CONGRATULATIONS to Lindsey Betz and the Betz Family Farm on the purchase of Vintage Cashmere's U-Taupe-ia. Taupie will be greatly missed at Rare Gem Alpacas but he leaves behind a number of lovely offspring to grace our herd for years to come! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Taupie is a striking appaloosa harlequin male that is on a roll for throwing spotted and harlequin offspring. He has sired 53 offspring and 74 percent are either appaloosa or harlequin! While dam selection has a significant influence on such outcomes, it should be noted that the majority of the dams Taupie has been bred to have no genetic influence on this outcome. So for those that don't have existing foundation girls with appy / harlequin lineage-- Taupie has proven to be capable of passing along his appy genetics and produce desired results. So how does this happen? Only part of that story is known, but what we DO know is that certain lines of known appy gene carriers are much more "expressive" than others. Taupie just happens to be one of those. His heritage boasts appaloosa genetics on both sides of his lineage with Aussie Rockford out of Hannahruh on his sire's side and Chiquita Import on his dam's side. In April 2016, Taupie's progeny debuted in the show ring taking a blue in walking fleece and the blue in halter at the California Classic. This first boy was then followed by another appaloosa female and then another appy male-- both very similar to the first. The fourth cria, however, is something extra special! This little girl has expressed every color on the chart, not one pattern-- just speckles and spots from nose to toes-- Rare Gem U-Taupe-ia's Appletini! The unique coloring of this cria looks as though the color from Taupie's Grand Dam, Chiquita Import, is coming through and producing the rarest of rare gems-- her beautiful color seems to morph before your eyes! As much fun as it is to talk about Taupie's progeny... more about him! Taupie has a spotted face, spotted belly, spotted legs, and a beautiful solid platinum-taupe blanket. His top line is a nice medium silver grey, then blending into light silver grey down the sides. UPDATE: 2/2019 Leoopard appaloosa offspring, Sleepy Acres App-solutely Adorable "Dorie", takes Reserve Color Champion at Txolan! Congratulations!!

Periwinkle is a great foundation dam. Before joining the Rare Gem line up, Periwinkle was a grey program foundation dam. She threw 3 out of 3 grey offspring when bred to grey. Suspecting that she may be a "blank", she was added to the Rare Gem harlequin / appaloosa team. Sure enough, she has thrown 2 out of 2 harlequin / appaloosas for us when bred to harlequin appaloosa herdsire, Cashmere's U-Taupe-ia. The first boy was a handsome beige with spots on his belly and legs that greyed out down his neck and topline. He has joined Sleepy Acre Farms stud row as a future stud for their harlequin / appaloosa program. Periwinkle's second Rare Gem offspring is the stunning Heart Kandi. She is the most uniquely color / patterned appaloosa to date. Her blanket is a solid dark fawn and she has black spots on her legs, belly and chin. She is a big strong cria and very loveable. Periwinkle is a stellar breeding dam... never a problem getting pregnant, holds her pregnancies, delivers large 20lb plus babies, has tons of milk and is the most attentive of moms. Periwinkle’s sire is none other than Bisturi, the legendary grey herdsire. Bisturi is a stunning grey male with a gorgeous evenly colored fleece. He has a fabulous pedigree that yields itself to producing not only grey, but quality fleece in general. Offspring: - 2012 Periwinkle had a handsome grey male from Silverado’s Peruvian Silver Fox. - 2013 Periwinkle had a gorgeous light silver grey girl, Epic Alpacas Athena, from multiple award winner Chief Grey Feather (#31825610). - 2014 Periwinkle did it again! This time, a beautiful dark silver grey girl out of Avatar’s Avalance, Persephone! - 2016 Periwinkle continues to throw exactly was asked for. This year is a beautiful big-boned, densely- fleeced boy with gorgeous crimp harlequin appaloosa. He took two Blue Ribbons in his first show. Sold! This pairing will be repeated for a 2018 offspring! -2018 And AGAIN! Periwinkle produced a very unique, appaloosa girl. We have named her Heart Kandi as she is the sweetest cria ever. :-) Congratulations to Plateau Breeze on the purchase of Periwinkle and her 2018 cria, Heart Kandi for their appaloosa foundation!