Apaloosa - sort of genetic question

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vicm2509

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Is an apaloosa *sp a breed, colour or both?

Im a little confused. There is a little section A on our yard that has just had a foal. It was bought pregnant so no idea who father is but its got apaloosa markings (looks a bit like bamdi, its so cute). I asked if hed worked out what breed it was and he said apaloosa. So am I right in thinking its a genetic thing that is recognised by markings?
 
Im 99% sure its a breed - it always appears in breed books as a breed an thats what we were taught at College. They can have lots of different types of markings or they can be just normal coloured, say Chestnut
 
not an appaloosa then.. just a roan.
Always been taught it was a breed. The same as the knappstrupper. where as pinto and skewbald/piebald are colours.
Lou x
 
there known as appaloosas as it is a misunderstanding.. they should be called spotted or colour.

Apaloosas are a set breed and yes x breeds are known as part breads or just appalosas..

Lou x
 
Appaloosa is def a breed, some of their characteristics are these taken from the aphuk website:


A: Mottled or Parti-coloured Skin
This characteristic is unique to the Appaloosa horse. Mottled skin is different from the commonly found pink (non pigmented or flesh coloured) skin in that it contains dark areas of pigmented skin within its area. Mottled skin may be found in several places; in addition to the muzzle and eye areas, it may be found around the anus or genitalia.

B: White Sclera
The sclera is the area of the eye surrounding the cornea. Rather like a human eye, the visible white sclera is a distinctive Appaloosa characteristic provided it is not in combination with bald face markings.

C: Striped Hooves
Many Appaloosas will also have bold and clearly defined vertically striped hooves, although striped hooves may result from an injury to the coronet band or white markings on legs. As a result, not all striped hooves can necessarily be determined as Appaloosa characteristics, so look for other Appaloosa characteristics in addition if any of these situations apply to your horse.

Appaloosas do not always display the above characteristics. In this case Appaloosa parentage may be verified through blood testing.

Knabstruppers are also spotty but I am not familiar with their breed, I think that they are dutch??

Hope that helps, the foal sounds more like a roan, it will not be an appy with that parentage
 
There are also british spotted ponies, but I think that they are also a breed. Appaloosa's are horses, not ponies, their origin is with native americans in the appalatian mountains, who bred them for their colour, intelligence and temprement. We have two, one is a very colourful leopard spot and the other is mainly chestnut, with some roaning and 'varnish marks' (darker spots with fainter edging). Both are too clever my good
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An Appaloosa is a breed and can be either Spotted or Solid Coloured. Permitted crosses with an appaloosa that can still be registered as a full bred appaloosa are a TB, Arab or Quarter Horse - unless they have now closed the stud book book. Anything else is classed as a part bred. They also have to be a certain height either 14.2 or 14hh - can't remember. Just because a horse has spots does not mean it is an appaloosa.

The Appaloosa originated from America and was bred by the Nez Perce Indians (sp). These Indians were being slaughtered by the white US so they packed everything they owned on to the back of their horses and trekked 1000 miles thru the snow and mountains to get to Canada and safety. Unfortunatley they stopped a bit short of the border the army caught up with them and killed them all.
 
Strange, my appaloosa is really not very clever!
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He's a red marble blanket spot, according to his passport, but the marbling seems to be fading out and he looks more like a leopard spot!
 
I thought you were told your appaloosa was a Knabstrupper when you bought him? Like all horses they get whiter with age and what time of year it is.
 
Ours are both mares, maybe that is the reason for their over developed intelligence and awful senses of humour! The old lady has faded with age, from looking very roany with spots to a much paler grey with spots. She is in her 30's though so can be forgiven for fading.
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Why did the Native People ride Appaloosas into battle?

So they'd be good and mad and ready to kill when they got there.
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Sorry, slightly racist joke there. It works for Trakehners too.
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Actually I quite like them and they're all over the place here as school horses, amateur mounts etc. because they tend to be unflappable and sound (except for an increased risk of Periodic Reoccurant Uveitis). Somewhat surprisingly for a stock breed, quite a few of them jump well.

Appaloosas are a breed. As stated above they don't actually have to show colouration (there are a couple of different coat patters) but if they are genetically Appaloosa they can be registered. There are also Pony of the America or POAs, which are Appaloosas under 14.2hh and usually have American Shetland in them. You can't just register a horse with spots, it has to be genetically Appaloosa.
 
Forgot to add, The spotted horses first came to America from Spain, when the conquestidors (SP) bought over a few spotted stallions,
Strange as there are now very few appaloosas here in Spain, only about 200 registered ones.
 
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