Appaloosa??? yay or nay?

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ScattyBella

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Basically i've broken the first rule and have fallen in love with a darling little appaloosa filly and am already in talks regarding taking her on loan to buy (shes not backed and has only done a bit of lunging)
But it seems i cant find any information on the breed apart from hearsay and 'oh my friends brothers aunts nephew knew someone who had one'.

So far I've heard they are absolute dreams/nightmares, highly strung/completely soppy, high maintenence/hardy as they come and im a bit frazzled. none of these people actually own or have ever owned an appaloosa and i wouldnt mind a testimony from someone who actually has a clue.

No doubt i'll probably end up jumping in anyway but it would be nice to know what im getting myself into.
 
They are like any other horse you get good ones, bad ones, fat ones, thin ones etc.

I have owned one and I know lots and all of the ones I know are sweet and very trainable. However my boy had a massive hang up which was vets (he was very dangerous towards vets)

As your getting her young though you can train her to be good.

All I'll say though is don't listen to what people say about them not being good jumpers. My boys grandad was a grade A show jumper. Before my boy died he jumped HUGE and was very bold.
 
My appaloosa is absolutely adorable. Full of personality, and ridiculously intelligent. My instructor says you show him twice, the third time he'll show you. He's hardy, has rock solid feet and fears nothing. Not even low flying helicopters, stampeding cows or aggressive dogs.

He is soppy, placid and solid, but he's also quirky.

His feet are rock hard but they're also flat as pancakes and horrible to shoe. He'd winter out all year round but he likes routine, and if he gets left out when his best friend comes in he is visibly unhappy. He's intelligent but he also throws massive wobblers sometimes. I have never EVER seen a horse that squeals like a pig and FROWNS when he's upset, and he isnt dangerous but on the outside he's pretty scary to people who arent used to his stroppy face. When I first got him he scares the living daylights out of me which has taken 8 months to suss for myself (and to be fair to him he is a false rig). The riggish behaviour has been culled with the use of a really good supplement, and I adore hom completely but dont let the "Appaloosa's are awesome" stories fool you into believing they're all the same because they each have their little quirks, same as any other breed. If the pony is nice, and its the right one for you, I say go for it but dont just buy one because they're reportedly good natured, because no two are the same and mine is living proof they can be buggers when they want to be :)
 
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Yay for appaoosas!! I have a part-bred who I love dearly and easily my favourite out of all 4 horses I've owned.

I've always thought of them as lovely and wanted to own one and never thought I would so I'm chuffed.

Full of character, very distinct personality. Not bossy as such but looks after his herd. Very clever and learns quickly, easily re-trainable and does circus tricks! Turns his hoof to anything, jumps like a stag and is totally fearless - hunts very well. We've even started him in harness without much-ado.
 
I've ridden a couple on the west coast of Scotland. They were nicely (Western) trained, one at least very suitable for novices and pretty hardy too I think. Would recommend to anyone who felt like something a little different :-)
 
Another yey for appaloosa's my appy mare is great. :D

She has lots of character, is very easy on the ground. But when she was still in work, when ridden she was very sharp. Loves a good gallop on the beach and jumping. Loves water, wierd I know. But, even by a mares standards when ridden you really coundn't make her do anything. Much to the embarasment of various instructors who got on her over the years!!

She must have been hit when she was backed or before as even up till she retired, she still panicked if anyone bar me got on her with a whip.

At 29 she still tarts very loudly with the boys next door and gallops up for her tea. :D
 
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bit like chestnuts, supposedly sensitive and mares are tempermental - now does every chestnut you know conform to that? No I didn't think so, same for appys. I don't own one but my yard owner has one and I have worked consistently with 5 that are in and out of the veterinary clinic at the moment (all different problems so don't worry there!). They are all different and all like any other horse that comes in and out daily other than they make your eyes go funny when lunging!
 
Definately yayyyyy!!!

The good thing for you, I think, is because she is still very young, she will turn out to be exactly what you want! and you know what's happened during her short life so far! Good luck!
 
I love my appaloosa (full bred). She's quite intelligent in some ways. Very stubborn, which I've heard is a characterisitc of the breed. However once you've argued with her she's then fab- doesn't do this all the time. She's a good allrounder, especially jumping, has quite a big pop in her for a small horse. Shes quite forward going. Very vocal, e.g. whinny's when she wants to come in/ be let out/ wants food etc. I've done a bit of everything with her.

If you think it's the right horse for you I'd go for it, it doesn't really matter what others think as long as the horse suits you.
 
