Many junior single mane gene (Mm) Lionheads tend to have lovely manes with good length but often lack density. They are eye catching on the show table as they almost always have nice clean faces with a pronounced break between the face fur and the mane wool. They also tend to carry less wool on the lower flanks and rump and shed it out more quickly. Many, many Best of Breed winners are Single Maned (Mm) juniors. The Siamese doe pictured at the right is a beautiful example of a single mane gene (Mm) show Lionhead. She shows excellent mane on the sides as well as cap and has lost almost all of her flank wool.

Single mane (Mm) Lionheads often show well as juniors and young seniors but sadly many lose their manes as they age. Once the extra body wool has molted off they just seem to continue losing wool and many lose chest and cheek wool when fairly young. This is NOT true in all bloodlines but is seen in the vast majority at the present time.

Bastet's Sweet Pea
Single mane gene (Mm)
owned by Dawn Guth

Some single mane gene (Mm) Lionheads carry manes as adults but they do tend to loose manes even more often then double mane gene (MM) Lionheads do. It is hoped that the careful breeding of single mane gene (Mm) Lionheads with nice length as juniors and/or good manes as seniors will help establish the Lionhead bloodlines that will keep excellent manes as adults.

The mane that is retained by the single mane gene (Mm) Lionhead is most often on the top of the head and behind the ears. Some lines do carry chest/bib wool as seniors but is seldom has the density or length when compared to the wool of double maned gene (MM) Lionhead seniors. The Black buck at the right shows typical loss of side mane wool as seen on many single mane gene (Mm) adult Lionheads. He has maintained nice chest/bib wool and his cap wool. (a pattern not common in many Lionheads). Notice the nice clean flanks and saddle.

Cimmaron Arrigo
Single mane gene (Mm)
owned by Tom Coats

Double mane gene (MM)

Here you will find photos of two Lionhead sisters at
four months old. The doe in the photo on the left is a double mane gene (MM) Lionhead her sister on the right is a single mane gene (Mm) Lionhead. The doe on the left shows typical development for this age - her saddle is shed out with a nice area of normal fur developing following her chest/bib/triangle wool line dividing her mane form her flank wool. The doe on the right has lost almost all her flank wool. Both are showing nice clean faces and forelegs.

Single mane gene (Mm)

Currently it seems the single mane (Mm) Lionhead junior that has the heavier body wool will have the best chance of carrying mane as an adult. Single mane (Mm) Lionheads tend to have more variety in mane then the double mane gene (MM) Lionheads. Some have longer, thinner manes, while others have shorter manes that are a little more dense. They also tend to shed out wool in the same pattern as seen on double mane gene Lionheads, with many keeping wool in the cap and cheek area while others keep bib/chest wool.

The two single mane gene (Mm) Lionheads at the right are excellent examples of both types of patterns. The Sable Point buck has retained his cheek wool and good length in the cap wool but though you can see the thicker density of the wool on his chest he has lost all the length in that area. The Tort doe in the lower picture has lost all of her cap wool but kept a small amount of cheek wool. The wool on her chest is nice and long and still has good density. Notice both of these senior Lionheads with only one mane gene (Mm) have no flank wool left. They also show good demarcation of face wool to cheek/cap wool as well as nice clean legs and ears.

Lionhead breeders are busy typing to correct these molting patterns and to create bloodlines that consistently keep both upper and lower mane wool.

Bastet's Princess Liea
Single mane gene (Mm)
owned by Dawn Guth

There is no real difference in mane quality between purebred Lionheads and hybrid Lionheads. The beautiful little Lionhead doe in the picture to the right is a
single mane gene (Mm) hybrid. She displays unbelievable length of wool as well as excellent break from face fur to mane wool!

The characteristics of the mane do appear to be highly inheritable for type within bloodlines. These characteristics have been noted in England was well with the very dense short mane commonly referred to as a Continental Mane. (You will find more information on this type of mane on the double mane gene (MM) Lionhead page.