Equine Color and Genetic Testing Labs

There are many laboratories in the US and around the world that do horse color testing, disease testing, etc. When you choose a lab, make sure it is a reputable one! There are several university-related labs, which I recommend, and many private labs (some of which can NOT be recommended!). Here are a few I'm familiar with:

University Laboratories:

• University of California at Davis: http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/horse.php

• Cornell University: http://ahdc.vet.cornell.edu/

• University of Kentucky: http://www.ca.uky.edu/gluck/AGTRL.asp#color

• University of Minnesota: http://www.vdl.umn.edu/ourservices/equineneuromuscular/home.html   (disease testing)

Private Laboratories:

• Animal Genetics, Inc. http://www.horsetesting.com/Equine.asp

• PROCEED WITH CAUTION IF YOU CHOOSE TO USE THIS LAB, BELOW, in my opinion:
  DNA Diagnostics (aka Shelterwood Labs, and also affiliated somehow with Catgenes.Org) http://www.dnadiagnostics.com/  DNA Diagnostics/Shelterwood Labs offers a test for multiple characteristics at one price. I had seen a fair bit of chatter online about how they cash the checks and don't give the results of  the test. So, I tested them by paying for three horse tests. Guess what...they sent back two of my horses' test results and after 4 1/2 months, the third was still missing in action! Repeated phone calls and e-mails were ignored by the lab. Finally, five months after the test, someone gave me the results for the third horse. 
  If you choose to use this lab, my opinion is to only send them as much money as you are willing to lose, in case you don't receive your results. Update: A friend just called that used this lab and she still hasn't received her results after many months of waiting, phone calls, and e-mails. 3/2010. I know of another horse that tested homozygous for black that is not homozygous, as he has produced sorrel and palomino foals. In both cases, Shelterwood does not return their repeated phone calls.