Appaloosas-good or bad?? HELP!!

[prettypony95]

Hello all,
I am seriously considering buying an appaloosa that I have been to see. I have had bad responses about the breed, people have said that they are aggressive and just a bad breed! But I have looked on the internet and have found many people saying how wonderful they are!! I'm so confused !!
If anyone has had any personal experiences with the breed, good or bad, I'd really like to hear peoples views!

Thank you!

 

[rowy]

My boy is only part appaloosa ( the other part tb and welsh) and he has never ever ever been aggressive at all, horse or human alike. He doesnt even put his ears back or anything.
He is the loveliest horse I have ever had!
and 2bh, all the appaloosas I have heard about have the same good temperment as my boy

 

[Apercrumbie]

I'm sure there are aggressive appaloosas out there but believe me it has nothing to do with the breed, they just happen to be aggressive. My appaloosa was nutty but an angel on the ground so you can't just stereotype a breed.

 

[magic104]

?? Never heard this, very odd. The ones I have met have been no worse then any othe horse. My sisters mare was app breeding but a solid bay & apart from being a bit stressy (Previous handling) she was an ace mare. Never saw her put her ears back at anyone or raise a leg. Also I would have put them more as a type, because they vary so much in build etc. You can see that in my sisters breeding alone. She is a different build to her 1/2 sister (same dam) & her own offspring differed. She had a thick mane/tail her sister had more sparse in keeping with the breed standard, though her sister had the colouring.

 

[shampain]

Never heard of the breed being aggressive, specifically. Fairly sure that appy's tend to be fairly bright as horses go, so possibly some take the mick more readily if they're allowed to? I can't imagine that the entire breed would be predisposed to be 'aggressive'- as aforementioned, aggressiveness in horses tends to be either down to previous handling/treatment/conditions, or individual differences.

 

[DaisyDoll]

My pony is appaloosa (no spots though) and you could honestly never find a more kind or polite animal, plus she is extremely talented at jumping and has beautiful paces.

I may be bias though

 

[casper826]

My friend breeds appaloosas and i have always found hers to be very trainable and friendly. However the breed have been found to have a line bred into them carrying the ppsm gene which can be devistating to the horse. She has had all of hers tested to hopefully stop this from spreading. It is a simple test that costs £25 and in my opinion is well worth the money. She has said she will never buy an appaloosa without having it tested first so might be worth thinking about.

 

[ThePinkPony]

^^^ i havent come across any bad press either. my girl is ever so polite (even when she is having a strop, which for a 4 year old is pretty good) but very very clever.

Google the breed and read the many testimonies and descriptions. you would be surprised.

 

[LazyS]

My friend breeds appaloosas and i have always found hers to be very trainable and friendly. However the breed have been found to have a line bred into them carrying the ppsm gene which can be devistating to the horse. She has had all of hers tested to hopefully stop this from spreading. It is a simple test that costs £25 and in my opinion is well worth the money. She has said she will never buy an appaloosa without having it tested first so might be worth thinking about.

PSSM is a hereditary condition that has come through quarter horse breeding - (Polysaccharid Storage Myopathy), basically affected horses have an inability to store sugar in the muscles, causing tying-up like symptoms, please have a look at the websites of the Appaloosa Horse Club - www.aphcuk.org for further info regarding testing. Mares intended for breeding should be tested, or better still the person selling the mare will have had it tested, there are no requirements for geldings to be tested - as they can't pass anything on (IF they have the condition). Stallions licensed with the ApHC UK are all required to be tested - and those that have tested n/P1 (have one copy of the gene) have been gelded or have had their license revoked. Please note that not all appaloosas are affected, those at greater risk are likely to have a higher percentage of quarter horse in their pedigree, allegedly.

Appaloosa horses have a good temperament usually, are intelligent and do like to be doing things. I have not come across an aggressive one. A similar thread to this was run a while ago on a similar vein and everyone said the same thing. There is good and bad in every breed but I enjoy appaloosas - they are not everyone's cup-of-tea - but then I wouldn't buy a thoroughbred to ride, or a Cob for its build, OP - if you are attracted to Appaloosas then you should have one.

