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Is this true about Appendix Quarter Horses?

26K views 45 replies 40 participants last post by  QtrBel 
#1 ·
Is it true that Appendix Quarter Horses are mean? Ive heard this around but never thought anything of it. Until... My friend got a 9-year-old Appendix Quarter Horse for showing and jumping. When she tested him out he was great and also at first and then...He was always kinda pushy. He constantly bucked with her and tried to get her off. Well he achieved. He bucked her off about 4 times and the last time he bucked her off, he also kicked her in the face and broke her cheek and knocked some teeth out! Then he bucked a lady off and broke her shoulder!! OUCH!! They ended up giving him away to a trainer who knew what he was all about!! She was also constantly showing him every weekend. It was kinda stressful on her and him and before she bought the horse, he had been with his mom, dad and brother for 9 years. So is this true or was it just this one horse? Could it just be stress or what? maybe the rider? cause she has a AQHA gelding and he bucks all the time too but her new warmblood is like perfect with her!!
SRY FOR THE LENGTH!!
 
#3 ·
maybe its her since you said her other horse bucks all the time too. Maybe she just isn't punishing right. Sry but in my opinion if you beat the crap out of the horse for doing that then he wont do it. Maybe her new horse already knows better. He will probably try to buck eventually and when he finds he can get away with it he'll continue. Just a warning :wink:
 
#4 ·
Interesting...I had never heard that about them, but I have plenty of thoughts on the matter.

My step mom used to have an appendix QH - a dash for cash boy. He sent her to the hospital 3 times.from bucking - Broken wrist, dislocated shoulder, cut open leg artery - causing her to be sent in a medical helicopter. That one finally made her sell him.

My sister sent her appendix QH to us when she could not sell him (also a dash for cash boy). He had a nice enough personality, but there was something else going on with him. He spooked a lot, bucked a lot, pulled back when tied, would blow out of the horse trailer, Overall, very explosive.

I think there are pleny of nice appendix QHs out there, but the problem is that they are so big usually that when they misbehave like a 15H horse would, they have more power, are more explosive, and just more dangerous.

They are often off the track giving them a whole set of problems both physical and mental.

I have seen many that are physically unsound (constantly becoming lame due to one part of their body or another). They need corrective shoes, chiropractors, vet visits, time off, special pads, special saddles, etc. ( this is of course true of other horses as well and does not apply to all appendix, but the numbers seem to be high).

I also think that they are incredible athletes when everything is working for them mentally and physically, so this draws people to getting them for high impact/high stress disciplines - finishing the cycle with a stressed out, dangerously explosive, and often lame horse.

Both of the horses I described above were barrel horses and the second one was off the track. These kind of horses are popular with barrel racers because of their speed and agility, but again, I saw so many horse explosions and accidents during my time with the serious barrel racers that I figure there has to be a correlation between high stress high impact disciplines and the behaviors that are seen in the horses most popular for those disciplines.

I have assume that there are pleny of appendix QHs that are raised properly with love and care, without soundness issues, that have a lower stress lifestyle that fits their horsenality, who are safe, sweet, and happy.
 
#6 ·
americancowgurl31391 said:
yeah see he wasnt off the track. he just jumped. The thing is he didnt only buck with her, it was with very experienced people too. He bucked two trainers off. One broke her shoulder from the fall.
Have you ever met a person who was just a flat out jerk??? No matter how nice you were or what you said they were just horrible anyway??? Well I firmly believe that horses, like people, sometimes are just jerks with a bad attitude and no matter what you do that is just who they are. I have a few R1 QH's and have never found them to be nasty. Don't blame the breed to me that would be like saying "all english people are stupid" or "all australians are ugly". I think the personality of this horse is just maybe who he is :wink:
 
#7 ·
We have 8 Appendix QH's here. Not a one of them is mean or nasty. Two have been 4-H horses for many years. We use them for barrel racing, pole bending, jumping, cow work, team penning, team roping, heck, they've even been used by my four year old son. I think it's just that horse's attitude that causes him to be bad, not the fact that he's an Appendix. Could it have anything to do with a sore back or mouth? Discomfort often causes stuff like that.
 
#8 ·
he was vet checked and everything was perfect. I Love Lane, i totally see what your saying about maybe this just being him. Before he left for his new home, i started brushing him and spending time with him. He was so sweet to me so maybe it was just because she was constantly showing him. Maybe he just wanted some downtime and some love. Yeah i have a AQHA gelding and he is the sweetest thing ever!!
 
