Appaloosas and short tails

[asmp]

My daughter has recently bought a young Appaloosa x NF and he has a very short tail that doesn't look as though it has grown at all in the 2 months she's had him. There is another one down the road who has a short tail and we're wondering if its something to do with the breed? Its not being chewed but he does like to rub it on the trees though.

 

[ellie11987]

Yep, appaloosas do, generally, have very sparse manes and tails. It's in the breed unfortunately

 

[FfionWinnie]

Yes they have very very fine hair usually. My paint mare has a similar sort of mane to an Appaloosa and brushing/rugs/grabbing it when you are going to fall off all thin it down!

 

[flaxen]

My appaloosa x arab has a full mane and tail, although fine its not short and wispy, my friend breeds part bred appaloosas ( pure bred registered and licensed stallion ) and all her foals have decent mane and tails. As a part bred with a nf I would expect it to have a better mane than a pure bred appaloosa.

 

[YorksG]

Yes it is the breed, although the oldest of the current pair has a good tail, the hair is almost as fine as human hair. The three year old has a short mane and tail. The old girl we used to have had a good tail, but a poor mane.

 

[tankgirl1]

My part loan welsh D x Appy has an OK mane, but a very sparse brittle tail. I too have heard (on here) that it is common in Appys

 

[Spring Feather]

I own a few Apps and all of mine have full manes and tails however there are some others who live on my farm not owned by me and a couple of them have very sparse manes and short tails.

 

[sjp1]

Mine has a beautiful tail but very sparse and fine mane. As someone else said his mane is more like human hair and falls out easily with rug rubs!!

 

[Tia0513]

Yep, it's certainly one of the traits they are known for

 

[Paint Me Proud]

I know two appys, one being my new lad Kasper and the other a mare on our yard. Both has sparse mane and tails.

Kasper has a lovely mane but his tail is really scrawny

And the mare has an okay tail but her name is really short and thin. Her forelock doesnt grow any onger than a few inches. Her mane is always like a mohican and again doesnt really grow.

Definitely a breed trait!

 

[zandp]

Mine got a "proper" tail aged 5, before that it resembled a loo brush !

 

[spotty_pony]

Mine is a Part bred Appaloosa and has a good tail but a sparse mane. As others have said rugs rub it out really easily, it grows in thin wispy strands (the dark hair is wiry and a bit wavy) and his forelock is about 3 inches long and has took eight years to get to this stage!!

 

[JinglebellJessi & MistletoeMagic]

Mines a nf x appaloosa and hers is lovely and full but her mane is pathetic!