The Appaloosa - America's Spotted Horse

The Appaloosa is the American version of the spotted horse and is a distinctive and popular breed in the US. The spotted gene in horses is as old as the equine race. Cro-Magnon man cave art of 20,000 years ago, depicts horses with spotted coats. Spotted horses, under a variety of names, were known and often highly esteemed throughout Europe and Asia. There was the Knabstruper of Denmark and Tigres was the name given to them in France. In Britain, where they were once bred in a Royal stud, and were called Blagdon, or Chubbarie, a Romany name. There is now a thriving British Appaloosa Society, but their product has not yet attained breed status.

The spotted coat of the British spotted pony was his natural camouflage when he roamed the heaths and forests of ancient Britain. Stoneage man painted him on the walls of his caves, and they appear in many illustrated manuscripts, old paintings and drawings down through the centuries. Because of their unusual coat coloring the spotted pony was highly prized and it is documented that they were sold for enormous sums of money and were widely used in peace and war.

In a parchment roll dated 1298 there is listed all the horses purchased for Edward 1st campaign at Falkirk. It describes a spotted Welsh cob from Powys purchased from Robin Fitzpayne. He is one of the most expensive on the list. In a fifteenth century manuscript of the chronicles of Sir John Froissart there is an illustration of a little chestnut spotted cob. Today in Britain they are known as Spotted Ponies.

Archeological and historical records show the ancient Chinese Emperors describing them as "Heavenly Horses," and in 17th and 18th century Europe, aristocrats prized them highly as mounts.

The American Appaloosa was developed by the Nez Perce Indians in the eighteenth century, using as a foundation, the Spanish stock imported by the conquistadores. The Nez Perce lived northeast of Oregon and their lands included fertile, sheltered river valleys/ The Palouse river was one of their principle areas, and Appaloosa is a derivative of "a Palouse horse". They were skillful horse breeders and practiced a strict, selective policy. The result was a distinctive, practical, work horse that had the advantage of color. The Nez Perce Indians bred their horses as practical, hardy and versatile mounts for war and hunting. They bred horses that were sensible, with a tractable temperament, endless stamina and endurance.

In 1877, the story of the Nez Perce and the Appaloosa takes a tragic turn. Chief Joseph, the famous leader of the peaceful Nez Perce became disheartened by the many broken treaty promises of the United States Government. Rather than fight, the 700 Nez Perce men, women and children chose to seek political asylum in Canada. For more than three months, traveling 1800 miles over treacherous mountain terrain, the Nez Perce, mounted on their Appaloosa horses avoided capture by the pursuing US Armies. The ongoing battles with the soldiers and the weak condition of his surviving people forced Chief Joseph to surrender. They were in northern Montana -- only one day's journey from the Canadian border and freedom.

The strength of the Nez Perce had been their Appaloosa horses. The United States Government and the missionaries set out to destroy that strength. Most of their horses were confiscated and sold to local settlers. The Appaloosa that had escaped were hunted down by soldiers. A bottle of whiskey was the bounty paid for each Appaloosa horse shot. The Nez Perce on their new reservation were encouraged to take up farming. Their fine Appaloosa stallions were replaced with draft stallions. The effects of these crosses -- coarseheads and legs, and loss of refinement have taken generations to rid from the Appaloosa breed. The modern Appaloosa is a result of some out breeding to the Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse.

The original trim, hardy Appaloosa horse was quickly disappearing from the American west and for 50 years was a "lost breed." In 1938, a group of concerned stockmen in the northwestern United States formed the Appaloosa Horse Club to revive and preserve the Appaloosa horse.

Today, the Appaloosa Horse Club sponsors The Chief Joseph Trail Ride every year. Every year up to 300 riders retrace a portion of the Nez Perce War Trail of 1877. Usually held in July or August, it lasts one week, and approximately 100 miles of the trail are ridden. It takes thirteen years to ride the whole trail. Beginning in the beautiful Wallowa valley of Oregon and ending on the plains of the Bearpaw of northern Montana, it is the only ride in the nation that ends up a different place every night for five nights, over thirteen years!

