Spotted horse breeds are some of today’s most well-known breeds and it turns out they have a prehistoric past.

When researchers first began studying the Dappled Horses of Pech-Merle, a 25,000-year-old cave painting in southern France depicting white horses with black spots, they believed the coloration of the horses was a fanciful decoration by a Paleolithic artist. After all, the prehistoric equine DNA tested to that point only revealed black and bay colorations.

In 2011, however, researchers from Germany and England discovered the LP gene in DNA samples of prehistoric horses from Siberia and Eastern and Western Europe. The LP gene is the same dominant gene that appears in today’s most well-known spotted breeds: the Appaloosa, the Knabstrupper and the Pony of the Americas (POA). This is the gene responsible for those amazing spots.

Most Popular Spotted Horse Breed: The Appaloosa

Easily the most popular spotted horse breed in North America is the Appaloosa. Most historians believe the genes for the Appaloosa’s spotted coat first arrived by way of Spain with the Conquistadors, while a newer theory puts the Appaloosa’s ancestry in Asia. The theory suggests the horses came with Russian trappers who arrived in Alaska via the Bering Strait and made their way into Canada.

Wherever that amazing spot pattern came from, explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark first noticed it back in 1805 when they traveled into what would later be known as the Oregon Territory and spent time with the Nez Perce tribe. The Nez Perce were selectively breeding horses—something the European explorers had never seen among native tribes—and seemed to favor spots in their herds.

Close to the end of the 19th century, the spot-ted “Palouse” horses as they were later called, in honor of the Palouse Valley area of Washington State where they could be found in abundance, began to disappear. The Nez Perce had lost their freedom in the Nez Perce War of 1877, and their horses had started to vanish. While some ranchers in the West kept Appaloosas among their herds, the breed was in danger of dying out.

In 1937, a group of spotted horse breed lovers got together in an effort to save the breed. The Appaloosa Horse Club was founded, and by 1947, 200 horses were registered with the club. Today, 635,000 Appaloosa horses are registered.

Appaloosas are most well-known for their distinctive coat patterns, which include solid colors with a blanket (the blanket can be spotted or not); leopard patterns featuring dark spots on a white background; varnish roan colorations; and a variety of other patterns. White sclera around the eyes, striped hooves and mottled skin are other Appaloosa traits.

Appaloosas typically range from 14 to 16 hands in height. Their heads are straight and lean, and their ears are of medium size. They have a deep chest and well-muscled, sloping shoulders; their withers are prominent. The back is short and straight, and the hips are long, sloping and muscular.

These days, Appaloosas are prevalent in just about every equine sport. Along with racing, they are also seen in western working events, dressage, eventing, hunter/jumpers, gymkhanas and western pleasure events. Name a sport and the Appaloosa does it.

The Knabstrupper

Combine the beauty and athletic ability of a fine sport horse with an explosive pattern of spots, and you have the Knabstrupper, a spotted horse breed with an exotic European past.

Europeans domesticated horses some 6,000 years ago, and by 1400 B.C., spotted horses began appearing in the art of the ancient Egyptians. A Greek vase of that same period depicts a spotted horse, and an iron scabbard dated 800 B.C. bearing four spotted horses was found in Austria. It’s clear that the spot-ted horse had developed a presence throughout all of Europe.

In 1812, a Danish butcher named Flaeb bought a chestnut blanket mare from a Span-ish cavalry officer. The mare, named Flaebehoppen, was sold to Major Villars Lunn, who owned an estate called Knabstrupgaard. Lunn bred the mare to a Frederiksborg stallion, a member of Denmark’s oldest breed. The result was a wildly colored colt named Flaebehingsten. The colt and his dam were bred to a number of quality Danish horses and produced loudly colored horses of good type. Thus, the Knabstrupper breed was formed.

The fledgling breed hit hard times in the 1870s and was nearly lost. It wasn’t until 100 years later that a concerted effort was made to locate the horses that remained and revive the breed. Appaloosa stallions from the U.S. were used to infuse new blood, and the Knabstrupper found new life.

Three different types of Knabstruppers are currently recognized in Europe: sport horse, Baroque and pony. The sport horse type is known for its exceptional abilities in dressage, eventing and show jumping. The Baroque type is a shorter, broader horse reminiscent of a carriage or warhorse. The pony type is smaller and a favorite children’s mount.

Knabstruppers, who are prized for their kind temperaments, trainability and stamina, are somewhat rare in North America. As their spotted horse breed profile continues to grow as a colorful sport horse, we may begin to see more of them in the show ring.

