Appaloosa pony
Pony is a kind of domesticated horses, it is no coincidence that this word in translation means "little horse". Appaloosa ponies are the most interesting and unusual of their representatives.
Characteristics of the Appaloosa pony
History of the development of the breed
It is believed that the first representatives began to be bred somewhere on the distant islands of Europe in the edges of Scandinavia, where the most famous and largest reserves in the world are located today.
According to official data, the Appaloosa horse was introduced to the United States by breeders and conquistadors from sunny Spain. Indian tribes lived in that area, so it was wild for them to watch how what they considered prey was bred for completely different, incomprehensible purposes for them.
Later, the natives got used to these helpers and began to tame them en masse. Horses helped to manage the household, to transport heavy objects. Over time, local residents began to use animals as a fast and reliable means of transportation.
The Neza Perce tribe are experienced equestrian specialists, they selected the fastest and most hardy individuals and thus got rid of frail and sickly animals, sold them for a penny and took them out of the country. That is why in the northwestern territories, horses were considered the fastest and, as a result, were dearly valued.
After the hostilities, the breed was crossed with other colors, as a result, almost no purebred representatives remained. Claude Thompson, realizing that the breed will play a significant role in the future, decided to create a fund to support the preservation of the suit.
In 1938, one of the amateur horse breeders opens a club, where the official name of the Appaloosa breed was presented. Everyone who was listed in the club's register made every effort to revive the breed. This organization still works today. According to the latest data, the number of this species is increasing every season. There you can find museums, registers, reserves, horse races, Olympiads and equestrian competitions.
The name Appaloosa comes from the Palouse River, which flowed in the area where ponies were first tamed and used.
Appearance
The growth of a pony is up to 157 cm. The body is athletic, fit and muscular.
Apploose pony appearance
The appearance is distinguished by the following characteristics:
- large head;
- strong and stable legs, slightly dry and not very strong in appearance;
- small, elegant back;
- sharp, slightly rounded ears;
- big eyes, deep and penetrating look;
- wide neck, smoothly merging into the body;
- medium size, but neat chest;
- set high, tail and mane pleasant to the touch, slightly wavy hair and curled at the ends
In general, the suit itself is a sign of distinction from other horses, the colors are mainly leopard, white and black are also not rare in color.
Horses even have spotted hooves. If for other horses these are the consequences of injuries or just light shades, then for this kind they were striped for life, with bizarre lines and even polka dots.
Character
They are docile and noble horses.These are very active animals, they are constantly in motion, which is often displayed in photos.
Appaloosa pony character
Horses feel like they are, and if they are warm and welcoming, they can gain trust in return. A horse of the Appaloosa breed senses a person and his intentions a mile away. If the horse is really nervous, behaving unfriendly and constantly trying to break free, then it is thus showing its displeasure.
Using
The number of the Appaloosa livestock is constantly growing, respectively, the organizations involved in the breed are also not decreasing. On the contrary, modern breeders are developing this direction and are ready to discover new and no less interesting facts about ponies.
Competitions, exhibitions, shows, photos, performances and other entertainment programs with ponies are a huge success. Often cited among the benefits are the ability to quickly change direction and turn at speed. This tactic helps to confuse the enemy.
Maintenance and care
- Ponies can be kept on the field or in specially equipped stables. The second option is preferable.
- In winter, pony fields are not the best option: animals will get injured, they will develop diseases of the hooves and legs. The only plus of outdoor keeping is the development of immunity to respiratory tract infections, which cannot be said about keeping in a stall.
- Fresh grass and hay are the main elements in the diet, but for good nutrition, you need to use concentrated feed with vitamins and all the necessary additives to restore the animal's strength.
- Feeding often and in small portions is recommended by experts not only for the smallest, but also for adults. Immediately after feeding, you should not use the pony for any purpose, especially if it is a horse race.
- Cleanliness is another important condition for keeping Appaloosa horses, you need to watch out for feeders, drinkers and all tools with special care.
Interesting Facts
Ponies can be bathed and washed infrequently. In this case, the weather should be warm, without wind and rain. And to wash your pets, you need to be able to find an approach and have a lot of patience. In this case, the tail needs to be rinsed much more often, because often the breed is famous for light hair, therefore it is simply necessary to maintain cleanliness for sanitary and aesthetic purposes.
Mighty Bright and Absarokee Sunset are the most famous members of this family. Their birth was carefully planned out by breeders. These animals lived for 17 and 14 years, respectively. The price of the horses is striking: already in the 1970s one of these stallions was sold for more than $ 300,000 at one of the auctions.