 

[meesha]

I have an Appy gelding - bought as 3 year old now 8 - intelligent, hilarious, boisterous, fantastic jump and good paces - but.....he has bitten me badly twice as is very dominant !!!!!!!! (yes I have dealt with this before anyone goes on a rant)

sooooo I would say ..... if I had the choice of appy or non appy - go for it !!! i wouldnt change him for the world he is fantastic and I have never heard that appys are nasty - my chap has just tried to assert his dominance in the worst possible way and hopefully it will never happen again.

Good luck

 

[Dexter]

I've heard the opposite and that appies are reknowned for their good temperaments! I own a 3 yr old colt (only a colt this long as we were waiting for one to drop, then the flies came and then a monsoon, etc, etc, etc) and hes a gem. I would be more than happy with a child handling him, under supervision obviously. Hes not yet backed but I've had my 7yr old niece legged up and taken for a little pootle bareback. He just has the most laid back temperament and that makes him a joy to be around. I have 3 youngsters living out on 13 acres and when I turn up and shout them, they all look up, then Dots comes over at a canter and the others follow, hes very VERY people orientated and just an all round 'good egg'

 

[LazyS]

There are two major Appaloosa Shows coming up over the next couple of months - so you could go and see Appaloosas in action and talk to people and judge for yourself how wonderful they are.
The first is this coming weekend - 24th July - British Appaloosa Society National Breed Show
www.appaloosa.org.uk think the venue is near Rugby, Warwickshire. Check their website.
The second is the Appaloosa Horse Club UK (ApHC UK) National Breed Show - 13-14th August at Warwickshire Agricultural College, Moreton Morrell. The first day is in hand/halter classes with a Supreme Championship. Day 2 is ridden and performance classes.
www.aphcuk.org
I am off on hol now and hope that when I eventually get back to reading the forum you will be a happy appy owner!! Good luck.

 

[marmalade76]

IME, appies have excellent temprements.

 

[prettypony95]

thank you all very much for your posts!!
I really like this horse and he has a fab temperament, he's only 5 but has seen plenty and been produced correctly.
My only concern is the lack of pigment around his eyes and I've read that appaloosas are prone to developing Equine Recurrent Uveitis which can lead to blindness.
Does anyone know if this can be tested to see if he has it, when I have him vetted??????

thanks all

 

[spotty_pony]

My part bred Appaloosa is an absolute star! He is a bit quirky and a bit cheeky but he is very honest and has a fantastic temperament.

 

[freckles22uk]

Ive got Appaloosas, 1 stallion, 2 mares and 3 yearlings, (had more but now sold) and I think they are fab, non of mine are nasty at all, my stallion is so friendly, never kicks or bites, the mares are typical mares, and have their stroppy days, but again, no kicking or biting, and the yearlings are just lovely, I can go amongst them at feeding time and they all know im the leader, so no barging into me,

They are quick to learn, easy to do, very much 'people' horses, mine will all follow you round to be nosey and see what your doing..

the only one I had that I never trusted 100% was one that was 1/2 TB, she could be a bit flity, and if something spooked her she would kick out..

I guess though, like with all horses, you have to be firm but fair with them, I bred the stallion (in my profile photo) and he is great to handle, as a colt he tried to nip, but I used to kick him on his hoof (no not hard) and that soon stopped...

I say go for it...

 

[KarynK]

Intelligent VERY, bold, friendly, versatile and loyal yes, aggressive NO not unless they are made that way by someone who is less intelligent than they are! As a breeder I am very particular where mine go because in the right hands this breed is fantastic, but they are intelligent and if they can find a way to outsmart you it can start to go wrong. I have one currently in training and she is already top of her class, if I can't find the right home she will stay a little longer!

Many breeds have genetic problems, but the testing is now available to breeds like the Appaloosa so it's out there in the open, if a horse tests negative it does not have the disease.

A single bout of Uveitis does not cause blindness it is the recurrence of it that does, although not much research has been done to date as far as I am aware it has nothing to do with pigment or lack of it. Again this condition is found in many breeds. Here is a link explaining the condition which is general to the horse but blindness MAY be more prevalent in Appaloosas, but that is not proven and much more research is needed on the cause.
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/30300.htm

PSSM is in fact an OVER storage of glycogen in the muscles, horses have too much fuel in their muscles which results in tying up, there seems to be a mechanism that is at work that causes tying up when in actual fact there is plenty of fuel there?

