Cremellos: The ghosts of the equine world?

Cremellos are a bit like Marmite – you either love them or hate them, writes Horsemart blogger and rider Charley Crocker a true cremello fan.

Several years ago I acquired a cremello Welsh Section A, and the day after she arrived a horsey friend popped over.

“Isn’t she ugly, bless her? Really awful staring eyes like a ghost.” Unaware she might have given offence the friend moved on to talk about her impending house move.

Next day the vet came to check over my new purchase.

“Wow! Isn’t she fantastic? I just love cremellos. She looks like a little pink piglet.”

So Piglet my little mare became, and I am forced to admit cremellos are like marmite; you either love ‘em, or you hate ‘em.

Without getting too technical cremellos are what is known as double dilutes. Their base colour is chestnut but they are homozygous for the cream gene. There are many other often mistaken variations of this gene, including perlinos, and buckskins. Many of these are mistakenly registered as dun, or roan, and until recently were shunned by many breed societies. However in 2003 AQHA officially allowed all dilutes to be registered, and in 2004 the excellent Cremello Society UK was set up. This has now sadly declined, although I understand the Palomino Society is now handling paperwork for cremellos.

Cremellos are not Albinos, and there has never been a true albino equine. They suffer from none of the congenital defects associated with albinism in other species, and there is no reason that cremellos should be regarded in any way differently to their equine brothers and sisters.

For breeders the cremello presents an excellent opportunity for palomino enthusiasts, as well as those seeking to add a ‘different’ coat colour to their stock. Solaris Sport horses, for instance, stand the magnificent cremello warmblood;  McJonnas, as well as a superb Akhal Teke perlino; Kambarbay. For something a little smaller try Ffermylong Robbie, a Welsh section A standing at the Havenbeech stud.

Marmite or not I totally fallen for the charms of the cremello!