[Question] Could you tell me what precautions to take with a cremello horse. I heard their eyes are too sensitive to take the sun and they get sunburn. Do they make a sun visor for horses? How do you protect your horses in full sun? [Answer] We have surveyed over 100 past and present owners of 'Blue-Eyed Creams' over the last year. Sunburn was the only reoccurring concern mentioned but it did not seem to an issue for all Creams. It seems to depend on where you live (the intensity of the sun) and the sensitivity of your Cream. Some people said their Creams only sunburned during their suckling summer and if allowed to 'weather' in the sun naturally they did not sunburn after that. Some people feel better if they keep a fly mask on their Creams to act as sunglasses - others did not feel it is necessary with theirs. Creams do seem to squint more than dark-eyed horses in the direct sunlight. Others said they put suntan lotion on their Creams' noses and around their eyes in the most intense part of the summer. I was putting suntan lotion on my Cream, Cameo, during the very hot summer of her yearling year to protect her from sunburn (although she had never actually sunburned). When I went away on a 3 week vacation I did not ask the 'horsesitter' to put on the lotion every day. After 3 hot, sunny weeks I came back and Cameo showed no signs of being sunburned even without the suntan lotion. Cameo lives outside all year round in Virginia with just a run-in shed and has no problem with the sun. She just looks a little more pink on her nose and around her eyes during the day during the summer. I think you just have to see how your Cream reacts to the sun in your area and always make sure she/he has shelter to get out of the sun if he wants too.
[Question] What are the ACPS registration rules for BEC's in the US? [Answer] In America - the BEC mare is registered as a full-fledged member of the Connemara breed....in the stud book, with a BEC designation (the certificate is bordered in blue/the stud book number has a BEC suffix). We give all the BEC foals a TFC (temporary foal certificate), but only the mares and those gelded colts may enter the purebred stud book. The ACPS does not register BEC stallions. You will find all this information in the Guide, published each year, usually with the directory of members - although this year, it was more easily found in the March/April 2000 issue of the American Connemara magazine.
[Question] Is there a difference between a cream and a cremello? Does the ACPS recognize a distinction? [Answer] From what we have gathered 'Cream' is a very nonspecific, loosely used term describing coat color and without more information (such as eye color and points) you really can't be sure what is meant by 'Cream'. I've seen it used in the older ACPS stud books for a cream dun, a light palomino, and for the Blue-Eyed Cream. Cremello is a much more specific term used to mean a pony which has inherited a double dose of the dilution gene (Ccr). This would give him blue eyes, pigment lightened a cream colored coat and pink skin. There are technically 3 classifications of these double dilutes. Cremello comes from a Chestnut base color, Perlino from Bay base, and Smoky Cream from a Black base. In actuality it is very hard to tell the subtle differences between these colors. The Perlino and Smoky Cream can have progressively darker points and bodies than the cremello which is the lightest. Because of the difficulty of distinguishing the difference in color, they are usually lumped together as 'Cremellos' in other breeds or as 'Blue-Eyed Creams' in the Connemara Society. [Question] I would like to know if they are more easily sunburned than other colors. [Answer] This seems to depend on the individual pony. I have talked to one BEC owner that had a pony that did sunburn quite badly on its face. But I have not had that experience with my BEC. She is out all summer and has not had a sunburn and in fact seems to be able to handle the heat better than her dark skinned friends. Most BEC owners have said that they do not sunburn if they have weathered naturally. A few have had minor sunburns on their noses. [Question] Do BEC Connemaras ever turn gray? At what age and how can you tell? [Answer] This might be better answered later after the survey results too. I know from a BEC owner I talked to that her BEC had a foal that turned grey from a non-grey stallion. The owner did not realize the BEC had turned grey so either they turn grey and you can't tell or they can carry the grey gene but not show it ........ Maybe that is the same thing???
The following is a 1999 letter from Margot Watson to Dr. Phil Sponenberg, Professor, Pathology and Genetics, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine:
[Margot] We are trying to put together some scientific information as to the acceptability of the fully dilute Creams in the breeding program. Do you feel that the Ccr gene is an abnormal or defective gene? [Dr. Sponenberg] I don't think it is defective.
[Margot] Is there any physical or visual problems inherent in the color? [Dr. Sponenberg] If any, very slight. Some say these are actually more easily trained than other colors. Some say they see a little less well, but others say they are equal to dark colors.
[Margot] Would there be any genetic problems if a breeder started breeding CcrCcr X CcrCcr? Would that create increased dilution? Even less pigment? [Dr. Sponenberg] This would cause no problems, no increase in dilution. [Margot] Are we doing harm to our pony breed by including well-bred Creams in our programs? [Dr. Sponenberg] No harm at all, especially if you use them on darker colors (only if you want to avoid creams, though, if you want creams then it wouldn't matter at all). [Margot] Do Creams generally suffer from melanoma? Does it occurs - more, less or about the same - as in grey ponies? [Dr. Sponenberg] No connection that I am aware of that creams run the risk of melanoma. That is a "grey thing". [Margot] These are some of the fears that I have heard within our society. If you could find a few moments to answer these questions, we would be very grateful! [Dr. Sponenberg] As you can see, most of these fears appear to be unfounded. But then, I like spots, too.
[Margot] Do you think there is any truth to the 'folk wisdom' that Creams are more docile than others in their breed? [Dr. Sponenberg] This could well be true. Folk wisdom usually contains a grain of truth.
[Margot] Thank you for your time. God bless! [Dr. Sponenberg] Thanks, He has. Let me know if you need more, or if a "real" letter would do you better
. D.Phillip Sponenberg, DVM, PhD, Professor, Pathology and Genetics Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 e-mail: dpsponen@vt.edu phone: 1-540-231-4805 fax: 1-540-231-7367