The Appaloosa Horse

The coats of horses generally appear in one color, but spotted horses also exist. One remarkable example is the Appaloosa horse. This horse breed also has striped hooves and uniquely white sclera that make it recognizable from the others. Still, Appaloosa horses stand out among the breeds because of its mottled skin that comes in a variety of patterns and colors. 

Coat Patterns and Colors

Spots or a big white patch of hair only appear at the horse’s hindquarters if it has the blanket pattern. This gives an impression that a ‘blanket’ covers the equine except at the rear end. Meanwhile, fine specks of white on large portions of the dark-colored body characterize the aptly-named frost pattern. Opposite to that is the leopard pattern, which has numerous dark spots all over a fair coat that is often white. An Appaloosa with this coat resembles the Dalmatian dog.           

The marble pattern features a light-colored body that is mottled with dark patches of hair. Like the frost, the snowflake pattern also has white spots on a dark coat. The difference is that the spots are noticeably larger.   

Appaloosa horses appear in varying shades of white, brown, grey, and black. While this breed is famous for interesting coat patterns, some specimens are born with solid coats. Solid refers to a body covering with just one color and also lacks spots or speckles.

Weight and Height

The Appaloosa falls under the light horse category. This means a light build that allows the animal to excel at speed and agility. Appaloosa horses generally do not exceed a weight of 1,500 pounds or 680 kilograms. They also have an average height of 15 hands, which is equivalent to 1.52 meters.

Personality

Overall, Appaloosa horses have a gentle temperament. Horse owners find this breed of equine to be likable, especially with its calm nature. However, the Appaloosa can be stubborn at times. The trait probably comes from the horse’s innate eagerness.

The Appaloosa also shows remarkable intelligence. Many horse handlers note the breed’s capability to learn tasks rather quickly. With this trait, an Appaloosa horse is qualified for a variety of jobs.    

Activity

Before they were popular to the general public, Appaloosa horses carried their riders through wilderness areas. Their manes and tails are relatively thin compared to those of other equine breeds. Such traits help in preventing entanglement with shrubs and bushes. As a result, the Appaloosa excels not only in outdoor pleasure riding but also in ranch work.      

As a light horse, the Appaloosa is an ideal candidate for racing. It can also perform well in jumping events and other horse shows. In fact, some Appaloosa horses find their way into rodeos. 

Health

Taking care of an Appaloosa horse is usually easy. This equine can adapt to a variety of environments, and prefers a moderate amount of food. The Appaloosa would stay in top shape as long as it gets basic needs such as pasture and well-protected shelter.

An Appaloosa can be at risk of eye problems and sunburn, which are linked to its unique physical traits. Still, horse owners appreciate this breed’s strong immunity from disease along with toughness against limb injury.