Characteristics of the Appaloosa

Unbeatable versatility

An Appaloosa is a safe child's mount one day, and a focussed competitor the next. You'll see these talented animals excel in every field, from trekking to Grand Prix dressage, western riding to three-day eventing. It's not unusual to see the same horse complete a cross-country course, then the slowest of western pleasure classes and then demonstrate complete control of a cow in a working cowhorse event, all in the space of one weekend.

Perhaps more than any other breed of horse, the Appaloosa is capable of excellence in any and all equestrian disciplines. Appaloosa riders will credit this to the breed's natural willingness to please and terrific attitude. Appaloosas are physically tough, strong and agile but most importantly, they enjoy being around and pleasing people.

You never know what you're going to get
Appaloosas come in all shapes, sizes and colours. What's more, Appaloosas may change as they get older, developing more white, and producing coat patterns you wouldn't have dreamed of. Some Appaloosas have no white at all, while some are almost completely white. Others have a sprinkling of white throughout their coats, and some have white blankets over their rumps, with - or without - spots. One thing's for sure, you won't find it hard to tell any two apart!

Make no mistake though; the Appaloosa is a breed, not a colour or a coat pattern. Its characteristics go far beyond its colourful appearance, although Appaloosa colour makes an Appaloosa most easily recognisable. It is perfectly possible to breed together 2 highly coloured Appaloosas and have the resulting foal born without a speck of white and for that plain coloured foal in turn to later produce a coloured foal of its own. The pursuit of both quality and colour is what keeps Appaloosa breeders the world over interested - foaling time is just like Christmas!

The differences don't stop there
You'll notice many Appaloosas have white surrounding their eyes, giving them a very human appearance. This doesn't mean they're wild; it's a natural and unique characteristic that is not seen in any other breed. You can usually also see vertical stripes on Appaloosas' hooves, and mottled skin on exposed areas. You may also see some Appaloosas with very sparse tails. Most common in black or bay base colours, this characteristic was prized in the breed's early history as it allowed the animals to be ridden through dense undergrowth without snagging their tails.

How tall is an Appaloosa? Well, it depends. The modern Appaloosa ranges from 14.2hh upwards, and 16.2hh is not unusual. There's no upper height limit, but Appaloosas are horses, so are not less than 14.2hh. If an Appaloosa happens to fall below the minimum 14.2hh mark, it is considered a pony and does not qualify for registration as an Appaloosa horse. Because the Appaloosa is a dominant breed, it has often been crossed with other breeds to produce taller, or more muscular, or finer animals that retain the wonderful temperament and colour the breed is known for. In New Zealand, crossing with Thoroughbreds to produce outstanding (and calm!) dressage and jumping types is common, as is crossing with the Quarter Horse to produce type more suited to western riding.