The breathtaking Appaloosa horse is one of the most recognizable horses in the world. She gained her popularity not only because of her impressive color, which gives her exceptional beauty, but also because of her talents, as a result of which she can perform in almost any kind of equestrian sport.
Due to its balanced character and racing qualities, this breed shows a high level in show jumping races, in various show programs and, of course, is often used as pleasure horses. In addition, she develops a magnificent canter and easily overcomes obstacles that arise on her way.
Basic data
Appaloosa is a horse whose description is very ambiguous due to its unique variegated color. The name of the breed comes from the name of the area located near the Palouse River. This breed is easy to recognize due to the many spots that differ in color frommain color.
Exterior
The Appaloosa horse, the photo of which is posted below, attracts attention not only by its color, but also by its impressive exterior. The growth of these horses rarely exceeds 1.5 meters with a weight of about 500 kg. The head is large, the eyes are expressive. The ears are small and pointed.
The neck is powerful, wide, thanks to which there is a smooth transition to the chest. The croup with the tail set high enough is rounded and massive. The mane and tail are unusually silky. Unlike other species, the Appaloosa horse, the photo of which is presented in this article, has a spotted color not only on the coat, but also directly on the skin.
Features of the breed
The sclera of the eye (the light area that covers the entire eye except for the cornea) is white. Although it is present in all horses, it is much more noticeable in the Appaloosian due to its rich white tint. This is one of the main features of the breed, often seen in conjunction with large white markings on the muzzle.
Another notable feature of the breed is the vertical stripes on the hooves. Their color can vary from dark to white. However, it must be borne in mind that such stripes may be traces of old injuries or be a continuation of light color markings passing along the legs. In addition, similar stripes are often observed in horses of white and cream colors. So striped hooves do not always indicate that the horse belongs to thisbreed. Having noticed such marks, it is better to conduct a thorough examination by a specialist than to risk and acquire an injured horse.
Most popular colors
Fans of this breed recognize 13 basic colors.
Among them, the most popular are:
- Appaloosa leopard horse. The color is white with many dark spots randomly distributed throughout the body.
- Snowflake. On the snow-white coat there are a large number of dark spots, noticeably expressed in the hip area.
- Frost. This color is light, and sometimes even snow-white spots on the main dark suit.
- Marble. On light wool, dark stains can be traced, the main mass of which is located on the nose, knees and back.
- Appaloosa black-backed horse. A bay, black or other solid horse (except gray) with an admixture of blond hair. In this case, the secondary color may form small oval spots.
Amazing Facts
Skin can be either a rich light shade or non-pigmented with dark spots interspersed. The final version of the color does not appear immediately, but is formed by about five years.
An Appaloosa horse, whose photos allow you to admire these beautiful creatures, can be born with one pattern, and in the process of growth, radically change it to a new one. For example, the vast majorityfoals are born with a light coat, but within a few years they begin to shed heavily and, losing their baby fur, become significantly darker. The only exception is gray Appaloosa, which, on the contrary, are born dark and become much lighter over time. This is directly related to the presence of a gene called Leopard, the more it is in the horse's genotype, the more spots there will be on the main color.
Please note that the Appaloosa horse is genetically predisposed to a rapidly developing disease called uveitis, which can even lead to blindness if not properly treated.
Origin of the breed and distribution
To date, there are two main options regarding the origin of the name of this breed. The first is that the Appaloosa horse was named by the first white settlers of America in honor of the area around the Palouse River, according to the second version, it was named after the Palouse tribe, which previously lived within the same river. Despite the fact that the name of the breed took root quite quickly, the Appaloosa received official recognition in the world only in 1938
It is assumed that the spotted horses were actively used by the Spaniards, who were surprised by the beauty and endurance of this breed, who were going to use them to explore all American lands as quickly as possible for the purpose of profit.
Over time, this breed has spread massively throughout America.
The Indians exchanged them between the tribes andthey were repeatedly sold to white settlers. Thus, the Appaloosa became the primary means of transportation for much of America's original inhabitants.
Measures to preserve the breed
In order for the Appaloosa horse to retain its characteristic exterior, no measures were taken until the time when farmer Claude Thompson organized a club of fans of this breed. Thanks to his like-minded people, he was able not only to support the breed in a purebred form, but also significantly raise its position among other breeds.
Thanks to his actions, today a museum of the history of these horses is already functioning in Idaho and a world register of this breed has been created.
Currently, over 1.5 million Appaloosa breeds are registered, with many new horses being added each year. Idaho even publishes the association's official monthly magazine dedicated to the characteristics of this breed, which has repeatedly won various awards.
As the number of representatives of the breed grows, the association is developing a variety of activities aimed at increasing people's interest in this type of horse. With the active participation of permanent members, more than 600 regional exhibitions have already been held, aimed at selecting the best individuals who can compete in the annual world and national performances.
The organizers are trying to get people interested in getting these unusual horses. ToTo make owning an Appaloosa a pleasure, ongoing events offer a range of prizes for winners of all types of races.
In addition, the organization is also sponsoring a four-week annual race to select the most impressive specimens for further races.
Conclusion
Appaloosa horses are winning the hearts of people at a tremendous rate.
For each person there is a suitable activity in the world of these beautiful animals, whether it is participation in exhibitions or fun horseback riding. This breed is ideal for children who dream of a horse, not only because of the attractive color, but also because of the balanced character.
