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The Appaloosa

The Appaloosa comes in various colors, such as, Blue Roan, Red Roan, bay roan, Leopard (white with spots). They can be chestnut, bay, black, palomino, buckskin, or dun, with a blanket (which is white that can go from the rump to the withers). Some Appaloosas with blankets have spots in the white areas. Some blankets are known as snowcap, due to having no spots, only white. Appaloosas can also have a snowflake pattern. Picture at the end of this article are several examples of Appaloosa patterns.

Appaloosas originated with the Nez Perce and Palouse Indian tribes in the Northwest, now known as Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. The Nez Perce were a sophisticated horseman. Their mounts, the Appaloosa, had intelligence, speed, and endurance.

Then white settlers came to the Northwest. They called the spotted horses, that they saw by the Palouse River, owned by the Palouse tribe, "Palouse horses" or "a palouse" horse. Later in time, the horses were eventually called "a Palousey" or "Appalousey".

In 1877, during the Nez Perce war, the Appaloosa helped the non-treaty Nez Perce elude the U.S. Calvary for months. The Nez Perce fled over 1,300 miles over rugged, punishing terrain, under the leadership of Chief Joseph and other Nez Perce leaders. They surrendered in Montana. The surviving horses were given to soldiers, settlers and many were left behind. Those that were kept were bred to draft horses in an effort to get rid of the wonderful traits of the Appaloosa which made it such a good Indian pony.

Nothing was done to preserve the Appaloosa breed until 1938. At that time a group of dedicated horsemen formed the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC). The ApHC is an international breed registry for the Preservation and improvement of the breed. At that tine the numbers were diminishing. When the ApHC was formed, the breed officially became known as the Appaloosa.

Today, the Appaloosa has been cross-bred to Arabians, Quarter Horses, and Thoroughbreds (sometimes known as Jockey Club). Appaloosas are versatile and have a good disposition. They are excellent horses for youth, non-pros, or for backyard horses. They are ridden in cattle classes, English of Western Pleasure, Hunter Jumper, trail rides, Endurance competition, and games events, such as stakes race (poles), Stump race (barrels), Keyhole race, etc. There is also Appaloosa horse racing.

Hip Blanket with large spots Prairie Joker Metat (means third generation) Notice the large white blanket over the rump with large spots. Owned by Grandma & Grandpa Doud. Shown by Donna Wolk. 1990 World Qualifier in Most Colorful at Halter.
Cash's Bar Reed,1993 Stallion Here is yet another verion of a hip blanket with spots. Owned by Donna Doud, and sold to Lynn & Lynnette Voss. As of April, 1999.
Snow Cap Blanket BRF Money’s Santana Notice the lack of spots from the withers to the rump. Owned by Broken Rail Farm in Brandywine, MD
Snow Flake Pattern Royal Blue Barton Notice there is a small scattering of white areas that looks like snowflakes over her body. Owned by Broken Rail Farm.
Cashs' Yellow Rose Here is yet another example of a snowflake pattern appaloosa, note the red splashs on her shoulder, neck, etc. Shown by Donna Wolk (Doudd) at the 1990 World Championship Appaloosa Horse show at Fort Worth, TX in Broodmares Halter. Won 6th place. And friend Marge Williams.
Large Blanket with Spots BRF Lady’s Hisasy Notice the white blanket area from withers to rump which has spots in it. Owned by Broken Rail Farm.
Leopard Appaloosa Notice the large red roan spots all over the horses body. Leopards also can also have blue spots instead of red and are know as blue roan Appaloosas.  Owned by Hands On Farm

Article by Donna Doud of Sedalia, MO

Pictures by Donna Doud, Sandy Dean of Brandywine, MD and Pam Grahm of Vancouver, WA