The Pony of the Americas

In rural Iowa in the 1950s, an Appaloosa/Arabian-cross mare was accidentally bred to a Shetland Pony. Although skeptical of what the resulting foal would look like, a lawyer named Les Boomhower, who bred Shetland Ponies as a hobby, considered buying the mare. But first he wanted to see what the foal looked like.

When the small black-and-white spotted colt was born, Boomhower was sold on the pair. He named the foal Black Hand because of a marking on his coat that looked like a handprint, and he convinced other Shetland Pony breeders to consider making this colt the foundation of a new spotted pony breed. The group agreed, and the Pony of the Americas Club was born.

Early breeders of this new pony wanted a child-sized horse with color and versatility. Rules for Pony of the Americas (POA) characteristics were established, and equines that did not meet these requirements could not be registered. Ponies had to fall within the height limits of 44 and 52 inches. They had to have small heads with dished profiles, muscular bodies, and prominent Appaloosa coloring.

With its beautiful markings and petite size, the new spotted horse breed started to catch on. State clubs were formed and began holding local shows and sales. Eventually, a world championship show became an annual event, and shows are still held around the country each year.

Almost 70 years later, the POA has held true to its original purpose. The breed is still primarily meant for children and maintains its color and durability. Although the POA has grown somewhat in size (its height requirement changed to between 46 and 56 inches in 1986), it is essentially the same pony Boomhower conceived of shortly after the breed’s foundation sire was born.

These days, the Pony of Americas Club has more than 55,000 registered ponies in North America and Europe. POAs are ridden in almost every sport in the equine industry, from western pleasure and dressage to competitive trail riding. Some of the disciplines offered at POA-approved events include hunter, pleasure driving, trail and a newly added class called ranch riding, a pattern class with various maneuvers that showcase the vast versatility of the POA breed.

Resources for Spotted Horse Breeds  ◆ Appaloosa Horse Club  ◆ International Colored Appaloosa Association  ◆ Knabstrupper Network of North America  ◆ Pony of the Americas Club ◆ Further Reading: Spot the Difference: The Appaloosa and Knabstrupper

This article about spotted horse breeds appeared in the May 2020 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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The Appaloosa and the Knabstrupper are both beautifully spotted breeds, and while they are quite similar in many ways, there are key differences. Learn more about these eye-catching horses.

The Appaloosa

A staple of the once-wild West and a canvas for western art, the Appaloosa is revered for its rich history, unique coat patterns and versatility.

As Spanish conquistadors and settlers made their way to the Americas, they brought horses with them—including spotted ones. These colorful horses eventually entered horse-trading circles of Mexico, California and Oregon, painting the Plains.

Horse trading was common among the Native American tribes. The Nez Perce tribe in Washington, Oregon and Idaho were renowned for their refined craft in breeding “a Palouse horse,” named after the nearby Palouse River. Soon referred to as “Appaloosas,” they were bred not just for their spots, but for speed, endurance and intellect. These characteristics helped the tribe elude the U.S. Calvary in several battles during the Nez Perce War.

In October, 1877, a five-day battle took place in Montana, ultimately forcing the Nez Perce tribe to surrender. The Appaloosa Museum documents, “The U.S. Army took over 1,000 of the tribe’s surviving horses, sold the horses that they could find buyers for and shot many of the rest.”

The Appaloosa Breed Today

Efforts to revive the breed began in 1938, soon becoming the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC), located in Moscow, Idaho. More than 700,000 Appaloosas have been registered since the ApHC’s founding in 1938.

Since 2018, the organization says they’ve seen a 20 percent rise in the number of registrations and transfers (horses changing hands). Appaloosas are found in nearly every discipline, from horse racing and western pleasure to dressage, jumping, endurance, working cattle and more.

Horses can be registered Appaloosa if they are from registered Appaloosa lineage or foaled from one registered Appaloosa parent with an approved cross. These include registered Quarter Horse, Thoroughbred or Arabian. Geldings or spayed mares with color and an unknown pedigree can be “hardship registered.”

Appaloosa characteristics include a recognizable coat pattern, vertically striped hooves, mottled skin (mottling of pink and black skin), and visible white sclera of the eye surrounding the iris.

Like a Dolly Parton song, Appaloosas can have a coat of many colors, with base colors such as black, gray, palomino, chestnut, bay, buckskin, cremello, grulla and dun.

Several genetic factors influence the Appaloosa’s coloration, which is credited to the leopard complex allele (LP), which in conjunction with PATN1 and other not-yet genetically testable PATN modifiers helps to control the amount of white patterning. This unique leopard coloration likely dates back thousands of years. A riveting topic in itself, you can visit The Appaloosa Project website for more details.

