Appaloosas

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EbonyJayne

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Hi all :)

I've seen some young appys for sale...I've been chatting with the breeders a little. I'm really tempted to go visit (and then probably fall in love and end up with another) What are the good and bad things about them? I understand that all will be different but I'm interested to hear (and see) from fellow h&h users.
 
I have a part Appaloosa (Appaloosa x cob/trotter type) He is very sweet, and interested in EVERYTHING!! He is known as the neighbour hood watch pony, and he watches everything!! Appaloosa's can be stubborn, but not in a nasty way. He does act like a mare, and often has an opinion about things (like mares) and when schooling, thinks he knows best, but he doesn't normally put up much of an argument, and is soon persuaded into my way of thinking! That's why they are used in cow ranches in the US, as they are so stubborn, if a cow decides to charge them, the Appaloosa will actually stand there ground, and not move!!

when loading into a box, he will stand on the ramp, unfazed, and looks in as if to say "you want ME to go in THERE?" but then he'll just walk in.

I have always wanted an appy, and was so pleased when I found him. Go have a look.... I would, if I could afford two!!

Just because I like showing him off:

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We currently have two mares, an 18 year old and a four year old. We had one previously for over twenty years. They are all clever and quick and quite sensetive, with rather a 'good' sense of humourr :D We have found them to be one person horses. All ours have had wonderful fluid movement and they are quite versatile. I would make sure they are registered, as I am aware that there is at least one breeder who sells some of their stock unregistered, as there are some problems with the proginy. Also showing is a bit limited, but the spotty shows are very friendly. I love them, but they are not the easiest. :)
 
Oh he is lovely! Thanks for your reply. :) I've always loved them too but haven't really looked into getting one, until I saw some advertised and being young I can put my own stamp on he/she.
 
YorksG said:
We currently have two mares, an 18 year old and a four year old. We had one previously for over twenty years. They are all clever and quick and quite sensetive, with rather a 'good' sense of humourr :D We have found them to be one person horses. All ours have had wonderful fluid movement and they are quite versatile. I would make sure they are registered, as I am aware that there is at least one breeder who sells some of their stock unregistered, as there are some problems with the proginy. Also showing is a bit limited, but the spotty shows are very friendly. I love them, but they are not the easiest. :)
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Ah. Thanks for that advice. :)
 
YorksG said:
We currently have two mares, an 18 year old and a four year old. We had one previously for over twenty years. They are all clever and quick and quite sensetive, with rather a 'good' sense of humourr :D We have found them to be one person horses. All ours have had wonderful fluid movement and they are quite versatile. I would make sure they are registered, as I am aware that there is at least one breeder who sells some of their stock unregistered, as there are some problems with the proginy. Also showing is a bit limited, but the spotty shows are very friendly. I love them, but they are not the easiest. :)
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Totally agree with the sensitive comment... he is a very sensitive soul. He always lets me know when I have been a bit harsh doing up his girth or if something is causing him discomfort. When I first got him he would always rush and spook massively, and turned out it was the saddle causing discomfort. The moment I put a different one on, he was a different horse!

He has a great sense of humour too, and is very much a mummy's boy... he has just started to wicker at me when I walk on to the yard, and my friend always says he watches me like a hawk, and if I walk out of sight, he will stand, ears pricked, waiting for me to come back, like a dog outside a shop waiting for its human!!

I don't think you will be disappointed if you got one!!
 
Lead_changes said:
Get their sight checked as moon/night blindness is quite ripe in Appaloosas.
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Agreed! My boy has a suture cataracts, and although the vet found it when doing a 5* vetting, she didn't fail him on it, as she said it's not like the sort that get worse. Appaloosa's are prone to bad eyesight, but as long as it's vet checked, it shouldn't cause too much concern.
 
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This has taken me a while to organise! but here are pics of ours :)

this was the old girl who lived with us till she died aged 33


The 18 year old

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The four year old
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Lead_changes said:
Get their sight checked as moon/night blindness is quite ripe in Appaloosas.
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TTK said:
Please check that it has been tested for PSSM and is negative - they do carry that gene mutation in certain bloodlines.
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Agree to both of them

Appys are lovely natured horses and if you treat them right will turn a hoof to anything you ask them to. I have three so I'm biased.

Where abouts are you looking? Pm me the breeders name as I got two mine straight from a local breeder and they are fab.
 
mine is bold, brave, intelligent but also a bit rude and strong (but this is prob my fault). Fantastic jump and loves to jump, his passport just says Appaloosa in both colour and breed but who knows !! colour wise he is definitely a few spot appy !
 
Faracat said:
Oh no! :(
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Sadly yes, but fortunately my 86 year old father is an engineer to his soul and has taken the offending part to a local chap to get it sorted :) Father did consider making a new one of the offending bit himself, but decided against it!
ets he does keep thinking about us starting her with the handle, but I think we should wait for the motor!
 
