Classic champagne

Appearance

Foals		Champagne foals are often born darker than their adult color will be. They have blue-green eyes and pink skin.

Foals

Champagne foals are often born darker

than their adult color will be. They have

blue-green eyes and pink skin.

Black base diluted to a dark tan/brown color with a lilac tone. Points are darker than the coat. The eyes darken to a hazel/amber color as the horse ages. The skin has a slightly darker, pink to lavender tone with freckling around the eyes, muzzle, udder, sheath and under the tail.		Adults

Black base diluted to a dark tan/brown color

with a lilac tone. Points are darker than the coat.

The eyes darken to a hazel/amber color as the

horse ages. The skin has a slightly darker,

pink to lavender tone with freckling around

the eyes, muzzle, udder, sheath and under the tail.

Adults

Mimics

Classic champagne can look very similar to dark (sable) amber champagne.

Champagne horses can be recognised by their typical freckled, pink skin, often with a purple hue.

Genetics

Classic champagne is the result of a black base diluted by one or two copies of champagne. The champagne (CH) dilution is an allele of the SLC36A1 gene.

Classic champagne:
Black (E/_ + a/a/) + CH/_

Read more:
Black | Gold champagne | Amber champagne

Back to Champagne

Articles

Cook D, Brooks S, Bellone R, Bailey E.; Missense Mutation in Exon 2 of SLC36A1 Responsible for Champagne Dilution in Horses; PLOS Genetics (2008); Doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1000195