The Appaloosa horse is an attractive and striking breed due to their colored markings. With a muscular build and range of temperaments, they can be great for all levels of riders. They also have a fascinating North American history, with their predecessors being brought over by the Spanish.
History and Origins
Back in the 1600s, predecessors of the Appaloosa breed arrived in North America with the Spanish. For about 200 years, these horses were bred by the Nez Perce Native Americans, who aimed to make an intelligent, colorful, and tractable horse and ultimately developed the Appaloosa breed. In fact, it is believed that the name “Appaloosa” relates to the Palouse River area, which is where the Nez Perce lived, and this breed was first referred to as the “Palouse” breed before the name evolved into Appaloosa.
Later, in 1870, America almost lost the breed when the U.S. government attempted to take over native land. Fortunately, despite much of the breed being killed, lost, or stolen, a few tribe members were able to escape with their Appaloosas. For a while, the Appaloosa horses remained mostly unnoticed. When the 1930s came around, interest in the breed grew once again, in which the Appaloosa Horse Club was formed in 1938 as a breed registry with the few remaining Appaloosa horses. It now resides as one of the largest breed registries in the world.
Appaloosa Horse Breed Statistics
Height and Weight
Appaloosa horses range from 14 – 15 hands high and weigh 950 – 1,200 pounds.
Color and Markings
The Appaloosa’s base color can be a wide range of red, blue, or bay roan. They can also be anything from palomino-colored to gray; chestnut to buckskin; grulla to dark bay or bay; cremello/perlino to dun; or black to brown. They also have beautiful facial patterns and colors, including blaze, bald, star, stripe, and snip. You can find interesting marks on the legs as well, including coronet, eel, pastern, half-pastern, ankle, lightning, stocking, and half-stocking.
There are also several recognized coat patterns. One of these is the blanket, in which the Appalloosa’s haunches are either all white or speckled white with dark spots. There is also the leopard, in which the body has a white background with dark spots; and the snowflake, which is the opposite of the leopard because the body has a dark background with white spots or flecks most commonly and prominently appearing over the horse’s haunches. Finally, there is the marble, which is a white-and-dark-haired mottled pattern.
Conformation
Appaloosas are compact with a muscular build. They have colorful coat patterns with mottled skin and striped hooves, and typically have a sparse mane and tail. They were bred for endurance and strength as well as coat richness and their spotty patterns, and were used for Native American needs like war, work, and hunting. This breed was so well-rounded that Lewis and Clark noted the quality of it.
Unique Characteristics of the Appaloosa Horse
Aside from the eye-catching color of their coat that gives each individual Appaloosa its own look, they are hardy with strong agility traits. The striping on their hooves is also unique to the breed. There are a variety of potential health problems associated with this particular breed, and they tend to have a more stubborn streak, making this breed best for the more experienced rider to own.
Appaloosa Horse Temperament
Appaloosas are known for being friendly and loyal companions, having an exceptionally gentle demeanor and faithful nature. However, there is a reason that the Nez Perce used them for battle, as they can also be fierce and courageous.
Grooming the Appaloosa Horse
If you have an Appaloosa that is predominantly white in color, grooming more often than once a week will keep its white coat clean. Taking special care of the tail and mane is also needed, as both are sparse. Appaloosas also tend to be easily susceptible to parasites, making frequent grooming a must.
Nutrition for the Appaloosa Horse
Appaloosas require a standard horse diet of fresh grass, quality hay, and grains, as they love grazing. If they do not have enough room to graze or variety in a pasture, then they will need vitamin and mineral supplements like Omega-3 oils and probiotics. It is also worthing noting that the amount of food they need largely depends on their size and activity level.
Common Health Issues for the Appaloosa Horse
Even though Appaloosa horses were bred to be robust and thus do not often suffer from genetic issues, theiy can be susceptible to some diseases due to their pigmentation. Light-colored Appaloosas can be easily sunburned and may need ointment applied to their pink areas (ears, muzzle, around the eyes) for protection. Appaloosa horses are also prone to eye problems, as their eyes tend to water which then attracts flies and leads to irritation and possibly infection. A fly mask can help protect the area. Additionally, they’re more prone to equine recurrent uveitis than most other breeds. Finally, you should avoid riding your Appaloosa at dusk or night as they have a medical condition unique to their breed called Night blindness.
