the unique coat patterns players will create! Check out the examples below to see some of the badger face variations coming to V2!
