For more than 100 years, equine researchers have been examining why gray horses that are losing hair pigmentation are often concurrently affected by melanomas—tumors characterized by a massive production of the pigment melanin.

According to European researchers, humans cherry-picking gray coat color milleniums ago–due to the social prestige of riding a white horse—also inadvertently selected a gene mutation that predisposes horses to melanomas.

Professor Leif Andersson, PhD, from Uppsala University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, explained this selection for melanomas was likely not noticed as the gray mutation has no negative effects on the function of the horse throughout most of its life.

“A gray horse is as strong and runs as fast as any other horse and is probably better adapted to an environment with strong sunlight because the white coat reflects sunlight and its black skin protects from UV-damage,” said Andersson. “Identifying the genetic cause of the gray coat color in horses is important because 70-80% of gray horses more than 15 years of age have melanomas and reduced lifespans,” due to these growths