Appaloosa
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[-]The famous explorers Louis and Clark came across this breed in 1805 at which time they were in possession of Nez-Perce, an Indian tribe. The horse itself was located Oregon, Idaho and Washington. It was in 1975 that they were the named the state horse for Idaho. [/-] [...]
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For those individuals that compete or entertain with trick riding or with specially trained horses, especially in the western riding style, the Appaloosa has long been a favorite breed. While there is no doubt that the unique and highly eye catching coloration of the breed does add to its appeal as a performance or trick horse, there is also the natural intelligence, calmness and reliability of the breed that add to its popularity.
Training a trick horse for circus work, trick riding, or performing is not a simple task and does take both a special horse as well as a dedicated rider. Not all Appaloosas are good trick horses, just like not all Thoroughbreds make good racehorses. Trick horse trainers look for younger horses that are naturally very clever, seem to have a natural curiosity and are calm and even tempered without appearing flighty or mean spirited. Early handling and training of the colt or filly helps the trainer to develop a good rapport with the horse as well as to design tricks and stunts that will be natural for the horse to perform. [...]
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When most people think of an Appaloosa they think of a solid colored horse, usually bay, brown, or black with a white rump blanket that is covered with spots. While this is one of the most popular colorations and patterns of an Appaloosa, there are many other colorations possible, including solid colors.
There are several base coat colors that are acceptable in the Appaloosa registry. They include bay, black, brown (dark bay), palomino, cremello or perlino, dun, buckskin, grulla, gray, chestnut, and the three roan colors, bay, blue (gray) and red (strawberry). There is no recognized white colored Appaloosa but a cremello or perlino may be very close to white; however, this is a dilution gene, not a true color gene. A solid base colored Appaloosa must have other features that identify it as part of the breed which must include at least the mottled skin on the nose and mouth, belly, and genital areas, and one of the other two features that include white sclera around the eyes and striped hooves. [...]
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The Nez Perce Indians are considered to be the first North American group of people that selectively bred and raised the spotted horses of the prairies. The original Appaloosas are likely to be descendants of the now extinct breed of Spanish horses known as the spotted Spanish Jennets. These horses, or their offspring, then mated with other Spanish horses brought over with groups of explorers, producing the spotted horses now known as the Appaloosa. Another legend in the Nez Perce tribe is that the horses were actually traded for food between the tribe and a Russian ship, which would mean that the horses are of the ancient Tiger Horse breed that is depicted in Siberian legend and art. Even as early as 1806 the Lewis and Clark expedition reported that the Nez Perce Indians had the largest domesticated herd of spotted horses which were highly prized by the people. Since the tribe was originally located in the Palouse River valley of Idaho and Washington, the name Appaloosa gradually evolved. [...]
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Appaloosa
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