Foundation AppaloosaFoundation Appaloosa horses are extolled for their intelligence and willing attitude. They are versatile. A patient owner with the time to train (or a competent trainer) can teach these foals to excel in many disciplines be it Jumping, Dressage, one of the many Western disciplines, Endurance or Trail Riding. Their pleasing disposition is an innate characteristic. 
To have great conformation and athletic ability is not enough if the horse is too hot or difficult to handle for most riders. Alternatively, the gentlest horse with the sweetest disposition can be dangerous if he can't keep his feet over rough terrain. Either horse, strikingly coloured, fast, or beautifully presented, can get you injured if he's not up to the job at hand and capable of interacting dependably with humans. A true Appaloosa horse ranges from 14.2-16 hands. Their weight is proportionate to their frame. They are a well-balanced, middle-of-the-road horse. Not high-hipped, excessively tall or heavy, nor are they exceptionally refined or overly muscled. The Appaloosa should be symetrical and smooth, well-muscled, have prominent withers and a short back. Generally their tails are naturally short and manes are upright and can appear roached or zebra-like.
A true Appaloosa can have a colourful coat but must have mottled skin about the mouth and white sclera around the eye, like a human being. Many have large heads and vertically stripped hooves. When you have learned what a true Appaloosa looks like you will know a fraud instantly. 
Here at ESPIRITU DEL VIENTO we breed horses who love people for people who love horsesThese are the horses of Ghengis Khan who conquered one-third of the earth. They are descendants of Nez Perce stock that escaped cavalry roundups and bounty hunters. The true Appaloosa is a survivor. And survivors are intelligent and resourceful. Watch your Appaloosa paw through snow to look for grass the way he did on the Mongolian steppe 700 winters ago. Revel in the way he learns to untie himself quicker than the other horses, then unties them! And it’s not stupidity that has him picking up buckets and brushes and throwing them around the yard, it’s a sense of humor and don't ever think an Appaloosa doesn't have one.His capacity to learn will astound you. He is easily bored with repetition so don't lunge him in idiotic circles to provide a workout, he'll just get disgusted and shut down mentally. An Appaloosa will test you. Look at everything from a new perspective. Don’t lead him into his stall, back him in. The same with his paddock and negotiating the gate, try things from a new angle. Walk him over a scary tarp or noisy plastic until he can wear it. It won´t take long in my experience! Mount and dismount him from the offside for a change. Pony another horse behind him. If he's a jumper, try to rope a fence post off him. If he's a dressage horse, trot him over a small jump. Try to do as many different things with him as you can even if they are only small and subtle. Don't be afraid to test him. He will teach you. Watch how, having mastered something new, he will then figure out a shortcut to it. You´ll find yourself wanting for ideas!
|