Spot the Spots: Appaloosa and Knabstrupper Style Common terms used to describe Appaloosa and Knabstrupper coat patterns include: ◆ Spots: White or dark spots ◆ Snowflake: White flecks across dark body ◆ Leopard: Dark spots across white body ◆ Few-spot leopard: Mostly white with a few dark spots ◆ Blanket/snowcap: Solid white over hip area; contrasting base color ◆ Blanket with spots: White blanket/snowcap; dark spots within white area ◆ Appaloosa roan/varnish roan/marble: Mixture of dark and light hairs ◆ Roan blanket/frost: Standard roan coloring with white blanket over hip area ◆ Roan blanket with spots: Roan blanket; white or dark spots within roan area ◆ Solid: Solid base color with no blanket, spots or other

The Knabstrupper

Similar in color to the Appaloosa, the Danish Knabstrupper also traces back to Spanish horses from the late 1700s and early 1800s in Denmark.

Knabstruppers carried Danish officers in the Schleswig War (1848-1850) and traversed the globe as circus horses. The Knabstrupper traditionally was an all-around horse that could be driven in harness or ridden under saddle.

Today, these spotties are sought-after for dressage, driving, eventing and more. While their popularity across Europe and the U.S. has increased significantly, they are still relatively uncommon.

“Knabstrupper breeding requirements are more akin to a warmblood breeding book, which selectively controls the breeding pool through both pedigree requirements and a grading process, which ensures a more unified type,” says Renee Tucci of the Pennsylvania Knabstrupper breeding farm Murder Hollow. “Over the last few decades, the breed has been selectively bred to a more modern sport horse type.”

Appaloosa vs. Knabstrupper

Whereas the Appaloosa has a variety of builds, the Knabstrupper sport horse should have a long, sloping shoulder with good freedom of movement and a well-defined wither, which flows into a strong back with short muscular loins, according to Tucci.

Next time you see either of these beautiful breeds, will you be able to spot the difference?

This article about the Appaloosa and Knabstrupper breeds appeared in the June 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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For the most part, horse breeds share common coat colors, like chestnut, bay, gray, and black. Likewise, most horses share the same type of white markings, such as star, blaze, socks and stockings. But one group of coat patterns—splashy spots, varnish roan, snowflakes and more—are made famous by the beautiful and instantly recognizable Appaloosa horse. Let’s take a closer look at this popular breed.

The Appaloosa Horse: An American Original

Spanish explorers and colonists brought horses to North America on ships about 500 years ago. Within a century or two, the descendants of those horses were widespread across the continent. It didn’t take long for innovative Native American tribes, including the Nez Perce, to put horses to good use.

The name “Appaloosa” is a fun example of the way words and language change over time. Originally, Appaloosas were known as “Palouse horses,” named after the Palouse River in the northwestern U.S. where the Nez Perce developed the breed in the 1700s. Eventually, Palouse horse became “a Palouse horse,” and then “Appaloosa.”

American explorer Meriwether Lewis (of the Lewis and Clark expedition) noted the spotted coat patterns of these horses when he visited the Northwest basin region of Washington as early as 1806:

“Some of these horses are pided with large spots of white irregularly scattered and intermixed with black, brown, bey [sic] or some other dark color.”

He also described the horses as “active,” “durable, “elegant,” and “excellent.” Sounds a lot like the Appaloosa today!

A Western Horse

Other horse breeds have influenced the Appaloosa, including American Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds and Arabians. In fact, the American Quarter Horse influence in the Appaloosa helps give some of the horses a decidedly “stock horse” appearance, and it is popular among western riders.

Appaloosas excel in western pleasure classes as well as other events like reining, cutting, roping and barrel racing. They’re also fine ranch horses. And of course, the Appaloosa wouldn’t be a true western breed unless it made a great trail horse—which it does! In fact, the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) even offers sanctioned trail rides.

Thanks to their natural athleticism and talent, Appaloosas can also shine in English disciplines, including hunter/jumpers, dressage and eventing. And you’ll even find some Appaloosas at work as driving horses, pulling carts for show or pleasure.

One Colorful Breed

The first pattern that might come to mind when thinking about Appaloosa horse colors is the spotted blanket, but there are other coat patterns, too. In fact, the ApHC recognizes several different coat patterns, along with 13 base coat colors. But some horses seem to defy the boundaries and display multiple patterns, which adds to the fun!

Some of the Appaloosa coat patterns you might find include:

◆ Blanket: This popular pattern involves a solid coat with a spotted blanket of white on the hindquarters.

