Appaloosa

A unique spotted horse was acquired by the Nez Perce Native Americans in the early 1700s. Their land was ideal for raising horses and they became skilled at selective breeding and as excellent horsemen. The quantity of these colorful horses grew into the thousands. Once referred to by white settlers as the "Palouse horse," possibly after the Palouse River, which ran through the heart of Nez Perce country, the name gradually evolved into "Appaloosa."
The Nez Perce people lost the majority of their horses during and following the 1877 Nez Perce War. A small number of horses remained until the 1930s when a group of people banded together to form a registry to promote the growth of the Appaloosa.

The Appaloosa Horse Club recognizes 13 base coat colors, and five recognized spotting patterns. Some of the more common patterns include: a blanket, which consists of white over the hip that may extend from the tail to the base of the neck. The spots inside the blanket are the same color as the horse's base coat. A Leopard pattern includes spots of various sizes covering most of the horse’s body. A Snowflake pattern has white spots and flecks on a dark body.

Appaloosa horses are good at western riding disciplines, including stock horse work.  Some horses in the breed are used for English riding such as hunt seat and dressage competitions. They also do well in endurance and trail riding.

For more information, visit the Appaloosa Horse Club at www.appaloosa.com