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meesha said:
mine is bold, brave, intelligent but also a bit rude and strong (but this is prob my fault). Fantastic jump and loves to jump, his passport just says Appaloosa in both colour and breed but who knows !! colour wise he is definitely a few spot appy !
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Definitely brave and bold, Toby always goes towards something he isn't sure about to look at it and have a sniff! He has a whopping jump on him too, with tons of scope, and really enjoys it too!
 
Lippx - I saw your lovely boy at a recent show, he is indeed a gorgeous boy!

We have two appaloosa's on our yard. Mine is a few spot, of dubious heritage and from a distance looks like a cremello. I suspect his eyesight is poor and we have to be very careful to make sure he wears a UV mask in the sun. The other here is a 'proper' Appaloosa, beautifully spotted, moves incredibly, very intelligent. He is also night blind and also blind in one eye.
 
I agree that Appy's are sensitive, quirky and nosey! My boy has a big personality, is very people friendly and affectionate. He has great stamina and is happy to hack for hours and hours. He has turned his hoof to just about everything but his love is hunting. He hates Dressage or anything in the school for that matter - he thinks it's beneath him to do 'baby' work! :rolleyes: So I only school him very occasionally or we have a strop with quite a bit of bucking! Wouldn't change him for the world though, have had him nine years and he is fifteen now. :)
 
My appy girl is lovely, she is quite nosey and "looky" , she is sensitive and prefers a one on one relationship as others have said. If she spooks she never uses it as an excuse for a bolt or anything, she will wait for me to get myself righted again! She is responsive and intelligent, not over bothered by a lot of petting and fuss, quite independant. Also extremely hardy and outdoorsy, would stand in torrential rain rather than go in her stable!
 
Rudders74 said:
My appy girl is lovely, she is quite nosey and "looky" , she is sensitive and prefers a one on one relationship as others have said. If she spooks she never uses it as an excuse for a bolt or anything, she will wait for me to get myself righted again! She is responsive and intelligent, not over bothered by a lot of petting and fuss, quite independant. Also extremely hardy and outdoorsy, would stand in torrential rain rather than go in her stable!
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I agree, they are very independent, he likes cuddles but isn't fussed whether he gets them. He is very hardy, still out at night with no rug, and when I get mumsy and put a rug on him, he gets so hot! He is a very hot pony!!
 
EbonyJayne said:
Hi all :)

I've seen some young appys for sale...I've been chatting with the breeders a little. I'm really tempted to go visit (and then probably fall in love and end up with another) What are the good and bad things about them? I understand that all will be different but I'm interested to hear (and see) from fellow h&h users.
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Best breed ever! (Not that I'm biased....). This is my 3 yr old 3/4 appaloosa gelding, Ben. Bought him as a weedy 13 month old and am very happy with how he has developed. I second what everyone else here has said, they tend to be hardy, good doer's, great attitude towards work and mine has great feet the farriers always comment on. He is just being backed at the moment and proving very willing, sensible and calm (although he has always been this way tbh).

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Would def recommend a full vetting though, epsecially due to issues that affect a small percentage of the breed including PSSM and eye troubles.

This was him the day he arrived looking like a weed tehe!

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my kasper is an appy. Dont know what breeding though as his passport has no info in it what so ever :(

He is a big strong boy but agree he is quite sensitive and is prone to nerves if you confront him with clipper, wormer etc. Also agree with one person horse, I didnt realise until recently just how much he is 'my' horse.
Loving every moment of owning him at the moment, got our first ever ODE on Sunday, very excited.

Here he is....

Silver dapple buckskin varnish appaloosa

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Haha reading all those sensitive comments, mine is the opposite, hard as nails and if he can't go round something goes through it. He also loves hunting and hates schooling, he even refused to move when we schooled xc as we had been stood too long and he had lost will to live and really just wanted to hammer round jumping everything in sight (unfortunately I agree with him so lessons and schooling are minimal and fun stuff such as hunting and fun rides with 50ish jumps are a must). He is happy to hack on own or go with others then leave them to go in different direction. Has lovely movement when chooses and huge extended trot, great feet but rain goes straight through coat, seems built for cold rather than wet climates.
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I had an appaloosa and if i would not have been injured and unable to ride, i would love to have another. I had my lad Muldoon from the age of 10 till he died at 30 years of age. He was a handful at first after being left in a field for 2 years !!, but slowly we grew togther, and did almost everything you could in the horse world. He jumped, did dressage, evented, showed and happy hacked for hours. He let my neice take him showjumping when she was only 8 or 9 and he was 15.3 !!. He did in hand at county level and won a working hunter at The National Appaloosa Championship Show. He was very spotty when i first had him, but faded out with age, the only problem i had was he used to get sunburnt on his pink nose. I made some amazing friends in the spotty showing scene and still keep in contact after losing my boy over 10 years ago. They are wonderful horses, clever, quick witted, stunning to look at and very very special.
 
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