◆ Snowcap: This pattern is much like the spotted blanket, but without the spots. It looks like the horse received a dab of frosting on his back!

◆ Frost/Varnish: These are two separate patterns that look similar; they feature white hairs scattered throughout the horse’s coat, presenting an appearance similar to roan.

◆ Marble: Imagine a spotted blanket that kept going and covered the horse’s whole body, along with a dash of roan, and you’ll have the marble pattern.

◆ Leopard: A striking color pattern that features a white base coat covered in dark spots—think the horsey version of a Dalmatian.

◆ Snowflake: This is basically the reverse version of a leopard pattern. This time it’s the base color that is dark and the spots that are light. There also may be fewer spots.

◆ Solid: It’s also possible for an Appy to simply be a solid color without spots. But many of these horses retain the Appaloosa characteristics of striped hooves, mottled skin around the face, or white sclera around the eye—all of which go along with the breed’s unique coat patterns.

Spotted and Smaller

Do you love the Appaloosa’s eye-catching coat patterns but want something a little smaller? You’re in luck, because the Pony of the Americas (POA) brings the flashy Appaloosa coloring in a smaller package. POAs were developed through a combination of Appaloosa, Shetland Pony, Welsh Pony, Arabian and other breeds.

Purebred Registry for the Appaloosa Horse

Because the ApHC allows outcrosses to Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, and Arabians for registration, the International Colored Appaloosa Association (ICAA) was formed to preserve the breed and its heritage, to promote these versatile and athletic horses throughout the world, and to develop the purebred Appaloosa.

Using the accepted method of breeding strictly registered Appaloosa to registered Appaloosa with no outcrossing for eight generations, the ICAA’s goal is to one day achieve purebred Appaloosa horses.

Did You Know? ◆ The Appaloosa is the official State Horse of Idaho. ◆ Appaloosas generally stand 14 to 16 hands high. ◆ The Appaloosa Horse Club was established in 1938, and over 700,000 Appaloosas have been registered. ◆ John Wayne rode an Appaloosa named Zip Cochise in the 1966 film El Dorado.

This article about the Appaloosa horse appeared in the Winter 2021 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Adoptable Horse: Cooper, a 10-year-old 15.0hh Appaloosa gelding
Organization: Lollypop Farm, Fairport, N.Y.

Get to Know Adoptable Horse Cooper

Meet Cooper! This handsome boy has stunning looks and a great personality to boot. Cooper is looking for a companion home due to a past stifle injury which has left him unrideable.

But Cooper has so many other things going for him! He is very sweet, has good ground manners, gets along with other horses well, and is fairly low-maintenance. Cooper was gelded a bit later in life, and tends to get a little too interested in mares, so a home where he’s turned out with geldings is preferable. Cooper will need the arthritis in his stifle monitored over his life, but all the amazing qualities he will bring to your family will make it more than worth it!

Cooper is suitable as a companion horse only, and is adoptable for a fee of $300 or eligible for C.A.R.E Program.

Could this be your Right Horse? Click here for more information about Cooper, the ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week.

My Right Horse

My Right Horse is the online adoption platform of The Right Horse Initiative, a collection of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. A program of the ASPCA, their goal is to massively increase horse adoption in the United States. To find more adoptable horses and foster horses, visit www.myrighthorse.org. To learn more about The Right Horse, a program of the ASPCA, visit www.aspcarighthorse.org.

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Recreational riding programs have long been an essential part of most horse breed association’s offerings, because they help attract and keep members. Program participants often praise the tracking logs as a way to keep track of time spent with their horse, and, once milestone achievements are reached, fun and useful prizes are awarded to riders.

Unfortunately, many such programs suffer from low participation levels. Breed associations would like to change that by making horse owners more aware of the diverse range of activities in which they can take part with their horse. Regardless of your chosen breed, here’s what three of the country’s top breed associations had to share about their recreational rider programs.

Why Participate in Horse Breed Recreational Riding Programs?

There are a variety of reasons a fan of a particular horse breed should participate in these recreational riding programs.

• Horse ownership is not required, and multiple horses can help earn hours toward milestone achievements.
• Participation time logs help participants keep track of their hours earned.
• While some associations make a distinction between competitive and non-competitive hours and which ones can be included, typical examples of eligible hours encompass those spent trail riding, training, participating in parades, taking part in riding lessons, etc.
• Reaching a milestone achievement level offers practical prizes different from those typically earned at horse shows.
• There is often no time limit to reach milestone goals.
• Any fees involved are usually nominal.