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Ella19 said:
bit like chestnuts, supposedly sensitive and mares are tempermental - now does every chestnut you know conform to that? No I didn't think so, same for appys. I don't own one but my yard owner has one and I have worked consistently with 5 that are in and out of the veterinary clinic at the moment (all different problems so don't worry there!). They are all different and all like any other horse that comes in and out daily other than they make your eyes go funny when lunging!
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Agree! It very much depends on the individual and how they are looked after and trained, not the breed. They can in general make good all rounders...but then so can any breed!

I know of a big appy lad, nice amount of bone, great chilled out temperament, good all rounder etc. I also know of another one who was built like a spotty racehorse, very sensitive, hard to keep weight on, flighty, bit unpredictable, not a great jumper etc (he also died from the same condition as Kokos :( ). I also know of one who is eventing to a decent level and behaves like a highly strung competition horse. All the same breed and all very different.

If you like the horse then go for it :)
 
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mine is spotty in my sig and i give an absolute YAY! I love him, he is the best horse i have ever met and ridden. He is half welsh though and quite a bit of tb but he is a sweetheart and so cuddly and friendly and i would trust my non horsey young cousins with him. He has just been backed but been sooo good to back! and its like he knows everything already!
 
My youngster is only 1/4 appy but you wouldnt think it to look at her (other 3/4 is TB) She's rising 5 now and had her as an unhandled 3 year old. As others above have said, she is ridiculously intelligent and quick to learn new things, but just as quick to learn bad habits so i always have to be firm and 5 steps ahead of her!

She is quite fine but she had a fairly poor start nutrition-wise and is majority TB so i've always put it down to that. Her feet are brilliant though, is shod in front but hasn't needed backs as of yet. Her big hang up is also the vet, but she was caught badly in barbed wire as a baby (before i had her) and i dont know what the vets did to her then so could very well be because of that. She is hardy, prefers to live out all year round and even through winter the most she was fed is a scoop of cherry chaff, mix and 2 scoops of alfa beet once a day, (with hay ad lib) and hasn't lost any weight at all.

She's the bravest horse i've ever had and will stand and face pretty much anything. She was very easy to back and didn't bat an eyelid at anything. First time she was hacked out she went on her own and was fine. Saying that she's not always straightforward. She's never mareish but you have to be tactful with her- she wont suffer fools and if you dont know what you're doing she'll walk all over you. She's not overly affectionate, when she's in a fussy mood she'll stand there all day, when she's not she'll just walk off, but she has a massive character and anyone who knows her will say the same. I really wouldn't be without her.

Her sire (1/2 appy, 1/2 TB) is very similar. He's an absolute gentleman and you really wouldn't know he's a stallion unless you were told.
 
YAY for the spotty bottys!

I have a Belgian Warmblood with blanket spot colouring (in my Sig). She never seems fazed by anything. Really laid back attitude, can be stubborn though at times. She has good bloodlines too and is an amazing jumper. Wouldn't sell her for anything! :D
 
I am on the second Appy mare, having had one for over 20 years, until she was pts at the age of 33. The Old Appy was a bit of a nightmare, very opinionated and not good in traffic. She was very very intelligent, which made life a bit difficult :D The current Appy was very well brought up (we bought her as a nine year old, but know the breeders) she too is very bright, a bit opinionated and is very very sharp and can be spooky. Would I get another one? You bet I would and will :D Go for the filly, you will have such fun :)
 
Another YAY!!
They've got more character than any other type of horse I've owned! That said, every horse is different no matter what their breeding.
When I got my first one, she was 2, I was told to back her young as they get to be a handful, didn't listen to them, backed her when she was physically ready at 4, and she was an absolute dream! And still is :) I will do the same with my gelding (he's appy X Knabb).
My mare unfortunately got the appaloosa trait of having hardly any mane and tail, which is a bit of a nuisance if you want to show, but you get around it!! They both have very strong hooves though.
Otherwise, mine are similar in that they are very quirky, and as long as you treat them right, they'll be your friend for life, and if they're not happy with you, they'll let you know! They're loving and loyal, and affectionate. I echo pretty much what everyone else has said, they really are very lovely, or at least my 2 are :p
As for jumping, both mine are very good jumpers, just that I don't have the balls to go very high!!
Good Luck with your appy! What colour is she?
 
Definitely a 'yay' from me! :)

My boy is Appy x Cob and is my horse of a lifetime. He has a heart of gold and will turn his hoof to everything. He is also very nosey and is into everything. He's always trying to get in my pockets and likes to chew gloves and hold my whip for me! :rolleyes: He is a fantastic jumper and also a great hack which makes him a fantastic hunter! He has inherited the stamina of an Appaloosa and can happily hack all day long. All the Appys I know seem to have a stubborn streak and are quirky and sensitive though and mine is no exception! He is very tricky to load, hates having his mane pulled/being clipped etc, can be sharp and spooky and loves to buck when he's excited! Having said that, he is my dream horse and I wouldn't swap him for the world. We have a great partnership and I would trust him in any situation (he also trusts me a lot!)


