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Why do a lot of people hate Appaloosas? Curious...

77K views 260 replies 183 participants last post by  MissingStar 
#1 ·
I don't understand why these terms are so commonly used when talking about Appys:

"small or pink eyes"

"weird patterns"

"plain ugly"

I take a lot of interest in Appaloosas. Almost EVERY horse I have the oppurtunity to have was an Appy. I see nothing ugly about them. Like Blu for example, people say he looks like an alien. :(

I see nothing wrong with horses with patterns. Also, Appys do not have small eyes. They just show the whites like humans do.

Sure people say paints and pintos are beautiful but some have pink eyes too....



 
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#3 ·
With any horse, Appaloosas can have strange patterns, but so can paints and just about any other colored breed.

I think the Appaloosa is a beautiful breed as well as very versatile in just about any discipline. They are also quite relaxed as a breed and tend to be on cooler side of the temperament scale.

As with every breed there are Ugly horses or undesirable patterns and colors. People who bash a breed because they saw one bad horse is ignorant.
 
#6 ·
I think you guys covered alot of it.

but you also have to think, different people dislike different breeds. Someone could dislike andalusians, and then like donkey or mules. Or someone could dislike... Arabs. Or Quarter Horses. Or any breed without having a particular reason.

I've never met anyone that dislikes appys though. I think they're wonderful.
 
#7 ·
i like appys but i find them less attractive than other horses but only in the head. i dont care about the eyes but they do have large heads and sticky up manes and stuff :) however, i see the beauty in all horses and even though i find some things unattractive about them, i think they are beautiful as well :D
 
#8 ·
Many people are stuck on the old fashioned Appy. Those are ugly for the most part, conformationally. Fortunately nowadays there are other breeds being bred into the appaloosa which is refining the look (or am I wrong?). That's just from what I've read. I've ridden plenty of Appys and loved them, but know little about the breeding side.
When I shop for a horse for my fiancee I would definitely look at a Paint, QH, or Appy for their level-headed-ness-ish-y.
 
#9 ·
EquiSoup said:
Many people are stuck on the old fashioned Appy. Those are ugly for the most part, conformationally. Fortunately nowadays there are other breeds being bred into the appaloosa which is refining the look (or am I wrong?). That's just from what I've read. I've ridden plenty of Appys and loved them, but know little about the breeding side.
When I shop for a horse for my fiancee I would definitely look at a Paint, qh, or Appy for their level-headed-ness-ish-y.
hehehe a new word for the day :D
 
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#10 ·
Appys are distinct. If you took away all the coloration, you'd still have that "blunt" look. It is like they are qhs with "attitude". A lot of the Appys for sale ads I've seen, the horses all seem to have this....sneer look on thier face. "Yep. This is me." Hah, those punks. I could so see them with a multicolored mohawks, and a leather jacket. I like them. I don't like Leopard apps though. Too busy....
 
#11 ·
Have you ever heard the 'joke'..

Why do indians ride appys on the war path?

So they'll be good and mad when they get there!

I've heard from several people that apps are unusually stubborn and often not as smart, but, the ones that are great are absolutely worth their weight in gold. Someone else told me that apps originated from the horses so slow/unintelligant that the indians were able to catch them. And I think a lot of people aren't used to their unusual markings. I have to admit, I've seen some not so pretty apps out there.:) but i haven't had enough experience with them to really form an opinion overall.
 
#12 ·
i have to be honest, i wasn't in love with apps when i went horse shopping. I wanted a quarter horse or a TB, but then i met Vega. She's defintely not the typical app. She's not really level headed, her tail's a little longer, but her mane was a mo hawk, but its not laying down, sorta. She also doesn't have a blanket.. its more of little spots all over the place.

here are some pics of her http://horseforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=4094&highlight=

My boyfriend's app is a leopard, but he doesn't have a busy pattern. He's mostly white with a few spots here and there. I'll get a photo of him soon so everyone can see.


And as you can tell from my username, i'm in love with apps!
 
#13 ·
As long as its got good conformation, I don't care. That being said, I tend to prefer knabstruppers or appaloosas with a good dose of tb blood because I think they are better built for the sports I enjoy. I'd be more than happy to put this horse in my barn!




I'm really not sure where the temperment stereotypes about apps come from...all the one's I've met were pretty level-headed horses.
 
#15 ·
I love appaloosas! I think they are beautiful & they are good jumpers. I thinks its really dumb how some ppl say this breed is stubbern or this breed has to much of an attitude. I dont think its the breed cuz there are great appys out there and then some that hav a crappy attitude. Its the horses personality not the breed just like people. its just like saying that all blacks are criminals and terrible ppl. we should no that not all blacks are criminals, I know a lot of blacks & one of my closest friends is black.
 
#16 ·
appylover31803 said:
thats a lovely horse there!

I remember there being photos on here about knabstruppers, are they like a different line of appaloosas, or are they pretty much the same?
I can't remember where exactly the spotted coloring originated (I'm sure if you do a web search, you can find out...I know there are images of apps in ancient Chinese paintings), but it is very old. You can basically think of the knabstrupper as the European version of our American Appaloosas; at some point in history, they had common ancestors:P
 
#18 ·
I've known two appy's that had the ugliest jug heads and really nasty temperments............maybe human induced I don't know ........But I would never assume that ALL appy's are like that based on two individuals, I think each horse should be judged on their own merits, I wouldn't say no to an appy just because he/she was one and I've seen pic's of some gorgeous appy's out there!
 
#19 ·


This was our Appy we just sold. His blanket was BEAUTIFUL!! Iw ish I had a pic without the saddle so you could see him better!

He was the most bull headed horse ever but would run through fire for me if he had to. Had to sell him so my daughter could have a calmer horse.
 
#21 ·
I know! I have heard alot of people calling appaloosas crappaloosas. I like them. I don't understand what can be so bad about an appy. My horse shows the whites of her eyes on one eye. It looks a little weird but it's not ugly like some people say. They also say that appy's have pig eyes. No they don't. I see more quarter horses with pig eyes than appy's. But as for me, I think appy's are beautiful! :wink:
 
#22 ·
It might be the fact that I have pretty much grown up with Appaloosas, why I stick up for them. lol. I honestly like them very much. Confo and all usually. I'm a sucker for the stocky. lol. That was Buddy. The stockiest Appy I've ever seen. Standing at 15.2hh he was I believe 1450lbs. BIG BOY! lol. :) I like everyone's replies. Good and bad. :-D
 
#24 ·
I learned to ride on two different appys. The first was a chestnut leopard, the second was a blue roan of some sort.

The blue roan appy, Snoopy was his name, was such a sweetheart. I miss that horse!! He died last year at a ripe old age :cry:

I personally like the breed. I don't think there is an ugly one...they are one of my favorite breeds :D

However, I do have to admit, I know that it does take a different 'eye' to think that some appys are pretty... :?
 
#106 · (Edited)
That just hit a sore spot for me!!! i think some QH are butt ugly. Toby is full appaloosa and has a full mane and tail and the most beautiful coat pattern ever. the are also the most the kind hearted horse breed. Toby would be offened if he could hear the way you guys are talking. :evil: Also they are not big warmbloods that are in the ring doing the big jumps i am sorry but people who do not like appys have a problem because they have never ridden one.
 
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