The Pony of the Americas
The history of this colorful, diminutive breed began in 1954, when Les Boomhower of Mason City, Iowa, a Shetland pony breeder and attorney, was offered an Arabian-Appaloosa cross mare in foal to a Shetland stallion. The resulting colt was white with eye-catching markings, like black paint spattered all over his body. On his flank, one black smear was in the shape of a hand, so Boomhower named the youngster Black Hand.
The colt inspired Boomhower to gather a group of friends and Shetland enthusiasts to organize a registry for the Pony of the Americas, the name they gave to this new pony breed. The group also set standards that remain today with very little change: a small head, dished like the Arabian; a body muscled like the Quarter Horse; coloring like the Appaloosa, visible at 40 feet; a height of 44 to 52 inches (today, 46 to 56 inches); and a gentle, easygoing temperament.
In 1954, Black Hand was the first POA to be registered; more than 50,000 ponies have been registered since. Eventually, the Shetland was used less frequently in breeding, replaced by larger Welsh ponies crossed on small horses, such as the Mustang and Arabian. Appaloosas have been consistently used to help maintain the pony's distinctive coloration, strength, and versatility.
Sid Hutchcraft, executive director of the Ponies of the Americas Club, Inc., loves to tout the pony's trail-worthiness. "We have a popular POA Horseback Riding Program that offers recognition and certificates for hours in the saddle spent pleasure riding," he notes. "We also have an Endurance and Competitive Trail Riding Program for distance riders, with special medallions awarded annually to riders with the most mileage. We have something for everyone!" (For more information, call 317/788-0107, or visit www.poac.org).
Colorful Keepers
Barbara Allerton of Kuna, Idaho, had horses as a child, but her first Appaloosa was a surprise Christmas present from her husband, Hal. Today, the couple have five Appaloosa Horses, including their matriarch, Lacy, 28.
"As an adult, I learned to ride all over again on Lacy," Barbara recalls. "She taught my husband, and my niece and nephew, and carried all of us with a sweet, tolerant attitude. We learned to pack on her and made every mistake possible. Although most people are drawn to Appaloosas because of their striking color, they keep them because they're simply wonderful to ride and live with."
Allerton, who's ridden the Chief Joseph Trail Ride 23 times, says her most memorable ride was a 1986 passage through Yellowstone National Park. "I admit, I'm a Yellowstone junkie!" she says. "The ride obtained permission to ride historic trails that weren't normally open to the public, and it was amazing country. At night, we'd soak our tired 'trail bones' in hot springs. Some days, we rode through broad valleys; on others, we traversed sagebrush-covered hills, with rivers and bison herds below. It was like riding back in time, into the Wild West."
A Solid Foundation
Tom Taylor of Fort Wayne, Indiana, loves the Appaloosa Horse. But by 1997, he'd become concerned that the preponderance of Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred blood in the modern Appaloosa was diluting the breed's essence. "I could only find 39 horses with all-Appaloosa pedigrees for the first five generations - and half of them were aged mares and geldings." he says. "I felt something needed to be done."
Taylor and other concerned friends and breeders founded the Foundation Appaloosa Horse Registry, which today has 800 horses on the books and 250 members. To be eligible, horses must have 75 percent Appaloosa blood in the first five generations.
Edna Street is one of FAHR's most devoted foundation breeders, with more than 60 head of Appaloosas at her farm, Rocky Acres, in Rochester, Washington. "Foundation-bred horses avoid some problems that the other breeds bring, like small feet that don't hold up on rocky trails," she says. "It's gratifying to see the growing demand for these great Appaloosas. My favorite rides have been on old logging roads around nearby Mount Rainier - although now, with so many horses, my trail rides are few and far between!"
Technicolor Dream Coats
The Appaloosa is known for its striking color and unique coat patterns. According to the Appaloosa Horse Club, the breed's markings are distinct from the dapples seen in grays and some other horse colors. The base coat can be any color, including bay, black, buckskin, chestnut, dun, gray, grulla, palomino, roan, cremello or perlino. Here's a rundown of specific Appaloosa coat patterns.
Blanket: White over the hip that may extend from the tail to the base of the neck.
If present, the spots inside the blanket are the same color as the horse's base coat.
Spots: White or dark spots over all or a portion of the body (also called "leopard").
Blanket with spots: A white blanket with dark spots (same color as the base coat).
Roan: Lighter colored on the forehead, jowls, back, loin, and hips.
Roan blanket: A roan pattern (a mix of colored and light hairs) over a portion,
but not all, of the body.
Appaloosas have other distinctive characteristics, such as mottled skin,
white sclera, and striped hooves. For more, visit www.appaloosa.com.
Note: A solid-colored horse without color pattern can be registered under the ApHC Certificate Pedigree Option. However, the horse must be DNA blood-typed,
inspected, and proven to be the offspring of either two registered Appaloosas or an
Appaloosa and a horse from another approved registry. CPO horses may be shown
at ApHC events, but have some breeding restrictions.
Top: Blue roan, with white spots over the entire body.
Middle: Red roan, with white spots over the loin and hips.
Bottom: Three horses with varied and distinctive coat patterns. From left, blue roan, with white spots over the entire body; dark bay and white, with spots over loins and hips; red roan, with spots over the entire body.
Spot a Prospect?
Ready to bring a "spotty body" into your barn? Follow these savvy tips from long-time Appaloosa owners.
Become educated. Learn as much as you can about the breed from registry resources, by reading up on the breed, and by talking with Appaloosa owners and breeders.
Find a mentor. Find someone who's experienced with the breed to help you in your search.
Evaluate conformation. Look for a horse with good bone and feet - typical of the breed - and sturdy, balanced conformation.
Evaluate demeanor. Your prospect should have a calm, kind disposition. Appaloosas are natural "people horses."
Invest in a prepurchase exam. Because of their white coloration, Appaloosas are susceptible to skin cancers, which can be treated.
Also, some Appaloosas are afflicted by equine recurrent uveitis (ERU), commonly known as moon blindness. While the cause is unknown, ERU symptoms (red, swollen eyes or squinting) are detectable and maintenance therapy can slow the disease. However, quick treatment is vital to help ward off blindness.
Check tack fit. Owners say Quarter Horse tack is normally a good fit for the Appaloosa, but check prominent withers for rubbing, especially if there's significant Thoroughbred blood in your Appaloosa's pedigree.
