This exotic and rare Champagne colored horses truly has an appropriate name that fits the sparkle of fine champagne wines, which is known for the varieties of colours, and makes it a time for celebrating a new found colored horse.

The champagne gene is rare and beautiful.. It has recently been recognized into most registries, but has been around for a long time.  It was misidentified as dun, buckskin or palomino ... even with the obvious different color traits. 

The first published documentation by Dr. Philip Sponenberg, Ph.D., and Dr. Ann Bowling, Ph.D. in 1996 on the historically rare Champagnes color and the unique differences of this dilution gene. Champagne dilution has recently been recognized as a separate dilution from the more common Dun and Palomino/Buckskin dilutions. 

About:  Champagne color is a simple dominate dilution gene, dominant means, if a horse carries the gene, it will show characteristics and its own identity is separate from the creme dilutes that create palominos, buckskins and smokey black.  Remember; since the Champagne gene is a dominant gene, your horse MUST have at least one Champagne parent in order to be a Champagne!  

It affects both black and the red pigment, diluting black to a buff/taupe or brownish liver color, and red to gold colors. The gene has different functions, it affects not only the horse's coat color, but, the skin and eye color as well. Producing a unique appearance responsible for some of the pink skinned palominos and chocolate pointed buckskins.  

Color Characteristics:

• The champagne gene dilutes red into gold and black into liver.  The hooves of champagnes will be brown not black. 

• The champagne coat has a high metallic shine and is very reflective in the sunlight.

• The adult eye color can range from hazel to the more common amber or light brown. This rare eye color, you will not forget.

• The pink to dusky skin with tiny gray specks are called "pumpkin skinned." easily identified on the muzzle, around the eyes, on the sheath/and udders and under the tail.

• The body colors range from pale gold, dark gold, chocolates, taupe, and brown, and the mane and tails will also vary in color intensity.

Striking Foal Characteristic:

• The foals are born with pink to dusky skin, and tends to mottle and develop more color as they mature.

• The foals are born with bright blue eyes. Their eyes then turn from this bright blue color to green and later hazel or amber as they mature.

• The newborn and young foal coat is much darker than the adult. Champagne coats will lighten up to the dilute shade after the foal sheds out and matures.

• Champagne foals always start out with the normal coat colors, chestnut or bay before turning champagne shade. Note; this is a reverse of the more common "cream" dilution (responsible for cremello, palomino, and buckskin colors).

Champagnes coats give off an unique iridescent sheen. Gold's and Amber's look bronze, and variances of yellow, with manes and tails that vary in gold intensity.  Since Champagnes are rather new the below basic colors have been applied, but as information and research is recorded new names may emerge.

Click on the colors below to show an example of each basic color.

Gold Champagne gene acting on one or two genes on the chestnut, or sorrel, base color. The gold's can have several different colors depending on other genes present. Deep gold with flaxen mane and tail,  pale gold with flaxen/or white mane and tail, to golden/sorrel with the same color all over or the mane and tail having frosting. Often mistaken for palominos. Photo of Gold Champagne Composers Royale Love.

Amber Champagne gene acts on the bay, black + agouti base color. All varieties of golden coat bodies with light/or dark brown points, mane/tail will often have frosting. Often mistaken for pink skin buckskins or duns. Photo of Amber Champagne Champagne Royale

Classic Champagne gene acts on solid black color. An unusual shade of metallic taupe/buff, with points a darker shade. Often mistaken for grulla, or lilac. Courtesy photo of Classic Ivory Champagne Persuader's Classic Act,  Flying Colours Farms, Cleveland, TX.  Debby Burkhart.

The terminology for the below color classification is still being researched to reflect the true genetic names; this classification means...  one champagne gene of any color "plus" one crème gene of any type (palomino, buckskin, cremello, perlino, smoky black, or smoky cream.)   Gold Ivory Champagne with the Creme Gene ~  Amber Ivory Champagne with the Creme Gene ~  Classic Ivory Champagne with the Crème gene ~

There is no DNA test for the champagne gene, but there is a test for the crème dilute gene.