Examples of recreational riding programs from breed associations include:

Appaloosa Horse Club

Keri LeForce, performance department supervisor with the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC), feels that her organization’s Saddle Log/Driving Log program is of most benefit to those ApHC members who don’t regularly participate in organized events.

“It’s an opportunity for them to be involved with the association and receive recognition for the things they are doing,” she says. “It’s a way for them to maintain a connection with the breed association.”

Participating adult members pay an annual fee of just $25, while youth are assessed a one-time $20 fee. Appaloosa Horse Club membership is required and, while ownership of the horse is not necessary, hours logged must be earned while riding or driving a registered Appaloosa. Hours are tracked online or via a printable log.

All program participants receive a patch. Thereafter, chevron bars are earned at milestone achievement level. While milestone achievement levels differ between the riding and driving programs, common examples include 25, 50, 75, 100, 200, 500, 1,500, 2,000, and 2,500 hours. Examples of prizes earned in addition to the chevron bars include brushes with engraved handles and achievement-level embroidered items. Any time spent riding or driving, including competing at shows, training, and trail riding, is eligible for inclusion on the log and counts towards prizes.

Arabian Horse Association

Current members of the Arabian Horse Association who enjoy riding their registered Arabian or Half-Arabian horse are eligible to participate in the association’s Frequent Rider Program. Members are assessed a one-time $25 fee and log their hours online or via a printable log. Similar to other breed associations, participants are not required to own their own horse, but instead may log their hours on any number of registered horses.

According to Abby Carpenter, awards and show results coordinator at the Arabian Horse Association, participating members earn prizes at such milestone achievement levels as 25, 100, 250, 500, 1,000, 2,500, 5,000, 7,500, and 10,000 hours. While each achievement level earns a bridle tag, as the number of logged hours increases, so too does the value of the prizes starting at travel mugs and moving to picture frames, leather portfolios, accessory bags, coolers, and even a jacket at the highest level. Like most breed association representatives, Carpenter sees the benefit of allowing Arabian horses to promote themselves in a wide variety of recreational riding activities and would like to see even more members take part in the program. As an incentive, the AHA has an updated recreational riding program in the works where members will be able to log competitive hours from open shows, along with non-competitive hours.

American Morgan Horse Association

Known as My Morgan and Me, the American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) takes a slightly broader approach to its recreational program. Following some trial and error to find the most workable solution to host the program, the AMHA’s newest program guidelines now have members submit a $25 payment only when milestone achievements are reached. Gone are the days of a one-time enrollment fee.

“We had program participants not submitting miles because they weren’t eligible for an award,” says Carrie Mortensen, executive director of the AMHA. “It was confusing. Now, when you reach a milestone, you send in $25 whether it takes you three years or three days to earn the achievement.”

Participants can download the My Morgan and Me brochure, which includes a printable log, from the association’s website. But it isn’t mandatory to use this form.

“When I was doing it, I made my own spreadsheet,” says Mortensen.

Different from other associations, the AMHA does not require that the logs be turned in when reporting a milestone achievement. The logs are more for the participant’s records and benefit.

“It’s an honorary system for us,” Mortensen explained.

Once the achievement has been reported, the participant receives awards directly from the association’s headquarters or an electronic coupon for the AMHA Marketplace where they can purchase t-shirts, sweatshirts, and jackets.

“You can decide on the color and if you want to have your name embroidered on it,” she adds.

When a participant reaches the highest levels of achievement, such as 10,000 hours, they receive a small write-up and are featured with their photograph in the association’s magazine.

“We do love for people [of any achievement level] to submit electronic photographs with their application,” say says. “When an applicant puts in for a milestone, we always feature it on our Facebook page if they include a picture.”

Other key differences in the AMHA’s program are that membership is not required and any time with a Morgan horse, not just time spent riding or driving, counts toward milestone achievements.

“The majority of people that participate are not competing, they are trail riding,” says Mortensen. “They are hanging out with their horse at home. The majority, if they are doing a show, it’s at the local level.”

She said that Morgan horses often have long life spans, and the more relaxed program requirements allow members to record time spent with a horse who is older and may no longer be serviceably sound but their owners still want to feel as if they are a part of a greater organization.

Have you participated in a breed organization’s recreational rider program? Tell us more in the comments below.

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Prevailing during the 2020 pandemic, the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) successfully rescheduled its Youth World Championship Show to run concurrently with its World Championship Show for the first time ever—and both shows were a success. The event ran October 29 through November 8 at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas. This year’s show saw an increase in both horses and entries across multiple disciplines, sold a record amount of sponsorships, and added new payback classes. Germany, Mexico, Canada, and 44 states were represented, and the 5th Annual Stars and Stripes Spectacular, a show for Veterans and Equestrians with Disabilities, hosted 60 riders in 22 classes.