#9 ·
No they are not mean. I have know and owned countless Appendixes and they are truely one of my favorite breeds. Everyone I have known, with a few exceptions are very sweet and willing. My favorite horse is an appendix and I got her when I was 7 and her 2 and she always took awesome care of me. So being mean is definitely not a characteristic of the breed. I must have judt been a difficult horse.
 
#11 ·
I'd just like to clarrify this: Not all horses are mean, some just are pushier then others. And, usally it's not "just" the breed. It's the way their bred. So no, I haven't heard, not judging. I haven't worked with Appendixs, but I've heard they're really great horses, with mucho jumping potiental.
 
#15 ·
First of all, it was definitely not because of the horse's breed, it sounds like incorrect training. There are a lot of horses I get that are "dangerous" or "unsafe", but it's usually just bad habits. I have an appendix quarter horse, Ricky, and he had a few bad habits, but now he is an angel and I am selling him as a 4H horse!
isn't he pretty! 1,500 OBO
 
#16 ·
I can honestly say from experience that Appendix Quarter Horses are not mean. I own one and I can put my inexperienced friends on her and she is a sweetheart. She has given pony rides to young children and has not one mean bone in her body. My good friends also own a couple Appendix Quarter Horses and they are all sweet, lovable horses. So in my opinion, maybe the horse had a behavioral issue or he was mistreated. Heck, it could have been a countless number of things.
 
#18 ·
Just like in every breed, some horses are going to be mean. Some are sweet and loving. Some are more dominant. Some are passive. It just depends on the horse.

I know lots and lots of Appendix QH, Racehorses, and they are all sweet and curious. Very willing, super responsive etc.

They might be "more sensitive" because of the TB that's in them, but they are awesome horses. Just not for everyone.
 
#20 ·
I have a 16yr appendix, he's the biggest puppy! He'd be perfectly happy if you spent the entire day cuddling him. The only time he gets pushy is at meal times causing me to have to tie him separately to feed. Other than that he's a perfect gentleman.
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#21 · (Edited)
It was definitely NOT because he is an Appendix QH. I had a 3yo that I gave to my friend to use as a kids babysitter because he was so laid back...and he was OT no less. It was pretty funny watching a 16.2 hand horse with 5 little kids lined up on his back wandering around the back yard!

My guess is a combination of "just that particular horse" mixed with what sounds like your friends less than appropriate riding methods. You say her other horse is bucking too, well, your friend is the only common denominator.

EDIT: Doh, gotta remember to check the age of the thread before posting! :)
 
#22 ·
It was definitely NOT because he is an Appendix QH. I had a 3yo that I gave to my friend to use as a kids babysitter because he was so laid back...and he was OT no less. It was pretty funny watching a 16.2 hand horse with 5 little kids lined up on his back wandering around the back yard!

My guess is a combination of "just that particular horse" mixed with what sounds like your friends less than appropriate riding methods. You say her other horse is bucking too, well, your friend is the only common denominator.

EDIT: Doh, gotta remember to check the age of the thread before posting! :)
It's almost never about the horse but almost always about the owner!!

Super Nova
 
#23 ·
I have owned 2 appendix horses. I still have One sadly had to sell the other one because he wasnt getting rode enough. They had the best dispositions.! I love them.! They are very very laid back and do whatever i asked of them. Best horses ive ever owned.
 
#24 ·
My QH mare's first foal was by a TB stallion, aka Appendix QH. He was fiesty and frisky as a baby, but what young foal isn't. We had him gelded at 10 months and keep him just past his 2 year birthday. When he was started under saddle he had no buck in him at all. I rode him for a couple of months before selling him and never had a bit of any problems with him. A friend of ours bought him and he is now and has been for about 8 years now a Civil War Re-Enactment mount.
 
#25 ·
One of the horses I ride at my barn is an Appendix and he is fine! He is a very good boy-I've jumped him 2'6"-2'9" with a problem-and the only reason he has gotten his rider off before is because he stopped and it was the rider's fault. He is not the horse for me because I find that he doesnt have much of a personality(my opinion). I guess every horse is different and it was just y'alls bad luck for getting a crazy one!
 
#26 ·
Appendix is simply a TB/QH cross. Temperament comes from genetics and behavior combines genetics and training. Even a well-bred, basically gentle and well-trained horse can become a monster if allowed.
There is NO GUARANTEE that any horse breed or mix will get you a well-behaved gentle horse...EVER.
 
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