Read and Learn: All About Appaloosas
How do people use Appaloosas?
Appaloosas are used for a variety of events and practical purposes in the United States and around the world. They are used in rodeos, for ranch work, for endurance riding and trail riding, driving, racing, and show. At horse shows, Appaloosas compete in a various classes including Western pleasure, cattle cutting, reining, and roping as well as English pleasure, jumping and hunter classes.
In what type of contests can Appaloosas compete?
Appaloosas compete in events that are similar to games played by the Nez Perce as they learned horsemanship skills. What makes some Appaloosa gaming races unique is that two horses compete against each other at the same time on adjacent courses in some events. Appaloosa games include the Nez Perce Stake Race, Figure Eight Stake Race, Keyhole Race, the Rope Race, and Camas Prairie Stump Race.
Camas Prairie Stump Race
This is similar to traditional to American barrel racing except two horses are running in opposite directions at the same time.
The Nez Perce Stake Race
This contest where two horses weave their way simutaneously course of six stakes and back to the starting point.
The Figure Eight Stake Race
This is run individually, and contestants ride their horses in a figure eight pattern to see who is the quickest.
T
he Keyhole Race
The Keyhole race requires the horse and rider race into a circle that has a pathway attached for entrance and then they must go back to the starting point without touching chalk lines on the ground.
The Rope Race is similar to musical chairs. Riders run their horses from the starting line and try to grab one of the short pieces of rope hung from wire strung across the arena. There is always one less rope than number of competitors and the rider who does not get hold of a rope is eliminated. This repeated until there is only one horse left.
What do I call my horse?
Stallion--male un-castrated horse 3+ years old
Mare--female horse 3+ years old
Broodmare--female horse used for breeding
Gelding--any male castrated horse
Foal--newborn to weanling
Filly--female horse under the age of three years
Colt--male un-castrated horse under three years of age
Weanling-young weaned horse less than a year old
Yearling--horse that is between one and two years old
How tall is my horse?
A horse's height is measured in hands at the withers. A hand is 4 inches. If you were 40 inches (3 feet 4 inches) tall you would be about the same height as an average Shetland pony, 10 hands. You would have to be 62 inches (5 feet 2 inches) tall to be the same height as an average horse, 15.2 hands. The world's tallest horse is 19.1hands or 77 inches (6 feet 5 inches) tall. Note:The number after the dot refers to inches, not tenths of a hand, so 15.2 means15 hands plus 2 inches.
What are the basic care requirements for a horse?
All horses need plenty of fresh water available at all times, fresh feed, and exercise. The main part of a horse's diet consists of roughages such as grass or hay. (Hay is dried grass or alfalfa). If a horse is working hard, he will also require concentrated feed such as oats in addition to his roughage. You can also feed them treats including apples and carrots.
Veterinarians can advise you about your horse's diet, any medications your horse may need and de-worming schedules as well as care for your horse when he is sick or injured. They will also check your horse's teeth and do any dental work that needs to be done. A farrier will need to see your horse about every six to eight weeks to trim his hooves and, if necessary, put on shoes.
What is an Appaloosa horse and where did the name come from?
An Appaloosa is a breed of horse developed in the Pacific Northwest. The name comes from the Palouse region where they were bred and referred to as “a Palouse horse.” Specific coat patterns or characteristics must be identifiable before the Appaloosa Horse Club will register a horse.
Ancient images of spotted horses can be seen throughout the world in art found in caves, on paintings, tapestries, sword scabbards, and pottery. The artwork shows spotted horses that can be related to the modern Appaloosa in appearance. Spotted horses were called a variety of names. In France, the spotted horse was called Tigre , in Denmark they were called Knabstruppers and in China they were known as Heavenly Horses.
The ancestors of the Appaloosa came to the North America with the Spanish Conquistadors in the 1600's. The Spanish settled in the Rio Grande Valley in what is now Texas, where the horse was used for travel, ranch work, and pleasure riding. History tells us of rebellions, trading and war that allowed the horse to travel around from tribe to tribe in the United States . The Nez Perce acquired horses, including Appaloosas, in about 1710. Horses allowed the Nez Perce to move their villages to follow wild game herds during hunting seasons and served as a type of wealth. The Nez Perce are given much of the credit for the development of today's horse because of their selective breeding techniques. Estimates say that approximately 10-50% of these horses were Appaloosas. The lives of many Native people changed when horses became a part of their culture.
In 1877, a conflict between the white population of the United States moving westward and the Native populations of northwest occurred. The Nez Perce took their horses and tried to flee to Canada rather than be forced to live on a reservation. They were caught about forty miles south of the border. The Nez Perce were sent to a North Dakota reservation and the US Calvary took the horses.
See the history section of the Museum website for more details