“While we were all disappointed by the cancellation of the National Show, it opened the door to trying something new, different and exciting,” said ApHC President Ken Johnson. “Holding the two World Shows together, which has never happened before, truly made our show a ‘family affair.’”

In the innovative move to adapt to the pandemic, the ApHC added 72 youth classes and two extra days to the schedule of the premier Appaloosa event of the year for its 31st appearance at the Will Rogers Memorial Center. The Appaloosa Youth Association hosted a few fun and safe fundraising events, including a costume contest, pumpkin decorating contest, and a silent auction. School was able to continue for all students with the addition of a study room on grounds with free WiFi, snacks, and volunteer tutors to help with homework and studies.

Enthusiasm for this year’s show was evident months before the event started. The ApHC is happy to report that all sponsorship opportunities for the show were fulfilled, and more than $250,000 in sponsorship revenue was raised.

“It was amazing to see the equine community and our Appaloosa family come together in support of this show and the ApHC,” said ApHC Advertising & Marketing Director Hannah Cassara.

Advertisers also helped raise enough funds to make the live feed of the event free to everyone via the webcast and on the ApHC Facebook page.

Over the course of the 11-day event, 619 of the best horses in the breed competed for championships, showing an increase from last year. The 2,613 overall entries in both open and non-pro classes was also an increase over 2019, with ranch and cattle classes in all divisions seeing a particular boost in participation.

New to the schedule this year were the two $2,500 added Champion of Champions western pleasure and hunter under saddle classes held Friday, November 6. Sponsored by Beck Farms, 3-G Performance Horses and Rockin’ MD Ranch, the two classes were open to the top three placing in each open and non-pro western pleasure and hunter under saddle class. Winners received 100 percent payback of the added money and entry fees.

“We are so grateful we were able to hold our event in such an unpredictable year as 2020,” said Show Manager Keri LeForce. “We would like to thank our sponsors, exhibitors, judges, Owen Farms Arena team, Will Rogers Memorial Center, and our staff who made it all possible.”

After a year full of so many challenges and cancellations, the Appaloosa community came together to enjoy this huge success. For the list of winners, visit www.appaloosa.com/news/2020/11_30_2020.pdf.

About the Appaloosa Horse Club

The Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) was established in 1938 with a mission of preserving, promoting and enhancing the Appaloosa breed. The ApHC has since registered more than 700,000 Appaloosas, which are known for their distinctive color, intelligence and even temperament. True to their reputation as an extremely versatile breed, Appaloosas can be found in nearly every discipline, including racing and endurance riding, and they also serve as reliable family horses. The international breed registry is headquartered in Moscow, Ida., the heart of the Palouse region—the Appaloosa breed’s namesake and point of origin.

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The Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) hosted the 2019 World Championship Appaloosa Show at Will Rogers Memorial Center, where nearly 600 of the best horses in the breed were in attendance. This marked 30 consecutive years that the prestigious event has been held in Fort Worth, Texas. France and Italy, two Canadian provinces and 43 U.S. states were represented at this year’s show.

The ApHC was established in 1938 with a mission of preserving, promoting and enhancing the Appaloosa breed and has since registered more than 700,000 Appaloosas, which are known for their distinctive color, intelligence and their even temperament. True to their reputation as an extremely versatile breed, Appaloosas can be found in nearly every discipline, including racing and endurance riding, and they make reliable family horses. The international breed registry is headquartered in Moscow, Idaho, the heart of the Palouse region, the Appaloosa breed’s namesake and point of origin.

The nine-day event consisted of 85 non-pro and 97 open classes, as well as 37 specialty classes hosted by the Appaloosa Cutting Horse Association (ApCHA), Appaloosa Reining Horse Association (ApRHA), Appaloosa Halter Futurity (AHF), Appaloosa Pleasure Horse Association (ApPHA) and the Appaloosa Game Horse Association (AGHA). Participants who took part in these classes showcased the skills and abilities of their horses while also receiving cash and prizes. Throughout the course of the show, 2,200 entries were shown. Classes with the most entries included non-pro ranch riding and senior trail, with 31 and 33 entries, respectively.