The disease appears to have actually originated in heavy horses, like grey through a single mutation, so one horse probably started it all. In heavies it does not appear to affect them so badly, probably because they have more slow twitch muscles than lighter breeds who have fast twitch muscles for speed and endurance. Years ago it was known as Monday Morning Disease as a Sunday off in a stable on high grain caused tying up at the onset of exercise on Monday!

If you want the proper facts on the disease and advice on testing the very best place to go is here, there are a lot of miss quotes and made up statistics (some of which are pure fiction), doing the rounds and people quoting from unreferenced material on Wiki!!! This is where you will get the true facts!!!

http://www.cvm.umn.edu/umec/lab/PSSM/

The university of Minnesota found the gene after research funded by the American Quarter Horse Association. The disease is found in many breeds and though it has entered the appaloosa lines in the USA the source of the disease dates back roughly to Tudor times and I think probably much earlier than that, so there is no saying when and where it entered any breed until much more testing DNA and pedigree research gives the true facts, at that point we can then say for certain how the disease progressed.

There is still research being carried out to establish why some horses appear less affected than others with the gene, but the fact remains that some horses are badly affected and it is a problem for them and their owners to manage correctly. I consider myself very lucky that all of my horses have been tested or proven negative. All ApHC UK breeding stock will require testing and new registrations will have their status recorded on their passports from 2012. I would not buy unless the test has been done, or is BOTH parents have been tested negative, if the seller refuses to supply certificates I would walk away. If you want to find out more from people with affected horses then there are several facebook pages about PSSM.

Hope that helps with your research, which by the way is commendable you should always ask questions!!

 

[prettypony95]

Intelligent VERY, bold, friendly, versatile and loyal yes, aggressive NO not unless they are made that way by someone who is less intelligent than they are! As a breeder I am very particular where mine go because in the right hands this breed is fantastic, but they are intelligent and if they can find a way to outsmart you it can start to go wrong. I have one currently in training and she is already top of her class, if I can't find the right home she will stay a little longer!

Many breeds have genetic problems, but the testing is now available to breeds like the Appaloosa so it's out there in the open, if a horse tests negative it does not have the disease.

A single bout of Uveitis does not cause blindness it is the recurrence of it that does, although not much research has been done to date as far as I am aware it has nothing to do with pigment or lack of it. Again this condition is found in many breeds. Here is a link explaining the condition which is general to the horse but blindness MAY be more prevalent in Appaloosas, but that is not proven and much more research is needed on the cause.
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/30300.htm

PSSM is in fact an OVER storage of glycogen in the muscles, horses have too much fuel in their muscles which results in tying up, there seems to be a mechanism that is at work that causes tying up when in actual fact there is plenty of fuel there?

The disease appears to have actually originated in heavy horses, like grey through a single mutation, so one horse probably started it all. In heavies it does not appear to affect them so badly, probably because they have more slow twitch muscles than lighter breeds who have fast twitch muscles for speed and endurance. Years ago it was known as Monday Morning Disease as a Sunday off in a stable on high grain caused tying up at the onset of exercise on Monday!

If you want the proper facts on the disease and advice on testing the very best place to go is here, there are a lot of miss quotes and made up statistics (some of which are pure fiction), doing the rounds and people quoting from unreferenced material on Wiki!!! This is where you will get the true facts!!!

http://www.cvm.umn.edu/umec/lab/PSSM/

The university of Minnesota found the gene after research funded by the American Quarter Horse Association. The disease is found in many breeds and though it has entered the appaloosa lines in the USA the source of the disease dates back roughly to Tudor times and I think probably much earlier than that, so there is no saying when and where it entered any breed until much more testing DNA and pedigree research gives the true facts, at that point we can then say for certain how the disease progressed.

