Sundrop's Heritage
Proud to be an Appaloosa!
Sundrop, as you all ready know, is an Appaloosa. Appaloosas have a history almost as colorful as they are! Sundrop shows off his Appy heritage, with his strong legs and hooves, powerful movements, grace, willingness, intelligence, and character! Never let anyone tell you Appaloosas are stubborn - that is so not true. Appaloosas aren't stubborn - they just have personality!
Appaloosas aren't just your ordinary horse...
The Appaloosa can be traced back into the dawn of history, but it has only been recently
that the modern world of horsedom has discovered him. The name, acquired since the
19th century, is actually a corruption of Palouse, the river dominating the region of
North America where the Nez Perce Indians bred this spotted horse in the 18th and
19th centuries. What was a Palouse horse became "Apalousy horse" and finally an
"Appaloosa". Despite its fairly modern name, the horse is the oldest identifiable breed
of horse in existence today.
Horses had been extinct in America for centuries, so horses brought over by Spaniards
to Mexico about 1600 A.D. were a source of wonder to the native Americans. The Nez
Perce Indians acquired them about 1730. They bred this horse nearly pure, with few
outcrosses. Lewis and Clark said in their journal that the Appaloosa was "equal to and
surpassing anything we had seen in the pastures of Virginia". Before they were brought
into North America, most Appaloosas were used for war horses or breeding horses.
The Nez Perce Indians preferred the Appaloosa for war, hunting, and racing. They
trained the Appaloosa to cue with knee action, so the Indians could tell them what to do
while they killed animals. They were also trained not to runaway from bears, buffalo,
other animals, or when their owners jumped on them. Close contact with people of the
tribes developed a quiet, sensible disposition which is characteristic of the Appaloosa
today.
During the Indian Wars of the later 19th century, the Nez Perce were driven off their
land called the Palouse country which existed in the states of Washington, Oregon, and
Idaho. Chief Joseph surrendered to General O.O. Howard in October of 1877 and
delivered his now famous speech that ends "Now hear me, oh my chiefs. I am tired. My
heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever." The
Army ordered every Appaloosa killed. The Appaloosas that were not killed were bred
to draft horses to make farm animals. In 1936 there remained only a few hundred pure
Appaloosas in the entire world.
In 1938, 61 years after Chief Joseph surrendered, the horses that his tribe bred were
recognized as an official breed by a group of men determined to keep the famous Nez
Perce horses from becoming extinct. Claude Thompson is said to be the founder of the
breed registry.
The Appaloosa now ranks as one of the top horse breed registries in the world and is
still growing. Modern uses of the breed are varied. It is much in demand overseas as a
circus horse and farm animal. In the United States it is used for show, parade, cow
horses, pleasure, trail, jumping, polo, and racing. The Appaloosa Horse Club created a
racing committee in December, 1960 because of the growing popularity of the
Appaloosa on the race track. The Appaloosa is noted for his endurance, speed, good
legs, feet, and easy keeping, but it's most valued qualities are a good disposition,
intelligence, and willingness to learn. The Appaloosa is a truly unique and versatile horse.
The next time you're taking a stroll through the countryside, be sure to keep your eye
out for this brightly colored and easy to find horse.
Ok, call me crazy, but sometimes I can feel the breed's history when I'm around them. I love to ride Sundrop bareback and I use this old training hackamore that just has a worn leather hanger with an old bosal and cotton rope reins, and we go on trail rides. I can sense Sundrop's history then. Also mine, because, you know, I am part Indian, too. Maybe, just maybe, I'm from the Nez Perce tribe...that's a thought, huh? :)
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