Appaloosa
Published by GHC • Nov 24th, 2007 • Category: by Julia, International Horseby Julia, age 13
You’re riding your horse along a country back road and come up to a large pasture with multiple horses in it. All of them are beautiful, but one catches your eye. It’s a deep shade of bay but its rump is covered with white spots. Guess what? You’ve picked an Appaloosa out of the crowd.
Appaloosas come in all colors and patterns. Some are simply solid chestnuts, bays, etc. But the identifiable characteristic of this breed is the intricate coats of many colors, usually mixed with grey. There are Appys that have white over their rump (with or without spots); this is called blanketed. Then there are horses that are light grey or white with large black or brown spots all over their body. A Snowflake pattern is when the Appaloosa has a few small spots (usually white) sprinkled randomly over their body. Marble is small, dark sprinkles on a light colored coat. Finally, there is frost — sprinkles on a darker colored coat. As I said before, some Appaloosas are one of the basic colors such as bay, chestnut, grey, buckskin, roan and any other colors.
The Appaloosa was developed in the United States by the Nez Perce tribe that lived near the Palouse River in the American Pacific Northwest. Therefore, the “Palouse Horse” eventually came to be called the Appaloosa.
Appaloosas are a versatile horse. They’re great for western pleasure, trail, English hunter, showmanship, gymkhana– you name it, Appaloosas can do it. They’re not too commonly seen in flat track racing, but it has been done. I ride Appaloosas, both western and English style of riding.
Appaloosas are my favorite breed of horse, probably because I spend so much time around them. But the spots and patterns make their appearance so unique that you have to think they’re special. So the next time you see a horse that stands out of the crowd you’ll know it’s an Appaloosa.
Gotta love spots, right?
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Nice photos Julia
Love your blog! We don’t have any Appaloosa horses where I ride….but I wish they did :). They are truly beautiful and a great breed of horse.
PS~ You’re a great photographer! :D
Thanks guys. I absolutely adore Appys ao I had to pay tribute. :)
Great Blog! :D :D :D
I LOVE appys they are THE best ever! Every time I see One all I want to do is hug and take a picture of it! :)
Appaloosas are so cool! The stable I ride at is going to buy an appoloosa soon, I can’t wait!
Great blog!! I love Appys they are cool, and they come in so many patterns it’s awesome!! :)
Appys are the best. But they can also be aggressive. The very first horse I rode was an appy it was when I was 3 yrs old. I’ll never forget that day….
Wonderful Blog! There is an Appy where I ride and even though he’s the oldest of the school horses he is the most energetic of them all! His name is Sonny Delight but Sonny for short! He was the first horse I rode bare back on….boy was that scarey! Especially when we were trotting! Julia: You phot’s are amazing! Are you going to illustrated your future books with your own photos? ;)
I once rode an Appaloosa before-feisty and a hand full, but beautiful all the same. They’re magnificent horses. Lovely blog Julia, the information is going to be very useful! :)
THose are great photos and a great blog! Congrats!! :))
hi i’m new here and i like your story and i have a question can horses have peppermint? :-?
Wonderful blog, Julia! You are a talented writer, photographer, and I bet a talented rider too!
Thanks again to everyone. Appaloosas are beautiful, aren’t they? You can really see the spots well in the 2nd picture (Rosie). Temperament depends on the horse, but overall they’re a pretty patient breed and can be feisty…but that’s what I like about them. :)
Colleen: Welcome to the barn! I don’t know what you mean about peppermints, do you mean for them to eat? And thanks.
Hi Colleen, it’s always great meeting someone new around here. :D I’ve heard that horses do eat peppermints, but I’m not a hundred percent sure, though they can eat polomints.
At my barn they allow horses to eat peppermints, so I think it’s okay…
Julia: Can’t wait to read a new blog from you!
Awesome blog!!! Pretty pictures!!! I love appyies they are sooo cute and pretty and….loud!!!!! {:D} {:D} {:D} {:D} {:D} {:D} {:D} {:D} {:D}
Wow, Julia! Great photos! ;;) I’m jealous now, my horsey ones are hardly ever in focus..
Great blog, as always
:D