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!!

Corky is only one of two true black females ever produced from 6 Peruvian The Last Don! Corky is a full Peruvian, half Accoyo true black with impressive genetics. She was sired by the one and only 6Peruvian Accoyo The Last Don and her dam was 5Peruvian Indigo Ink. These two alpacas were Peruvian imports and quickly made their mark in the industry. Corky is exceptional for a true black just like her mom. She is well-proportioned, true to type with a proper head and broad muzzle. Corky has excellent substance of bone with good body capacity through her chest. Even though Corky is one of Rare Gem's mature foundation girls, her fleece and topknot are still thick and dense at almost 12 years of age. Her fleece is still crimpy and bright. We really appreciate Corky’s classic Accoyo look as evidenced by her compact broad muzzle. Corky was bred to Taos' Peruvian Pearl Jam and produced a beautiful 2014 cria BMF Pearl Jam's Indigo Ink Spot! "Wow" is the result of this breeding. Pearl Jam is a 9x Blue Ribbon winner and full brother to BMF Taos' Zeppelin! His Pearl Jam fineness and crimp genetics with this Last Don gal shows again just what she can produce. 2016 Update: Corky produced another silky-fleeced cria, Rare Gem Grace O'Malley. She has proven herself to deliver quality. Her genetics are great match for any color phased herdsire of quality. 2017 Updates: - Corky's 2016 progeny, Rare Gem Grace O'Malley, entered the show world this year and took Black Reserve Color Champion in the Cottage Fleece Competition at the 2017 AOA National Fleece Show. - 11/21/17 Corky throws a gorgeous modern grey female cria!! 2019 Update: - June 2019... meet the arrival of Corky's handsome jet black young man, RG Cuppa Joe!