A highlight of the show included the Open Most Colorful at Halter class, sponsored by Flying W Appaloosa Ranch in memory of Jim Wild where the first-, second- and third-place winners received memorial awards totaling $1,500. Like the impressive coat patterns of Appaloosas in Most Colorful, another class that catches the attention of spectators each year is Freestyle Reining, where exhibitors perform original choreographed patterns to music. This year’s title was claimed by NU Circle N Sign, ridden by Jane Cairo to the tune of Marie Laveau by Bobby Bare.

The Progressive Social is always a special evening during the show and a great way to mix and mingle with other show attendees. This year it was held Sunday, October 27, with courses sponsored by Sue Scobee, Maestas Show Horses, Carol Jones–American Acres, and John and Debby Letham. Attendees not only enjoyed delicious food, they also entered for the chance to win prizes donated by sponsors, vendors, members and local businesses.

The Appaloosa Horse Club was thankful to the members, exhibitors, and sponsors who make the World Championship Appaloosa Show possible. A passion for the Appaloosa brings people together each year for this memorable event.

The ApHC is now beginning preparations for the 73rd National Championship Appaloosa Show & 2020 World Championship Appaloosa Youth Show at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas, June 26–July 4, 2020. Visit www.appaloosa.com for the most up-to-date information regarding this upcoming event.

For additional coverage of the 2019 World Championship Appaloosa Show, pick up your copy of the January 2020 issue of Appaloosa Journal.

To learn more about the Appaloosa Horse Club and its events, please visit www.appaloosa.com or call ApHC at 208-882-5578.

2019 World Championship Appaloosa Show Award Standings

– World’s Best Appaloosa: Mr Shining Gun, owned by Jim Jirkovsky of Whitesboro, TX, bred by Dennis M. Herman of Maiden, N.C.
– Reserve World’s Best Appaloosa: Shes Sleepin Single, owned by Taylor Wiemers of Ruthven, Iowa and Debra K. Gerber of Bixby, Okla., bred by Margaret Ann Jentz of South Bend, Ind.
– World Show Leading Breeder: Char-O-Lot Ranch of Myakka City, Fla.
– Open Overall High-Point Exhibitor: Cody Wayne Crow of Johnstown, Colo.
– All-Around Non-Pro: DeeAnna McBride of Costa Mesa, Calif., on A Spotless Blue Boy
– Champion Cattle Horse: Mr Shining Gun, owned by Jim Jirkovsky of Whitesboro, Texas, bred by Dennis M. Herman of Maiden, N.C.
– Champion Western Horse: Shes Sleepin Single, owned by Taylor Wiemers of Ruthven, Iowa, and Debra K. Gerber of Bixby, Okla., bred by Margaret Ann Jentz of South Bend, Ind.
– Champion English Horse: William Grant, owned by Michael Shepherd of Aubrey, Texas, and Holly Janak of Shiner, Texas, bred by Nancy Magnussen of College Station, Texas
– Reserve Champion English Horse: CQ Royal Blue, owned and bred by Kathleen Byrd of Natchitoches, La.
– Champion Games Horse: Sold As Iz, owned by Amy Hudson of Finleyville, Penn., bred by Becky Johnson of Coal City, Ill.
– Champion Ranch Horse: NU Circle N Sign, owned by Jane Cairo and Rene Cairo of Live Oak, Fla., bred by Jim Dobler and Heather McLevin of Delburne, Alberta, Canada
– Open High-Point Over Fences Horse: Downtothelastdetail, owned by The Hulcher Family of Pilot Point, Texas, bred by Jennifer Marcom of Whitesboro, Texas
– Open High-Point Over Fences Horse: William Grant, owned by Michael Shepherd of Aubrey, Texas, and Holly Janak of Shiner, Texas, bred by Nancy Magnussen of College Station, Texas
– Non-Pro High-Point Over Fences Horse: Hez So Irresistible, owned by Janet Murray of Hampstead, N.H. and Amanda Soffron of Dedham, Mass., bred by Sheree L. Koehler of Roberts, Wisc.
– High-Point Non-Pro: Richard Schlough of Reedsburg, Wisc.
– High-Point 35 & Over Non-Pro: Kelley Sweeney of Broad Brook, Conn.
– High-Point Masters Non-Pro: Dr. Ted Zajak III of Coopersburg, Penn.
– High-Point Novice Non-Pro: Katelyne Tiffany of Belchertown, Mass.
– High-Point Walk/Trot Non-Pro: Stephanie Troup Sonnenberg of Lambertville, Mich.
– Champion Non-Pro Games Horse: LM Red Hot Special, owned by Heather Faeth and Lynn A. Faeth of Fort Madison, Iowa, bred by Larry Meadows and Diane Meadows of Mize, Miss.
– Champion Non-Pro Cattle Horse: Taris Lucky Draw, owned by Richard Schlough of Reedsburg, Wisc., bred by Jody Rafel and Jorlyce Rafel of Hillsboro, Wisc.
– Champion Non-Pro Ranch Horse: Highly Spotageous, owned by Teresa Job of Sonora, Calif., bred by Gillian Baxter Galligan of Petaluma, Calif.
– Champion Non-Pro Halter Exhibitor: Abigail Beck of Stockton, Calif.
– Champion Non-Pro Western Exhibitor: Ty Wilkerson of Slippery Rock, Penn.
– Champion Non-Pro Showmanship/Equitation Exhibitor: DeeAnna McBride of Costa Mesa, Calif.
– Champion Non-Pro English Exhibitor: Amanda Soffron of Dedham, Mass.
– Non-Pro Sportsmanship Award: Tina Jackson of Canton, Kan.
– Elite Custom Saddles Open Sportsmanship Award: Jamie Phillips of Ninnekah, Okla.

