- American Cream -

The American Cream, also known as the Albino, originated in Nebraska in 1937 and can be credited to the efforts of two men named Caleb and Hudson Thompson. The foundation sire was a stallion by the name of Old King, and Arab/Morgan stock purchased by the Thompsons in 1918. Old King produced mainly pink-skinned, white-colored foals from a variety of solid-colored mares, and the Thompsons used him to breed with a herd of Morgan mares to create a breed of white-colored horses. The breed varies widely as far a conformation, with the influence of the Quarter Horse, the Morgan, the English Thoroughbred, and Arab showing in varying degrees from horse to horse. Perhaps the Albino is more of a color than a breed, although American Cream horses do all have similar characteristics such as an excellent learning and training ability. There is now more distinction between the two, and the American Albino Horse Club has become the American White Horse Club and the Albino has become the American Cream.

Despite the lack of conformity concerning their conformation, the American Cream seems to be a universally intelligent horse that is quick to learn with an excellent temperament, which makes them a very nice riding horse. These qualities have led to the American Cream being widely used in the film industry and in the circus. Traditionally, white horses were considered one of the most beautiful and desirable horses, having been ridden by kings and queens and great generals, while also featuring in folk stories and legends as having magical powers. More recently, though, their color has been considered a sign of weakness, which of course is a myth. Breeding the American Cream horse can be difficult, because not all white horses produce white offspring. Within the breed there are four acceptable color combinations. They are: ivory white body with a lighter mane, blue eyes and pink skin; a cream body with a darker mane, cinnamon colored skin and dark eyes; both body and mane the same color cream, pink skin and blue eyes; and both body and mane the same darker cream, pink skin and blue eyes. The American Cream horse typically stands at approximately 15.1 hands high.

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