Appaloosa
Origin
United States
History
Among the first horses that the Spanish adventurers introduced to the Americas in the 16th century were a number that carried spotted genes. Through the agency of the Plains Indians, these and other horses spread northward from Mexico, and they came to form the foundation stock of the Nez Percé tribe in the northeastern states of the US.
Unlike other Indians, the Nez Perce carefully chose their breeding stock. Only the best animals were were allowed to reproduce. Nez Perce horses performed various tasks according to their value. The most precious were ridden in war. The war horse had to have strength, speed, courage and intelligence. Spots were especially prized as they helped to camouflage the horse as well as to decorate it.
By 1806, the quality of the Nez Percé horses were widely recognized.
70 years later, the Appaloosa breed was virtually wiped out. Some of the prized horses of the Nez Percé were abandoned, while others were confiscated by the whites and herds of horses were slaughtered.
In 1938, on the basis of a few surviving descendants of the Nez Percé horses, the breed underwent a revival. At first some Arab blood was allowed, to bring refinement back into the strain, and later a great deal of registered Quarter Horse blood was used. The Appaloosa Horse Club was formed in Moscow, Idaho. In less than 50 years the Appaloosa breed registry became the third largest in the world.
Description
- Head:
small and well shaped, usually with a straight profile; the ears are pointed and the eyes large with obvious white sclera - Conformation:
-the neck is long and muscular, often slightly arched
-the withers are moderately pronounced
-the back is short and straight
-the chest is deep
-the shoulder is long and sloping
-the croup is usually slightly sloping-the legs are solid and well muscled
-the hooves are characterized by black and white stripes - Average height:
14.2 to 16 h.h - Colours:
there are 5 principal coat patterns: Leopard, characterized by a white area over all or part of the body, and dark, egg-shaped spots within the white area; Snowflake, in which white spotting occurs all over the body but is usually concentrated over the hips; Blanket, where the coat color over the hips can be either white or spotted; Marbleized, where there is a mottled pattern all over the body: and Frost, which consists of white specks on a dark background. - Temperament:
the breed is claimed to be innately hardy, very willing, and to have a very tractable temperament - Today:
in the United States it is used as a stock and pleasure horse, as well as for racing, jumping, and western and long-distance riding.
EASY GOING FOALS THAT MATURE INTO WONDERFUL RIDING HORSES. THEY CARRY THE VERY
WELL KNOWN DREAMFINDER-PLAUDIT AND THE TOTEM BLOODLINES. THE BREED IS EXTREMELY
VERSATILE AND CAN HANDLE ANY DISIPLINE.
EASY GOING FOALS THAT MATURE INTO WONDERFUL RIDING HORSES. THEY CARRY THE VERY
WELL KNOWN DREAMFINDER-PLAUDIT AND THE TOTEM BLOODLINES. THE BREED IS EXTREMELY
VERSATILE AND CAN HANDLE ANY DISCIPLINE.