Champagnes

Eyes of Amber, Gleaming like Topaz jewels
A shimmering coat, glowing like the finest
of iridescent pearls, movement so balanced
and free, there is no sound at all. Am I dreaming?
No, this vision is reality. This is Champagne!

(by Heidi Trimbur of Ereidi Farm)

Pictured above are two beautiful examples of champagne horses.  The mare on the left is a Gold Champagne Sport Horse mare owned by Ereidi Farm and the mare on the right is an Amber Champagne 7/8 Arabian Mare owned by Carolyn Shepard of the ICHR. 

Champagnes are rare and beautiful and they are growing in popularity and increasing in numbers as people become more aware of their beauty and uniqueness.

"Champagne horses are horses that carry the Champagne dilution gene.
This gene acts to dilute not only the base hair coat but the eyes, skin and hooves as well. There are four main classifications of Champagne: Gold Champagne, a dilution of Chestnut; Amber Champagne, a dilution of Bay; Classic Champagne, a dilution of true black; and Ivory Champagne, a dilution of champagne combined with the cream gene.

One of the hallmarks of a Champagne horse is its incredible, shimmering coat! (Some breeds of horses have metallic-like sheens to their coats as well so careful observation for other Champagne characteristics should be made.) A Champagne horse will shimmer with an iridescent light, often appearing to change color as they move or change from light to shadow - they are a challenge to photograph as their true color is difficult to capture and is best appreciated when viewed in person".  (by Heidi Trimbur of Ereidi Farm)

 Read on to meet CCMF's MINIATURE champagnes!!

CCMF is proud to announce that we  have several  miniature champagne stallions in our herd.   We have an AMHA/AMHR registered 31" Classic Champagne Tovero stallion in our herd!  This stallion is also homozygous for the tobiano gene.   In addition, we have our B size driving machine with action to burn... L&S Farms Champagne King who is standing the 2002 season at Seminole Wind Acres in Eustis, Florida.    And most recently we have added a weanling champagne colt to be our champagne herdsire of the future.  This little guy is named Mistique Unos Champagne Premierr and he is a grandson of National Grand Champion stallion Sierra Dawn's Uno De Mayo.  

Check our stallions page to see pictures of all three of our beautiful miniature champagne stallions.!  

Now if you are not familiar with champagnes, you may be asking yourself what makes them different and how can you identify them.  The champagne gene is a dilution gene that is separate from the cream gene that causes palominos/buckskins, etc. and also separate from the dun gene that causes duns.  Champagnes can sometimes look similar to creams and duns, but they are not the same.  They have different characteristics for their eyes, skin, and coat that set them apart from creams and duns.

(Photos courtesy of Sue Pittman)

Above are pictures of  one of our champagne stallions (Champagne King) at various stages.  Champagnes are born darker and then lighten up with age.  Champagne King is pictured on the left above at 1 day old.  He has a black base coat and could possibly be mistaken for a black or silver at this point.  His skin around his eyes and muzzle are light and his eyes are blue.  In the middle picture King is 10 weeks old and he is still fuzzy.  He is a striking bronze color and his skin is a pink color.   The picture on the right was taken on the same day as the picture in the middle, just after King's foal coat had been clipped off.  In the picture on the right you can see that King's muzzle and the skin around his eyes is still a pink/peach color and his eyes are still blue.  

Above is a picture of King as an adult at three years of age.  He is unclipped in this picture and is fairly light because of being out in the sun all summer.   

King's lower legs look similar to a buckskin's lower legs except that they shimmer a bronze/gold color in the sun.   The color on his legs changes as he moves in the light.  As mentioned before, the champagne gene dilutes red to gold and black to chocolate/bronze.  

Pictured above left is a close up of King's eye.  He was born with blue eyes and with age they have changed to a beautiful amber color.  King's eye color is one of the most striking and unique aspects of his color.  Above right is a close up of King's muzzle.  You can see that he has pink skin and the freckling common for champagnes.  His genitals and under tail area also have the pink skin and distinctive freckling.

King is pictured above after being body clipped.  He is in pasture condition, but he will be conditioned throughout the winter and we will be posting new photos of him in the spring once he sheds out naturally.  

Although gold champagnes can be mistaken for palominos and amber champagnes can be mistaken for buckskins, when you see them in person there is often a remarkable difference.  Champagne horses are beautiful and unique!

This is just a brief overview of champagnes.  There is much more information at the International Champagne Horse Registry website.

Here are a few more examples of other beautiful champagnes...

Toyland Perfect Surprise 

Surprise is an AMHA/AMHR Miniature Classic Champagne  Pinto owned by Susan Oberg of Hilliard Horses To Hug.

 

HHH's Champagne Leap of Faith 

Faith is an AMHA/AMHR Miniature Classic Champagne Pinto filly owned by Susan Oberg of Hilliard Horses To Hug.  Her dam is Toyland Perfect Surprise.

 

GW Champagne Palida

Palida is a rare amber champagne appaloosa mare owned by Gentlewood Farms.

Champagne Lady Gen (Cookie)

Champagne Lady Gen is an ivory champagne mare (champagne gene AND cream gene that causes palominos, etc.) owned by Dr. Doran and Alice Deapen of Deapen Ranch, aaordd@hpnc.com

Champagne Showcase (Casey)

Champagne Showcase is a classic champagne (champagne gene on a black base coat).  He is an 8 year old TWH owned by Maxine Shedd of Champagne Walker's Inc.  mshedd@earthlink.net

Butter Lookout

Butter Lookout is a Champagne TWH owned by D.A.M.M. Ranch.  She is by Champagne Lookout, a classic champagne stallion and out of an ivory champagne mare.  Butter Lookout is possibly homozygous for the champagne gene.

Glass Eyed Doc

Glass Eyed Doc is a champagne dun quarter horse stallion owned by Slocum Stable.  

SW Take Care Too

SW Take Care Too is a quarter horse amber champagne stallion owned by Audra Pennebaker of Snakewater Farms.

CCMF MINIATURE HORSE FARM IS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL CHAMPAGNE HORSE REGISTRY (ICHR)

For more information on champagnes please contact us at ginny_long@yahoo.com or contact the ICHR at http://www.ichregistry.com   There are many other beautiful examples of champagne horses and lots of historical information available on the ICHR Website.