A simple explanation on the colour genes
found in our breeding program:
The Cream Gene (Cr)
The Cream Gene is a Dilution Gene. It is responsible for producing, when in single form (Heterozygous), Palomino (on Chestnut), Buckskin (on Bay) and Smokey Black (on Black). If a horse has 2 creme genes (Homozygous), they are either Cremello (on Chestnut), Perlino (on Bay) or Smokey Cream (on Black). Because a horse with 1 creme gene looks different to a horse with 2 Cream Genes, the Cream Gene is known as an Inclomplete Dominant Gene. It is dominant, because even if the horse only has 1 Cream Gene, it is always visible, it cannot 'hide'. The Cream gene only dilutes Red pigment, and only the coat, not the skin or eyes.
The Champagne Gene is a dilution gene. It is responsible for producing Gold Champagne (on Chestnut), Amber Champagne (on Bay) and Classic Champagne (on Black). A horse with 1 Champagne gene (Heterozygous) looks exactly the same as a horse with 2 Champagne genes (Homozygous). It is therefor known as a Complete Dominant gene. It is Dominant, because even if a horse only has 1 Champagne Gene, it is always visible, it cannot 'hide'. The Champagne Gene dilutes both Red and Black pigment, as well as the skin and the eyes. The skin is mottled, and the eyes are bright blue at birth, fading to amber around 1yrs old. Champagnes are known for their incredible metallic sheen.
The Tobiano Gene (To)
The Tobiano Gene is a Pattern Gene. A horse can be any colour, and tobiano. Tobiano is responsible for producing large and small, irregular patches of white on a horse's coat. Also sometimes called a Pinto, or (incorrectly) a Paint. Tobiano's often have all white legs, and patches on the sides of the body, often going into the mane and tail. The Tobiano Gene does not affect the white facial markings of a horse. The distribution of the white patches cannot be predicted, every horses' pattern is unique. The Tobiano gene is a Complete Dominant. It looks the same in Heterozygous (1 copy) or Homozygous (2 copies) form. It is a Dominant, because even if a horse only has 1 Tobiano gene, it will always be visible, it cannot 'hide'.
The Champagne Gene (Ch)
A Horse with 1 Copy of any gene (Heterozygous) always has 50% chance of passing that gene on to any of its offspring.
A horse that has 2 copies of the a gene (Homozygous) will pass on 1 copy of the gene, every time, to all its offspring