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THE CHAMPAGNE DILUTION GENE

VS.

THE CREME DILUTION GENE

A dilution gene affects a horse's coat and/or mane & tail color. Each dilution gene affects the three basecoat colors (black, bay, and chestnut/sorrel) differently. The dilution genes include the creme gene, the dun gene, the silver dapple gene, and the champagne gene. Although many people confuse the creme gene and the champagne gene, they are quite different.

The table below compares the effects of the creme dilution gene and the champagne dilution gene on each of the three basecoat colors.

BLACK
Creme Gene on a black basecoat:	Champagne Gene on a Black Basecoat:
photo coming soon!
Smokey Black or Diluted Black	Classic Champagne
A black horse with the creme dilution gene (smokey black) most often looks the same as a non-dilute black horse, though ocassionally a smokey black will look like a sun-burnt black horse with areas of chocolate brown and the eyes may be a bit lighter. A classic champagne horse has a shiny, taupe or "champagne" colored coat with chocolate points.
BAY
Creme Gene on a Bay Basecoat:	Champagne Gene on a Bay Basecoat:

Buckskin	Amber Champagne
Notice the dark black points on the buckskin compared to the chocolate points on the amber champagne. The skin around the nose is also noticeably different.
CHESTNUT OR SORREL
Creme Gene on a Sorrel Basecoat:	Champagne Gene on a Sorrel Basecoat:

Palomino	Gold Champagne
Palominos and gold champagnes can be difficult to distinguish between. They are very similar, but the pigmentation around the nose and eyes, along with the eye color is much darker on the palomino.

CREME FOALS VS. CHAMPAGNE FOALS: A major difference between the creme gene and the champagne gene is the color of the foal at birth. Creme foals are born a shade or two lighter than they will be at maturity, with eyes that are only slightly lighter than non-dilute foals. A champagne foal is the color of its basecoat (black, bay, or chestnut) at birth, with light blue or green eyes. The eyes darken and the coat lightens until the horse is 15 months to two years old.

A SEASONAL DIFFERENCE: During the winter months, horses with the creme gene have a winter coat that is a few shades lighter, and they shed off to a darker color in the spring. Champagne diluted horses have a winter coat that is a few shades darker than their summer coat.

THE GENETICS: The creme dilution gene and the champagne dilution gene are DOMINANT genes, so they must be present in the dam or sire's physical appearance to be passed on to offspring - with the exception of a black horse with the creme gene (smokey black). So if you can't see it, IT'S NOT THERE. Two non-dilute horses will not produce a creme or champagne foal under any circumstances.

The mating of a heterozygous creme or champagne diluted horse with a non-dilute horse will produce 50% diluted offspring, and 50% of the offspring will be black, bay, or chestnut.

THE PEDIGREE: Because champagne horses are as dark as their basecoat at birth, they are often registered as black, chestnut, or bay. Champagne Lady Diane, a classic champagne mare that inspired the name of the "champagne" color, is registered as a chestnut. The TWHBEA did not offer champagne as a color choice on the registration forms until recently, so many champagnes are also registered as yellow, buckskin, or palomino.