Another thing I love about Appys is that you can tell a lot more from their expressions than other breeds. You can see it in their eyes! :)

Good luck if you do decide to buy the filly, you'll be an Appy convert before you know it! :grin:
 
Ooooh yes, forgot to say about how loyal they are :) They own you, rather than you owning them! Both the Old Appy did and the Current Appy will, let other people ride them, but they are not keen on me riding anything else. They are the most inquisative horses I have every had dealings with and love attention, the OA used to pick me up by my plait and the CA will remove all objects from shelves, opening bags and having a good look through :D Also make your doors Appy proof, because they are fantastic at opening bolts in record time :D
 
Yay, deffinitly i have a welsh x appaloosa and a 16.3 eventer appaloosa and i am so proud of both of them. My eventer, ollie, is so lovely and is lovely and really dopey, and i love him. deffinitley a yay for appys xx
 
YorksG said:
They are the most inquisative horses I have every had dealings with and love attention, the OA used to pick me up by my plait and the CA will remove all objects from shelves, opening bags and having a good look through :D Also make your doors Appy proof, because they are fantastic at opening bolts in record time :D
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Yes!! Lola is just like this too. She is into absolutely everything- pockets, bags, bins buckets etc... I was holding her the other day & opened my car boot and she was right in there, mooching through my stuff :rolleyes:
 
Definitely YES!!! I have always loved them and finally got a lovely mare on loan. She is intelligent, brilliant feet, inquisitive and funny. Very loyal too - she is always so pleased to see me but pulls "camel" faces at other people! I have got her on loan as a broodmare but she is so cuddly and lovely I am going to find it so hard to give her up at the end. Oh and at the end of the day they are the most unusual and beautiful horses on the PLANET!!!
 
Just beware of certain bloodlines, some are predisposed to aggression. As a generalisation American blood lines tend to have the better temperaments.
 
Team Barney, this is not something that I have heard before, I know there are 'bandits' but have never heard of them being overtly aggressive. Standing their ground, yes, being up front and refusing to turn and run, yes, but not heard of a strain that is aggressive towards people. Which bloodlines are you thinking of?
 
team barney said:
Just beware of certain bloodlines, some are predisposed to aggression. As a generalisation American blood lines tend to have the better temperaments.
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You will start a war making statements like that!!!!! ;) I have plenty of contact with appaloosa owners and their horses and never in the past 20+ years heard of one "predisposed to aggression" I had a large spotted gelding (tb x knab x ???) not sure what he was but a lovely boy, had a go at everything for me. Then I got a weanling colt, then a mare to go with him, then they made a filly (sold) and then a colt (still have him) - so obviously a "YAY" from me.
OP - I would suggest that you join one or other (or both) the appaloosa societies and get in contact with spotty-minded horse owners, and enjoy their newsletters, websites, AGMs and their shows, and their community. www.aphcuk.org.uk / www.appaloosa.org.uk :)
 
YorksG said:
Team Barney, this is not something that I have heard before, I know there are 'bandits' but have never heard of them being overtly aggressive. Standing their ground, yes, being up front and refusing to turn and run, yes, but not heard of a strain that is aggressive towards people. Which bloodlines are you thinking of?
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I don't know the lines as the horses aren't mine, I only know that they are "English" and they are considered very well bred.
One was extremely aggressive, multiple vets have said it should be put down it was so bad. The other was temperamental, sweet sometimes, very very nasty the rest. Both horses had no underlying heath issues and only knew the best of everything, management/handling wasn't the cause either as they had different owners. The only connection they had is that they were- I believe - by the same sire.
I don't know what has happened to them now as I knew them quite a long time ago and I have since lost touch with their owners. For all I know they could have matured in to OK horses (though they weren't young when I knew them).
 
LazyS said:
You will start a war making statements like that!!!!! ;)
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Not meaning to start a war or anything of the sort, I am just saying be careful with what you buy, as you would with any horse.
I know a KNN who is one of the sweetest horses out, and I know some very nice appaloosas too.
But some spotties are bred for their colour, regardless of temperament, not all, many are super horses. Just buy from someone reputable as you would with any horse.
 
'Just beware of certain bloodlines, some are predisposed to aggression. As a generalisation American blood lines tend to have the better temperaments.'

And this is based on two horses, many years ago and you know they had the same sire, but you don't know which horse it was? Have I got that right? The last bit about the American bllodlines having better temprements, where did that come from?
Many people on this thread have spoken from experience of owning Appy's, I think their info is probably more use to the OP
 
I've had my appy for 22 years and she has never shown any signs of agression towards horse or people. She has always been fairly near the bottom of the pecking order. I have met quite a lot of appys over the years I've had her and none of them have shown any signs of aggression.
 
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