Horse Color Dilutes - Champagne Gene
Image from Parradice Ranch
The champagne gene is a rather recent discovery in the world of horse color and it has a diluting effect on both chestnut and black base coats.
This pigment alteration can exhibit in a showy display of colors which often have an almost metallic sheen.
Image from ICH Registry
Basic Champagne Gene
- Sometimes born with blue eyes
- Born dark and coat lightens with age
- Sometimes born with pink skin which darkens with age
- Freckling around mucus membranes common
- Mistaken for appaloosa, sabinos and sometimes grays
- Can have reverse dappling
Different Champagne Shades
Classic Champagne
Image from Snakewater Farms
- Black horses diluted by champagne gene
- Sometimes called grullo even though they are not a true dun dilution
Gold Champagne
Image from Whispering Pines Walkers
- Chestnut horse with champagne gene
- Often confused with palominos
- Mane and tail can be flaxen
Amber Champagne
Image from Evening Shade Farm
- Bay horses with the champagne gene
- Commonly confused with buckskins or silver buckskins
Mixed Dilutions
Ivory Champagne
Image from Heste Plassen
- Have at least one champagne gene and one cream gene
- Ivory colored horses may possess more than just the champagne dilution gene
- Often mistaken for cremello, perlino or smoky black
Silver Champagne
Image from Equine Now
- Chestnut horse displaying both champagne and silver dilution genes
- Also called sweet champagne
Learn more about horse colors
December 1st, 2008 at 7:38 am
[...] horse registered under the breed has pink skin, a cream coat and amber colored eyes due to the champagne dilution gene. Anglo-Arabian [...]