The post 2019 World Championship Appaloosa Show: Celebrating 30 Years in Fort Worth appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

There are six coat patterns recognized by the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC), but with so many possible combinations of spots and roaning, it’s sometimes hard to put a horse into just one category. That’s what makes the Appaloosa unique! 

Spots

One of the most striking patterns is the leopard coat. Leopard Appaloosas are the Dalmatians of the horse world; they have white coats covered with dark-colored spots from head to tail. A more subtle version of the spotted coat might be a dark horse with white spots on his hips.

There are also patterns like the snowflake and the few-spot leopard that consist of only a handful of small spots sprinkled here and there on the horse’s coat. Horses with the snowflake pattern have small white spots on their base coat, while few-spot leopards are mostly white with a couple of dark spots.

Blanket & Blanket with Spots

The blanket and blanket with spots patterns are the ones people most commonly associate with Appaloosa horses. These patterns feature a white “blanket” that covers the horse’s hindquarters (which can also extend to the horse’s midsection and toward the neck); sometimes there are dark base-color spots within the blanket. A plain blanket that does not include spots is sometimes referred to as the “snowcap” pattern.

Roan, Roan Blanket & Roan Blanket with Spots

Many Appaloosas have roan patterns. These vary widely in looks. A roan Appaloosa may have an extensively roan coat along with mottled skin and spotted coat characteristics, or may have just a few patches of roaning.

The roan blanket patterns are a lot like the other two blanket patterns, but instead of white blankets, they’re roan, and can have either dark-colored or white spots. The varying types of roan patterns are sometimes referred to as frost, varnish roan and frosty roan.

Solid

There are some Appaloosas that have no spots or roaning at all. This may seem contradictory, but an Appaloosa can be solid-colored. In order to receive regular ApHC registration, a horse must have a recognizable coat pattern or mottled skin and at least one other characteristic (white sclera or striped hooves).

It’s All in the Genes

The spots and roaning found in Appaloosas are controlled by the dominant Lp gene. A horse with one copy of the gene (Lplp) can express any coat pattern from solid to leopard, and a horse with two copies of the gene (LpLp) often has a few-spot or snowcap pattern.

Appaloosa coat patterns are modifying patterns, just like gray and true roan; these “modify” the base coat. In all of these cases, the horse has a base color. In the case of an Appaloosa, this can be black, bay, chestnut, dark bay/brown, palomino, dun, black, cremello/perlino, buckskin or grulla. The Appaloosa Horse Club also recognizes gray, bay roan, blue roan, and red roan as base colors.

For example, a chestnut horse with a gray gene that ultimately turns gray is still a chestnut horse “underneath.” A true chestnut roan horse has a chestnut base color modified by a roan gene.
In the case of an Appaloosa, the chestnut base coat could be modified by a blanket, a blanket with spots, or any of the other Appaloosa patterns. Complicating matters is the occasional presence of a gray gene, which modifies the Appaloosa modifying pattern, ultimately eliminating the Appaloosa pattern as the horse turns gray.

Changeable Spots

One of the fascinating things about Appaloosas is that they are truly the only leopards that can change their spots. Their coat patterns don’t always stay the same as the horse ages; they tend to evolve over time. For example, Appaloosas with the varnish roan coat pattern are not typically born looking like roans; they’re born with spots. As the foal grows older, those spots gradually turn into patches of varnish roan.

Sometimes the coat pattern of an Appaloosa can change so much that the horse may need to have his registration papers updated if his new coat pattern doesn’t match the original description.

This article originally appeared in the October 2015 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post A Field Guide to Appaloosa Coat Patterns appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.