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!!

On 10.14.16, Tempest delivered a beautiful lavender grey girl sired by Vintage Cashmere's U-Taupe-ia. "Taupie" is a beautiful harlequin herdsire that is known for throwing appaloosas and has a pedigree with legendary appy genetics on both sides of his pedigree. While this cria has one spot one large spot on her blanket, her legs are a beautiful dapple grey. When her lavendar tips are parted, her fleece reveals a solid-bright-light silver grey. When I tried to cria tip her, her fiber was so fine that the clippers would not cut it. This is only the second time I have ever experienced this. The baby is strong and healthy and Tempest has been a great mom-- very attentive and an udder full of milk. One additional thing about Tempest... she is a little on the chubby side. She loves to eat!! And eat... She is never aggressive with the other girls over food, she just has a very healthy appetite and likes to keep things tighty by ensuring that no morsels are left behind. On Feb.3.2018, Tempest delivered another beautiful U-Taupe-ia baby girl. Still waiting an watching this ones fleece coloring. But we could not be more thrilled with a healthy vibrant cria in FEBRUARY in Colorado.