There is still research being carried out to establish why some horses appear less affected than others with the gene, but the fact remains that some horses are badly affected and it is a problem for them and their owners to manage correctly. I consider myself very lucky that all of my horses have been tested or proven negative. All ApHC UK breeding stock will require testing and new registrations will have their status recorded on their passports from 2012. I would not buy unless the test has been done, or is BOTH parents have been tested negative, if the seller refuses to supply certificates I would walk away. If you want to find out more from people with affected horses then there are several facebook pages about PSSM.

Hope that helps with your research, which by the way is commendable you should always ask questions!!

Thank you very much for all of this information!! I really appreciate it!

 

[Toast]

My appaloosa is brilliant He's very intelligent and definitely a people person. He's quick to learn but can be stubborn. I love him x

 

[LazyS]

PrettyPony - did you get your Appaloosa?
Dust has settled after hols and now have time to peek at the forums and FB again!
I see you have been offered lots of info!

 

[mr fields]

a horses temprement is all how you treat them i have found horses tht arnt messed with until 2-3 year olds are the best to deal with all round. all my youngstock are turned away in a 50 acre field with rugs on weather accordingly checked frequently until the age of 3 when they are ready for breaking. i kno 2 people who breed appaloosas 1 of the breeders do the same as i do and hers have excellent stable manners etc and the other breeder messes with them from day 1 and all her foals are rude, nasty etc because she has imprinted on them from day 1, horses are domeniering animals hope this helps

 

[LazyS]

I am trying to bite my finger (tongue) but I can't!!! Are you sure you have that the right way round - doesn't sound right to me. I hate to use my own horses as an example as that seems really boring but I often think that if I hadn't handled my horses when they were young they would be like other people's - rude, bargey, don't stand still when you get on em etc etc. I have a 7 year old stallion and have handled him since the day he was imported at 5 months old, I backed him myself, I hack him out, I take him to shows, he loads in the trailer (and also into strange horseboxes as he has recently), he has manners and I can handle him myself when covering mares and he does as he is told! I have his 2 year old son who is just a soppy dope on a rope. I have handled him since he was born! I can ask him to back up in the field with no attachment of any sort and he will usually by voice command, as I don't like him in my space. Sorry but...... my previous post only asked the question if the original poster 'prettypony' got her Appaloosa.

 

[mr fields]

yes i have definatly got it the right way round. if horses messed with from day 1 they learn to read you, a horses needs to have a wear ness around you they always need to be wondering what your next move is, a horse needs to not trust you as one of its own kind. i hav an orphan stallion his mother died at birth so i had to hand rear him now he has to be out all the time as u cant do anything with him because he has imprinted on humans he tries to domenier humans as he would with another horse. a human cannot handle him as he gets very randy with people as he would with another mare, mares can be turned out with him that are in season and he isnt bothered one little bit, i tried this to see if he can some how become imprinted back onto horses but nothing works. this is why horses should be left to mature until 2-3 year olds

 

[The_snoopster]

yes i have definatly got it the right way round. if horses messed with from day 1 they learn to read you, a horses needs to have a wear ness around you they always need to be wondering what your next move is, a horse needs to not trust you as one of its own kind. i hav an orphan stallion his mother died at birth so i had to hand rear him now he has to be out all the time as u cant do anything with him because he has imprinted on humans he tries to domenier humans as he would with another horse. a human cannot handle him as he gets very randy with people as he would with another mare, mares can be turned out with him that are in season and he isnt bothered one little bit, i tried this to see if he can some how become imprinted back onto horses but nothing works. this is why horses should be left to mature until 2-3 year olds

I believe quite a few orphan foals can be difficult if they do not get enough equine company who can teach them "the language of the horse" and basically put them in their place when they get above themselves, that is totally different to early bad handling. I have had some form of contact with my filly since the day she was born, I now have a polite yearling who easily catches and is golden for the farrier and vet visits. I have always given my filly firm but fair handling, she knows what is allowed and what is not. Oh and she is a appy, and I am very pleased with her.

