The appaloosa horse

Appaloosa’s
December 8, 2010 by meaghantsequestrian | Edit
The Appaloosa horse
Typically stands 14.2 to 15.2 hands.
Typically weighs 1,050 to 1,200 pounds.
Has seven main coat patterns:
Blanket. A solid white area, normally over the hip area, with a contrasting base color.
Spots. White or dark spots over all or on some portion of the body.
Blanket with spots. A white blanket that has dark spots within the white.
Roan. A light-colored area on the forehead, jowls, and frontal bones of the face; also over the back, loins, and hips. Dark areas may appear along the frontal bones of the face, and also on the legs, stifle, above the eye, point of hip, and behind the elbow.
Roan blanket. Roan pattern consisting of a mixture of light and dark hairs, over a portion of the body. The blanket normally occurs over, but not limited to, the hip area. Roan blanket with spots. A roan blanket that has white and or dark spots within the roan area.
Solid. A solid base color, with no visible Appaloosa coat pattern. Needs to have mottled skin and one other Appaloosa char- acteristic to qualify for regular registration.



The Nez Percé Indians developed the Appaloosa horse from Spanish stock, some of which carried spotting genes. Through selective breeding, they created a unique horse breed that’s strong, fast, and sure-footed. However, an influx of white settlers to the Northwest almost caused the Appaloosa’s demise. By 1877, the United States was forcing Indians onto reservations. Many of the Nez Percé refused to give in, and, under Chief Joseph, eluded the U.S. Cavalry for months. They trekked toward Canada over 1,300 miles of mountainous terrain.

When Chief Joseph finally surrendered, the Nez Percé were forced to relinquish their horses. Soon the qualities so prized by the tribe were lost or severely diluted due to indiscriminate breeding.
The Secret Kid:

June 10, 2010 – The Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC), its exhibitors and their Appaloosas will soon begin preparations for the 64th National Appaloosa Show and 2011 World Championship Appaloosa Youth Show to be held in Tulsa, Okla. The ApHC has finalized an agreement with the Tulsa County Public Facilities Authority and the Tulsa Convention and Visitors Bureau to host the 2011 and 2012 events at the Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex at the Tulsa Expo Square. The shows will be held July 4-July 16, 2011 and July 9-21, 2012.




Special Breed Notes



Registry: Appaloosas that are crossbred to Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, and Arabians can be registered with the ApHC; however, horses with draft, pony, albino, overo or tobiano pattern(s), Pinto Horse, or Paint Horse breeding may not.
History: Since 1965, the ApHC has offered the week-long Chief Joseph Trail Ride, retracing a different portion of the 1,300-mile route the Nez Percé took to evade the U.S. Calvary.
Foundation sires: Notable foundation sires include Bright Eyes Brother, Prince Plaudit, Joker B., Colida, Mansfield’s Comanche, Red Eagle’s Peacock, Wapiti, and Chief of Fourmile.
Appaloosas are very versatile having great endurance and excellent dispositions. Although they can be stubborn, most Appaloosas are extremely intelligent and willing.





Some physical characteristics that are shared by most Appaloosas include mottled skin, vertically striped hooves, a white sclera which encircles the iris, and a short mane and tail. Most appaloosas also have strong sturdy legs and hooves, and are generally very sure-footed.






Today, the Appaloosa is used for ranch work, trail riding, and in parades. They’re often seen in horse shows in Western classes like pleasure, halter, cutting, reining, and timed events, and in rodeos. Appaloosas are sometimes crossed with Thoroughbreds or Warmbloods for dressage mounts and hunter-jumpers with colorful coats. Appaloosa racing is also gaining popularity. And of course, the Appy makes a good, all-around family horse, too.