Characteristics of this breed shows the Appaloosa to be an average sized light horse with most standing 14.2 to 15.2 hands at the withers and weighing about 1000 lbs. The modern Appaloosa continues to display the same qualities so highly valued by the Nez Perce and the early frontiersmen --versatility, endurance and temperament.

Various forms of color come in the Appaloosa. The most stereotypical Appaloosa is a dark bodied horse with a spotted or white blanket over the loin and hips.

Other coat patterns include:

The SNOWFLAKE. A darker body with lighter speckling.

The FEWSPOT. A strong coat with varnish marks, which are groupings of dark hairs within an area, usually nose, cheekbones, stifle, gaskin and knee.

Lastly, and perhaps the most popular color of all is the LEOPARD. A coat with a white body and dark spots over the entire body.

No two Appaloosas are exactly alike, but they do share three characteristics:

• 1. Mottled or freckled skin (parti-coloured), most noticeable around the muzzle, eyes and genitalia;
  
  
• 2. Hooves have clearly defined vertical light and dark stripes, a trait that gives them exceptionally durable hooves; and
  
  
• 3. Eyes that have a white sclera encircling the iris much like that of the human eye.
  
  

Many pictures by kind permission of the Spotties Site. If you want to know more about Appaloosas have a look at www.spotties.com.

