Navigate

PEARL

The newest color gene is now testable thru UC Davis.

Learn more about this fascinating new color.

Description: Champagne Horses tend to have a extra glossy shine (several breeds seem to have this). They also have pink, whitish or golden skin with mottling which can be best seen inside ears or on the udder or sheath area. Champagne foals are born with bright blue that change to green, gray, copper or amber. The gene for Champagne is not recessive (can not be hidden to pop up later). Champagne foals tend to be born dark and lighten as they age (opposite of palomino).

CHAMPAGNE +

Black = Classic

Bay = Amber

Red = Gold

GOLD CHAMPAGNE

Description: Gold Champagne is created by the Champagne dilution on a Red base coat. The amber champagnes red base color is diluted to a golden color. It also dilutes the red mane, and tail to the same gold as the body or further to a flaxen or white color.

Cougarand San Bar a 2002 dark self gold

El Rojo De Oro a 2005 gold son of Cougarand San Bar

AMBER CHAMPAGNE

Description: Amber Champagne is created by the Champagne dilution on a Bay base coat. The black points (mane, tail, ears, legs) of a Bay are diluted to Chocolate. While the body can be various shades of gold just as there are various shades of Bay coats.

Amber with frosted mane

Photo by: Stephanie Clatterbuck

Bay + Champagne

Courtesy of Westwood Farms

Amber Stallion

Owner Midge McGoldrick

CLASSIC CHAMPAGNE

Description: Classic Champagne is created by the Champagne dilution on a Black base coat. Classic Champagne factor horses can range in color from chocolate to field mouse gray. Classic horses mane tail and ears are usually darker chocolate than the body. A classic champagnes legs are uniform colored with the body although in some lighting and photographs they may appear darker.

Black Mare and Classic Foal

Classic Mare and Foal

Foal: Ronda Hines Dam: Darlene Bohannon

Black + Dun + Champagne

Owner Darlene Bohannon

Classic Stallion

Owned by: Kathy Stumph

CREAM CHAMPAGNE

Description: Cream Champagne is created by the champagne factor on a single or double creme factored horse (Base + Cream + Champagne). While the Cream Champagne looks similar to a double creme (Perlino, Cremello), there are a few distinct characteristics which set them apart. Champagne horses have pink skin like double dilutes, but they also have mottling or freckles on there pink skin which can make them appear to have darker skin as they age and more mottling develops. Champagnes are born with blue eyes which can change to green or bronze as they age. SEE Characteristics (below) for more information on Champagne eyes and skin.