How to Collect DNA from a Horse

How Do You Collect DNA from a Horse?

The easiest way to collect DNA from a horse is by gently pulling hair from the mane or tail, ensuring the bulb at the end remains intact. Alternatively, DNA can be extracted from blood, which offers a higher yield and purity compared to hair. However, many horse owners prefer hair sampling due to its simplicity and convenience.

Will It Hurt My Horse?

While it may seem uncomfortable, horses typically exhibit little to no reaction when hair is pulled. A handy tip is to offer your horse a treat during the process to keep them distracted and content.

What Happens to the Sample Once It's Received?

Upon receipt at the lab, each hair sample is assigned a unique accession number for identification purposes. Any hair submitted in plastic bags must be removed and transferred to an envelope because moisture trapped in plastic bags can damage the DNA on the hair bulb. Hair bulb DNA can be stable for years if kept in a cool, dry place.

The extraction of DNA from the hair bulbs starts with carefully cutting off the bulb of the hair. The DNA is now ready to be used for whatever the lab needs.

Hair Sample Collection Tips:

Our lab predominantly uses DNA extracted from pulled hair samples, ensuring the hair bulb remains intact. You can collect hair from either the mane or tail, but we recommend the tail due to its longer length, which is easier to grip. Pulling hair in a downward motion is generally more comfortable, particularly with taller horses.

For accurate results, we require at least 30 strands of hair, roughly the width of a pencil. The hairs can be pulled from several different areas and mane/tail hairs can be mixed. 

Tips for Pulling Hair:

• Wrap the hairs around your hand and pull down in one quick motion.
• To protect your hand, you can wrap masking tape around your pinkie finger.
• Keep the bulb ends together.
• Trim off any excess hair, leaving at least 4 inches from the bulb.