| Appaloosa History |
| It all started in the early 1700s, when the Nez Perce' acquired its first horses. The tribe's oral history, while not supported by most non-native historians, has been passed down among some of the Nez Perce'. The first Appaloosa horses obtained by the Nez Perce' tribe came from a Russian ship that had dropped anchor just off the shore of what is now Oregon. Three spotted stallions were swam from the ship to a tribe waiting on shore, in exchange for goods. These special stallions were then sold to the Nez Perce', who bred them to the tribes best mares. According to lore, that was the beginning of the Nez Perce' Appaloosa. Traditional belief is that the origin of these horses was the Spaniards who had settled the Southwest. Some historians say Cortez first introduced the "raindrop" horses to North America during the invasion of Mexico in the early 1500s. Later, many horses were set free or escaped and were captured by the natives. The Spanish horses were traded to tribes farther north until the horse gradually worked its way up to what is now northern Idaho. Whichever account you choose to believe, one thing is for certain: The Appaloosa is strongly associated with the Nez Perce' tribe. The Nez Perce' tribes inhabited the Palouse River country of central Idaho and Eastern Washington. Thus the horses became known as "the Palouse"; subsequent slurring of the word produced "Appaloosa". The Nez Perce' believed the spotted ones to be tougher than ordinary horses and began to selectively breed for them, as well as for endurance, hard feet, and other characteristics that have become synonymous with the Appaloosa horse. A strict breeding program, using only the best stallions, was established and adhered to for over a hundred years. When Lewis and Clark happened upon the Nez Perce' people almost a century later, Meriwether Clark commented in his journal, " Their horses appear to be of an excellent race; they are lofty, elegantly formed, active and durable; in short many of them look like fine English coursers and would make a fine figure in any country." And, according to Clark's description, many of them had spots. After the Nez Perce' failed to outrun the U.S. Army in 1877, the government ordered the annihilation of the tribe's beloved horses. Not only were the Appaloosas shot and trapped, but they were purposely crossed with draft animals, obliterating the centuries worth of careful breeding that had produced these superior animals. Those spotted horses that were swifter, savvier, tougher and more sure-footed than the mounts of the cavalry, were near extinction. At the beginning of the 20th century, there were only a few hundred Appaloosas in existence. In 1938, the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) was formed, with its aim to retain accurate records, collect historical information, promote interest in the Appaloosa breed, and register those horses that would be considered foundation stock. To achieve this, over 200 articles were written, and material was supplied to over 300 authors and writers. Despite the primarily western focus the breed has taken over the past couple of decades, it has not given up its orginal claim to versatility. ApHC sponsored shows also feature classes like hunter hack, side saddle, saddle seat pleasure, pleasure driving and open jumper, as well as calf roping, reining, cutting and gaming classes. Did you know that the famous Secretariat's first foal was an Appaloosa? First Secretary, a 17 hand chestnut with a white blanket, socks and a blaze, was foaled November 15, 1974. |