Appaloosa Common Uses and Talents
Appaloosa horses are used for many different disciplines in riding. Originally, the Nez Perce people bred Appaloosas for transport, hunting, and battle. Now, the modern Appaloosa horse we know and love today can be found in pleasure and long-distance trail riding, working cattle and rodeo events, racing, and many other Western and English riding sports.
Facts About the Appaloosa Horse
The Appaloosa horse has some fascinating facts. One is that Appaloosa horses are frequently used in films. One notable example is the bloody bay Appaloosa called Cojo Rojo, who was ridden by actor Marlon Brando in the 1966 film simply titled “The Appaloosa.” For no obvious reason, the director of this film wanted a black appaloosa, so Cojo Rojo’s coat was dyed black just for the film.
Another interesting fact is that you can’t always predict a grown Appaloosa’s color at birth. A foal that is born with a solid coat may eventually gain spots. Only when a foal’s baby hair is shed around its eyes can its true colors start to show.
Famous Appaloosa Horses
There are a few famous and noteworthy Appaloosa horses. Perhaps one of the most important ones is an Appaloosa who was born in 1918 named Knobby. Because his herd remained unaffacted by the U.S. government’s near eradication of the Appaloosa breed in the late 1800’s, he was able to survive and become recognized as a foundation sire for today’s breed stock. Another famous horse that can perhaps be attributed to the formation of today’s leopard-spotted Appaloosas is a stallion called Sundance, who was born in 1933 and was the first of his descendants to exhibit this unique pattern. Finally there is one of the most famous Appaloosas, a 16.2-hands-tall bay leopard Appaloosa named Pay N Go. This tall stallion was able to fulfill the request of the famous Paul McCartney by performing at his wife Linda’s memorial service in Manhattan, New York, in 1998.
Is the Appaloosa Horse Right for You?
Whether or not an Appaloosa is right for you is entirely dependant on their personality. Appaloosas can range from docile and playful to high-strung and constantly challenging their owners. However, it is worth noting that this breed is not often forgiving for beginning riders, so that should be taken into consideration before purchasing a horse of this breed.
How to Adopt or Buy an Appaloosa Horse
With Appaloosa’s easy to find, you can most likely find one close by if you decide to purchase one. Most go for sale between $1,000 and $10,000, with variants of age, training, and pedigree determining cost. Whether you are looking to purchase from a breeder or adopt from a rescue, making sure to take time and get to know the horse and its background before purchasing is always a good idea.
Appaloosa Horse FAQs
How much does an Appaloosa horse cost?
The cost of an Appaloosa horse can range from $1,000 to $10,000 depending on its age, coloration, and bloodline.
How big do Appaloosa horses get?
Appaloosas range from 14.2 to 16 hands tall.
Where do Appaloosa horses come from?
Appaloosa horses are known to be from the Palouse river area in North America, where the Nez Perce Native Americans lived and bred this breed into existence.
Are Appaloosa horses good for beginner riders?
Yes, Appaloosa horses can be a great breed for beginner riders depending on their temperament.
How rare is an Appaloosa horse?
Appaloosa horses are easy to find and are not rare at all.
Can a solid color Appaloosa with spotted parents be registered?
A horse shows no Appaloosa coat pattern or characteristics, and has tested lp/lp (which means that there are few to no spots on the horse’s white patterning), is eligible for the International Colored Appaloosa Association registration. There will be an “N” prefixed in their registration number.
Are all Appaloosa horses spotted?
Not all Appaloosa horses are spotted. Some can be totally solid-colored, or have a very minimal amount of spots on their coat.
Conclusion
The Appaloosa horse is certainly eye-catching with its beautiful spotted coat. Famous in film, the breed is very versatile multiple competitive areas. Great for riders and owners of all levels due to its range of temperament, the Appaloosa is certainly well worth looking into when considering ownership of a talented and beautiful horse.