 

[magic104]

yes i have definatly got it the right way round. if horses messed with from day 1 they learn to read you, a horses needs to have a wear ness around you they always need to be wondering what your next move is, a horse needs to not trust you as one of its own kind. i hav an orphan stallion his mother died at birth so i had to hand rear him now he has to be out all the time as u cant do anything with him because he has imprinted on humans he tries to domenier humans as he would with another horse. a human cannot handle him as he gets very randy with people as he would with another mare, mares can be turned out with him that are in season and he isnt bothered one little bit, i tried this to see if he can some how become imprinted back onto horses but nothing works. this is why horses should be left to mature until 2-3 year olds

Well as someone who messes with their horses from a young age I have never read such tripe!! A horse is a herd animal who survives by working together. It is more important that they trust the handler as the leader & respect them as such. This has NOTHING whatsoever to do with age & when someone starts "messing" with them. Honest to god you are entitled to your views, but please, try to get a grip - "a horses needs to have a wear ness around you they always need to be wondering what your next move is". Yea right!!

 

[Dexter]

Perhaps the orphan stallion should be gelded and sold to someone who CAN manage him?!

 

[mr fields]

Well as someone who messes with their horses from a young age I have never read such tripe!! A horse is a herd animal who survives by working together. It is more important that they trust the handler as the leader & respect them as such. This has NOTHING whatsoever to do with age & when someone starts "messing" with them. Honest to god you are entitled to your views, but please, try to get a grip - "a horses needs to have a wear ness around you they always need to be wondering what your next move is". Yea right!!

yes exactly a horse is a herd animal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! when u have bred as many foals as i have then come and tell him im wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! exactly they need to look at u as their leader wondering where your guna go next and what your guna do next. if a horses hasnt got any awareness around you they will just walk through u!!!

 

[mr fields]

Perhaps the orphan stallion should be gelded and sold to someone who CAN manage him?!

the stallion CAN NOT be gelded as if some1 goes into the field with him he will herass u like he would a mare, the vet wouldnt be able to carry any sort of operation on him as i found out when he had his injections, it is to dangerous to put my self or any1 else in that position. when you have some understanding of imprinted horses on humans then tell me how to run my stud. i have stallions on my yard which i handle everyday successfully!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! there is so much u need to learn be4 u tell me how to handle my horses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mr fields]

I believe quite a few orphan foals can be difficult if they do not get enough equine company who can teach them "the language of the horse" and basically put them in their place when they get above themselves, that is totally different to early bad handling. I have had some form of contact with my filly since the day she was born, I now have a polite yearling who easily catches and is golden for the farrier and vet visits. I have always given my filly firm but fair handling, she knows what is allowed and what is not. Oh and she is a appy, and I am very pleased with her.

yes i am not saying u shouldnt handle them at all because u should to a certain extent with firm handling like u have done it sounds like u have done a fantastic job with your filly good luck for the future with her. the risk with putting orphans with other horses to teach them manners etc is abit risky as they dont get the antibodies from the mares milk they are vunerable to ilness etc but if i ever breed another orphan i will definatly have to take the risk.

 

[magic104]

yes i am not saying u shouldnt handle them at all because u should to a certain extent with firm handling like u have done it sounds like u have done a fantastic job with your filly good luck for the future with her. the risk with putting orphans with other horses to teach them manners etc is abit risky as they dont get the antibodies from the mares milk they are vunerable to ilness etc but if i ever breed another orphan i will definatly have to take the risk.

Well I think you are nothing more then a troll as your posts are utter rubbish. If a horse is that dangerous a vet cant get near it to sedate & cut it then shoot the bugger.

"the risk with putting orphans with other horses to teach them manners etc is abit risky as they dont get the antibodies from the mares milk they are vunerable to ilness etc but if i ever breed another orphan i will definatly have to take the risk." - I dont think anyone suggested you just shove an orphan in with a load of other horses. Anitibodies are taken when they are first born & I am not aware that anyone would be stupid enough to stick a new born out in a herd of horses!! If this colt exists & is as dangerous as you say, well it is down to the way you handled it & nothing more. You obviously never set any guide lines, never instilled in it that it was a horse NOT a human. Also if you are a breeder "when u have bred as many foals as i have then come and tell him im wrong" I would have no faith in you as after breeding so many foals you seem to have failed to grasped the basic concept of horse behaviour. Therefore you have no basis for your comment "i have found horses tht arnt messed with until 2-3 year olds are the best to deal with all round". That comment is twaddle, nothing more, nothing less. It is based on your failure as a handler.