Appaloosa traits

[embonaught]

All this talk of spotty ponies has me thinking... What traits do your appaloosa's have?
As far as I know, my 16.2 mare (now 9) is app X something irish - she may be full app as she has the mottled skin, stripey hooves, spots and white eyes.
Although she's perfect to do from the floor, she can get quite tense and spooky when ridden. She needs to take her confidence from the rider but once you get her going, she'll do pretty much anything. She finds it quite hard to concentrate (our dressage is a nightmare) but once you've got her full attention, she'll focus (eventually). Out hacking, she's constantly on red alert which can be quite tiresome. She'll jump anything out hunting

but sj is an entirely different matter thanks to the spookiness.
She's quite aloof with other horses and, although she's happier when she knows where the others are, she won't actively look for them/groom them etc. She's never shown any aggression towards another horse, except a pony who she likes to boss around.
She's very unaffectionate with me but always has an eye on me when we're at shows/on the yard/in a crowd. If someone's holding her and I walk away, she'll always turn round to look where I'm going (I know she likes me really) I think she's def a one-person horse.
Is this normal for the breed? What are yours like?

 

[Gingernags]

Baby Finny is a pest! He's App x 3/4tb and his mum (the 3/4tb) is the most sociable horse I've ever met. She's practically human and will do anything and everything asked, especially if there is food involved, but she just loves people.

Finn is as sharp as a tack, is getting bossy, loves attention from everyone and loves attacking me (hopefully its just playful!) He reminds me of Scrappy-doo, always wanting to be involved in everything and just won't leave things alone.

Can't wait to see what he turns out like as he matures!!! But spooky or stubborn isn't apparent at the moment... just exceptionally cheeky and naughty and nosey!

 

[dieseldog]

Appaloosas are normally very friendly people orientated. I would think yours has got the spooky side of her character from the ????? bit.

Ours has all the physical characteristics - no mane/tail etc.

 

[horseandhound]

My appaloosa mare is very brave in all situations, she has more balls and maturity of horses twice her age. She is though a one person horse and actually tries to bite other people

She is however very loving with me

She has a sparse tail and a thick mane and I wouldn't change her for the world.

 

[embonaught]

I forgot about the mane/tail thing - mine can't be full app because she has the thickest tail I've ever seen. Same goes for the mane which, no matter what you do with it, stands on end. She should have been an extra in Last of the Mohicans!

 

[KarynK]

I currently have at home five appaloosas some of which are out of a TB.

A common trait through all of them is they are all “people” horses, they love to be with you and are keen to do new things, in fact they can even get jealous of each other if I am not fair with my time!. They love work and because they like people are easy to take out on their own even from a very young age, they don’t look back or even call to their herd and are always wanting to know what is round the next corner. They are virtually impossible to scare, even the dancing diggers did not warrant much attention at a county show from a yearling out of my TB, when the show ponies next door went berserk!

Mine are always well handled from birth and they seem to love this attention so when it comes time to back them and train them they take it all in their stride. The boy is off to a new home tomorrow; he was backed and could be ridden round the school unaided in four sessions from lying over his back! He has not shown any inclination to act up and is really keen to learn the next bit!

They have a sense of humour as well, that does not always match mine! And they love to investigate things and get into things they really shouldn’t but being sensible they usually get away with a scratch. Yesterday on a big routine vet visit I had one mare and foal in the inner yard, my other filly felt a little left out so jumped the 5 bar metal gate from a standstill just to see what was going on! Unfortunately she got tangled in the rug drying on the gate and fell in a heap with her legs through the gate! Before anyone could get to her she carefully took her feet out one by one, got to her feet and shot off across the yard bucking and squealing, sliding to a halt in front of me! But being an appaloosa she didn’t try it again when I shoved her back out with her mum!

Over the years I have been involved with many breeds but these are very intelligent, affectionate horses, with good conformation and with a lot of power but only when you ask it of them, which when you are more into self preservation than devil may care is a very nice feeling! Then there is the added attraction of the spots and guessing what colour they will be next year!!!!!

None of mine have sparce mains and tails.

 

[htobago]

[ QUOTE ]
I currently have at home five appaloosas some of which are out of a TB.



[/ QUOTE ]

I get confused about Appaloosas - is it a breed or just a colour/markings?

If it's a breed, then would your 'Appaloosas' out of TB mares actually be 'part-bred Appaloosas', even though they have the colour/markings?

Sorry to be so ignorant!

 

[KarynK]

It goes like this, Appaloosas are a breed, in the original descriptions of the American herds with the Nez Perce a large amount were solid coated, but of a high quality enough to get several mentions in the diaries of explorers Lewis and Clarke. My horses are all registered with the Appaloosa Horse Club in the USA and that society allows certain outcrosses to be main register horses, that is registered TB’s, Quarter Horses and this will please you Arabs. This practice in the Appaloosa stems from having to save the breed in the 30's. You do have to DNA test the horse and register it with the ApHC for a one off fee.

However they also run alongside the main register the Foundation Appaloosa register where a horse needs to have a current minimum of I think 22 immediate Appaloosa ancestors registered with the ApHC to qualify for entry. This horse is then given a percentage marker of appaloosa blood. This scheme has now become progressive and the number of ancestors needed will increase every so many years as a sort of amnesty for closing the books. The ApHC UK run an A register in the UK for horses registered with the ApHC, so that’s where the passports come from.

Personally I like this attitude as like with warmbloods it gives a breeder the freedom to introduce traits and correct minor problems without a limited gene pool restriction. It’s all very good having an “original” of a breed but breeds do need to change to meet new challenges in a modern age. I always look at the example of the Cleveland Bay, who was not dissimilar to the Hanoverian of 30+ years ago, the Hanoverian survived successfully through a process of change but the Cleveland is rare because it’s market is now limited today.

I had purchased my mare as a yearling, but due to an illness I realised my limitations and was looking for something to calm the TB sharpness and the Appaloosas are famed for the temperament, all 3 stallions I have used on my TB have thrown that very strongly. She is very complimentary to the breed coming from a sprint/mile family with a US top line from Bold Ruler, so she is a compact mare with a good temper herself (for a TB)! I am not disappointed so far, her eldest daughter is in foal so we will see what that brings next year but sadly the offspring misses out on the FPD scheme by 1 ancestor!.

Out of interest Bold Ruler sired Secretariat, who’s test mare was an Appaloosa = First Secretary http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/first+secretary2 and there are some of his descendants here in the UK so maybe a line breed or two on the cards one day?

 

[AimeeLou]

I've got a pure bred appy mare, and her foal which is also pure bred appy. Mare is so laid back, and so lovable. Excellent mother. I can honestly say i have not found a bad thing about her. But this may be down to age, she's 20. But foal is very much the same. Seems to have inherited her temperment. He's such cool dude. Loves people. She's a near lepoard with black spots. Foalie is bay with lacey white blanket, but is spotting out more by the day. Both have got masses of main and tail.
Love this mare to bits, she'll be retired from breeding when the vet says so, and will spend the rest of her days muching in the field and looking after the other little monsters. Shame i cant keep the colt, no space for boys. Am hoping for a filly this time round to carry on her bloodline, as she's getting on a bit.