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The "Barlink Factor"
Possible New Dilution Gene in Paint Horses
In the study of what "is" champagne, one also needs
to address what "is not" champagne. Several horses have been presented
to me over the past several months as "possible champagnes" who are
not. All of these horses are related to the Paint stallion, Barlink Macho Man, a
chestnut splashed white/frame overo. The Barlink factor dilution gene is not
champagne, but can mimic it. I believe this gene has not yet been described in
the literature. It appears to work as an incomplete dominant, similar to the
cream gene, and also enhances the cream gene, as does champagne.
In single dose, the Barlink factor appears to dilute the skin
of the carriers. The chestnuts with submitted photographs have pink speckles on
their otherwise black skin, very similar to what happens on many cream dilutes.
The gene is not cream, as these mares do not demonstrate the cream gene when
tested by UC Davis. With a single Barlink gene, the coat color does not seem to
be affected.
In double dose, the Barlink factor appears to dilute the hair
coat to a medium dilute shade (similar to one cream or one champagne gene), and
dilutes the skin to near pink.
The Barlink factor appears to enhance cream, essentially
causing a double dilution of the hair coat, skin and eyes. This would cause the
phenomenon of pseudo-cremello and pseudo-smoky cream foals. I have not yet seen
the effect on buckskin, but it is likely a pseudo-perlino would result.
While this proposed new Barlink dilution gene can resemble
champagne, it is not. Thus, future Barlink related horses submitted for
registration with the ICHR will be scrutinized more closely, and will need to
demonstrate champagne in the immediate pedigree before being accepted into the
registry.
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R Smoken Lark appears to be a smoky black with one
Barlink gene. His skin is diluted to near pink, and his hair is a very
unusual shade somewhat resembling a double diluted black.
Owned by Tiffany Coya.
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Barlnk Peachs N Cream appears to have two doses of the "Barlink
factor," one from each of her Barlink parents. Her skin is diluted to
near pink with darker freckling, which closely resembles champagne skin.
Her hair coat appears single dilute, and is similar to a palomino or gold
champagne. Both of her parents are chestnut, and likely each carry a
single dose of the Barlink factor. Please
click here to see the
name of the owner of this horse and the one below, left.
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Barlink Snoopy Sue, chestnut dam of Barlnk Peachs N Cream, showing
partial dilution of the skin color. (This photo is an important
part of understanding the way this gene works: how it affects skin
color. Horses have bare skin in very few places. -- webmaster)
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These two foals (below) are single cream dilutes
(palominos) with an added Barlink factor from their chestnut dams. Their
resemblance to cremello is uncannily accurate.
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Woodstock Chocoblanco, colt (bred by Woodstock Paint Horses) and dam
Barlnk Meri Tardy.
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Bit O’ Honey and her dam Barlinks Fancy, owned
by Jane Boahn.
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END OF C. SHEPARD'S ARTICLE |
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