Horse Color Dilutes - Cream Gene
Image from Circle C Farms
The cream dilution gene affects base colors by lightening them, a single dilution of the gene produces colors like palomino and buckskin. While a double dilution creates the light skinned cremello and smokey cream colors often mistaken for greys.
Basic Creme Gene
- Dominant gene
- Does not noticeably affect black pigment
- Dark red colors lighten to tan or yellow
- Makes chestnut and bay base coats lighter
- Bay becomes buckskin
- Chestnut become palomino
Single Dilute Creme Shades
A single creme does not affect black pigment, single dilutions are only displayed on chestnut or bay horses.
Palomino
Image from Stallions at Stud
- Caused by one dose of cream gene diluting chestnut base
Images from World of Horses & White Horse Productions
- Shades range from very light to very dark
- Light shades can appear almost white
- Darkest shades mistaken for silver dapple
- Born light and grow darker with age
- Eyes can be a light amber in color
Buckskin
Image from Ride a Draft
- Often incorrectly interchanged with dun
- Dun and Buckskin are different genetically
- Caused by one dose of cream gene diluting bay horse
Images from Northern Horse & BP Quarter Horses
- Range from very light to very dark
- Purest form will have black points
- Dark points fade with age
Double Dilute Creme Shades
Two creme genes affect all colors.
Cremello
Image from Color Thyme Stud
- Caused by a double dose of cream gene on chestnut base
- Always have pink skin and blue eyes
Image from HP Quarter Horses
- Often mistaken for albino horses, although the albino gene does not exist in the equine species
Images from Palomino Warmbloods & Sierra Lodge
- Vary from almost white to a dark cream in color
Smokey Black or Smokey Cream
Image from Liberty Walkers
- Created by a double dose of cream gene on black
- Takes double dose to have a physical affect on black base color
Perlino
Image from Crystal11
- Created by a double does of cream gene on a bay horse
- Points are darker than body hair
- Blue eyes and pink skin
Mixed Dilutions
Dunalino
Creme & dun dilution genes on a chestnut base
Image from Windy Pine Acres
Dunskin
Creme & dun dilution genes on a black base
Image from Equine Now
Learn more about horse colors
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