Tim Manson

Comments

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Christina   30th Oct 01 Hey there. I love your site. I was just wondering what you call a leopard appaloosa with no spots? A few spot too? See I have a 13 year old appaloosa mare i ride in shows and she is white. She has only a couple of spots here and there on her front ankles and some in her ears, but that's it. I have a picture if you wanted it. Thanx, Christina Tim Manson   31st Oct 01 I have ridden an appaloossa that was totally white. You could not see any spots whatsoever until you washed him! Then he had some blueish spots come out. But he was a registered Appy! Its amazing sometimes the coloration you can get with this breed. The true leopard app is like the one shown in the picture above. With just a few spots, they are referred to simply as Appaloosa. Glad you like the western section. There will be more to come. Tim Cathy   7th Nov 01 There is a painting by DK Ehrenstrahl in 1673, of an appaloosa (Blue Tiger) that the Swedish King Karl XI had. Its in Gripsholms Slott. sherry   27th Nov 01 i have just come across your site while trying to find information on the "rat tail" appaloosa. my father bought me a beautiful horse about a month ago. Leddie has turned out to be my best friend. she has a wonderful personality and tenderness about her. having strong cherokee back ground, i feel a sense of pride when i am with her. she helps me find peace. thank you for the information i have obtained from your site. i will visit frequently to find more info. God bless!!! s.s. Andrea   29th Nov 01 hey Sherry! Your a cherokee to? Cool! anyways, I just wanted to say though I don't know what it's called, it is decidedly possible for an appaloosa to have no spots, both Song and Curly don't have spots...not ONE, but they are appys... Kerry   7th Dec 01 An Appy without spots is usually referred to as a solid Appaloosa. Diane   9th Dec 01 I have an iorn gray mare, with a few white spots, spotted muzzle, eyes, and genitalia, striped hooves, and white sclera. She has had 8 foals over the years, all showing strong Appaloosa caracteristics,colour, etc. but because somewhere along the way she never got reg. neither her offspring nor herself cannot be registered in England. I understand the importance of pedigree, I bred G.S.D.s for working trials and showing, but as I understand it the Appaloosa has limited bloodlines in this country, and there seems to be a closed shop to new blood.If you have not got a reg. paper then your horse is NOT an Appaloosa! Angela   1st Jan 02 I purchased a chestnut blanket spot fully registered young gelding recently and would not part from this horse for the world. The Appaloosa in my eyes is the best breed of horse you can get. The Offical breed registery for the Appaloosa in the UK is the Appaloosa Horse Club (UK) fully linked to the ApHC. There web site is well worth a visit at aphcuk.org jenny french   14th May 02 I have a 14hh welsh x appaloosa pony mare. The Appy side of her nature is wonderful, the welsh bit is a proper stroppy pony mare! But I love her to bits, even tho' I'm 52 years old! Danae   17th May 02 A solid Appaloosa is called, well, a solid. The ApHC was accepting these horses, up until 1999 or 2000. They changed the rules where now, you are allowed to register a solid App BUT, it has to possess the Appaloosa characteristics. These include the mottled skin around the eyes, muzzle, and genitals. Two other characteristics are the striped hooves and the sclera in the eye. My Appaloosa is 3/4's Quarter horse, but she is registered Appaloosa because she possess all the characteristics mentioned above. Although she isn't very loud, she does have spots. She is between a leopard/few spot/roan. I would consider her to be a leopard because she has spots on her shoulders (that crosses out the few spot and blanket). The majority of her is white. She's quite a looker in her own way :) Sue D   17th May 02 Cathy, are you sure the Swedish king's horse was an Appaloosa? I don't believe the breed had become established so early, let alone shipped back to Europe. Spotted horses of Spanish origin were popular in the C17th, and of course Sweden has it's own spotted horse, the Knapstrupp. Larry Thornton   6th Jun 02 Interesting page about Chief Joseph's final battle, but a couple of the facts while making for an exciting read are a bit fanciful. Having lived in the shadows of the Bearpaws, I'd have to say the sight of battle was a bit further than a days ride by horseback from Canada. Still, there is no doubt that it was an extraordinary effort. By the way, if you are in the central Montana area, there is some interesting Chief Joseph memoribilia at a museum in Fort Benton. Marcia H   7th Jun 02 When I was a child my father showed an appaloosa by the name of Bar D Quavo. He was an outstanding performance horse and I would love to know if there are any descedants of his out there? Especially a black and white mare? angie   24th Jun 02 I am a breeder of the British Spotted pony. May I point out A true few spot is not a spotted pony with only a few spots, but a genetic few spot, such a pony carries two spotting genes, In all Spotted ponies one gene is passed on from each parent, which innevitably means a true genetic few spot pony will definately produce a spotted foal. Other Spotted bred ponies have one spotting gene and one none spotting gene, depending on which genes are passed on by either sire or dam, this means any foal will either be a solid colour (spotted breed) pony, but will have no nor will develope any spots, or it will be a spotted (Coat) pony. Spots do not appear on a spotted pony, but rather the spotting gene is in actual fact not as it sounds, it is a whitening gene which causes the base colour to gradually turn white leaving darker base colour areas - spots behind. this whitening gene can be triggered at any time in the life cycle of the pony even whilst in the womb, hence some are born leopard for example, and some develope into leopard later in life. This spotting gene works on a time cycle just as we humans usually develop grey hair later in life, it will only go as far as it is to go, rather like a clock switching itself on and off, we then either stay grey or go pure white if the greying gene in us does not switch off. Grays should not be bred into spotted ponies as this grey gene is different to the spotting (whitening gene) and causes a fading factor of the base coat, therefore the spots could fade or even dissapear over time. A true British spotted pony does not fade. Also dissallowed is the interbreeding with Coloured ponies and horses, ie paints, pintos, piebalds, skewbalds, as this will all affect the true breed and of course the resulting coats. Please also note the type of ponies/horses interbred with Appaloosa's differs enormously with the British Spotted Pony, the latter of which the main bloodlines come from the Welsh Ponies and cobs. therefore there is an enormous difference in tempermants.Size is also a differing factor, british spotted ponies do not reach the heights of a typical appaloosa. If you have any queries, time permitting, I will be happy to answer them. email digitising@qualityservice.com Susan   30th Sep 02 Did the Conquistadors/Spaniards have any special name for the spotted (Appaloosa) horses? Cathy   8th Oct 02 Just stumbled onto your site while searching for information on Appaloosas. We recently purchased a 4 month colt, he is not registered but the owner says he is an appaloosa. He has a dark sorral coat with white spots on his rump. He has black legs, mane, tale, and his ears are outlined in black. he has a heartshape star on his forhead. he has the white sclera, but I have not noticed any mottling anywhere. He does have the vertical stripes on his hooves. does this sound like an appaloosa to you. thanks alison   20th Nov 02 Have you seen the New Spotties Forum at http://www.spotties.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl glenys   2nd Feb 03 does anyone have any information on the reverse few spot, having bred true few spots ( leopard to leopards ) for a number of years we occasionally get a plain bay with a defined dorsal strip, never colours but is truely an apply in every other way. Can anyone tell me more on this?

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