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Cougarand San Bar

Gold Champagne

Learn about the amazing genetics of this newly discovered gene that has been around as long as the quarter breed itself.

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Genetic Formula:

Mr Unusual ~ NQHR's first registered PEARL

Description:

The Pearl gene is a RECESSIVE, cream-activated, dilution gene.

Recessive means that one copy of the gene in a horse has no expression (is "invisible"), and two copies (homozygosity) results in full expression (dilutes the base color once).

Cream-activated means that it also reacts with cream: it shows up, adding another instance of dilution, if there is a cream gene present. In this case it manifests as a "double dilution": pearl AND cream.

The "Barlink Factor"

Possible New Dilution Gene in Paint Horses

by Carolyn Shepard

President of the International Champagne Horse Registry

In the study of what "is" champagne, one also needs to address what "is not" champagne. Several horses have been presented to me over the past several months as "possible champagnes" who are not. All of these horses are related to the Paint stallion, Barlink Macho Man, a chestnut splashed white/frame overo. The Barlink factor dilution gene is not champagne, but can mimic it. I believe this gene has not yet been described in the literature. It appears to work as an incomplete dominant, similar to the cream gene, and also enhances the cream gene, as does champagne.

In single dose, the Barlink factor appears to dilute the skin of the carriers. The chestnuts with submitted photographs have pink speckles on their otherwise black skin, very similar to what happens on many cream dilutes. The gene is not cream, as these mares do not demonstrate the cream gene when tested by UC Davis. With a single Barlink gene, the coat color does not seem to be affected.

In double dose, the Barlink factor appears to dilute the hair coat to a medium dilute shade (similar to one cream or one champagne gene), and dilutes the skin to near pink.

The Barlink factor appears to enhance cream, essentially causing a double dilution of the hair coat, skin and eyes. This would cause the phenomenon of pseudo-cremello and pseudo-smoky cream foals. I have not yet seen the effect on buckskin, but it is likely a pseudo-perlino would result.

While this proposed new Barlink dilution gene can resemble champagne, it is not. Thus, future Barlink related horses submitted for registration with the ICHR will be scrutinized more closely, and will need to demonstrate champagne in the immediate pedigree before being accepted into the registry.

	R Smoken Lark appears to be a smoky black with one Barlink gene. His skin is diluted to near pink, and his hair is a very unusual shade somewhat resembling a double diluted black. Owned by Tiffany Coya.
	Barlnk Peachs N Cream appears to have two doses of the "Barlink factor," one from each of her Barlink parents. Her skin is diluted to near pink with darker freckling, which closely resembles champagne skin. Her hair coat appears single dilute, and is similar to a palomino or gold champagne. Both of her parents are chestnut, and likely each carry a single dose of the Barlink factor. Owned by Carol Schneider.
	Barlink Snoopy Sue, chestnut dam of Barlnk Peachs N Cream, showing partial dilution of the skin color. Owned by Carol Schneider.
These two foals (below) are single cream dilutes (palominos) with an added Barlink factor from their chestnut dams. Their resemblance to cremello is uncannily accurate.
	Woodstock Chocoblanco, colt (bred by Woodstock Paint Horses) and dam Barlnk Meri Tardy.
	Bit O’ Honey and her dam Barlinks Fancy, owned by Jane Boahn.

END OF C. SHEPARD'S ARTICLE

After the above article was written the gene showed up "in disguise" as a "different", cream-activated, recessive dilution gene in Andalusian, Lusitano, and Peruvian Paso horses. These owners decided to call the gene "Pearl".

Then, the first week of October, 2006, the "Barlink" gene was located and named "apricot" by U C Davis, who at that time also developed a working test for it.

The following week, after Carolyn Shepard sent hairs from Suzan Sommer's "Pearl cream" Andalusian filly, Guindeleza, to UCDavis, it was found that the gene "we" had been calling "Pearl" IS THE SAME GENE!!!

A few days after that, the dilution in the Peruvian Pasos was also identified as that same gene; and now, U.C. Davis has officially named the gene "Pearl", abbreviated Prl.

To read more technical color descriptions please visit UC Davis

The Pearl gene is a RECESSIVE, cream-activated, dilution gene.

Recessive means that one copy of the gene in a horse has no expression (is "invisible"), and two copies (homozygosity) results in full expression (dilutes the base color once).

Cream-activated means that it also reacts with cream: it shows up, adding another instance of dilution, if there is a cream gene present. In this case it manifests as a "double dilution": pearl AND cream.

The "Barlink Factor"

Possible New Dilution Gene in Paint Horses

by Carolyn Shepard

President of the International Champagne Horse Registry

R Smoken Lark appears to be a smoky black with one Barlink gene. His skin is diluted to near pink, and his hair is a very unusual shade somewhat resembling a double diluted black. Owned by Tiffany Coya.

Barlink Snoopy Sue, chestnut dam of Barlnk Peachs N Cream, showing partial dilution of the skin color. Owned by Carol Schneider.

These two foals (below) are single cream dilutes (palominos) with an added Barlink factor from their chestnut dams. Their resemblance to cremello is uncannily accurate.

Woodstock Chocoblanco, colt (bred by Woodstock Paint Horses) and dam Barlnk Meri Tardy.

Bit O’ Honey and her dam Barlinks Fancy, owned by Jane Boahn.

After the above article was written the gene showed up "in disguise" as a "different", cream-activated, recessive dilution gene in Andalusian, Lusitano, and Peruvian Paso horses. These owners decided to call the gene "Pearl".

Then, the first week of October, 2006, the "Barlink" gene was located and named "apricot" by U C Davis, who at that time also developed a working test for it.

The following week, after Carolyn Shepard sent hairs from Suzan Sommer's "Pearl cream" Andalusian filly, Guindeleza, to UCDavis, it was found that the gene "we" had been calling "Pearl" IS THE SAME GENE!!!

A few days after that, the dilution in the Peruvian Pasos was also identified as that same gene; and now, U.C. Davis has officially named the gene "Pearl", abbreviated Prl.