The Nez Perce Gift to the World
Although the Appaloosa is descended from various breeds early Spanish explorers brought over to the Americas, it is considered a distinctly Native American horse by both historians and horse aficionados today. The Nez Perce of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho are credited with "creating" the Appaloosa, as they were the first tribe known to selectively breed for specific traits, namely, intelligence and speed. They kept the best horses that presented the desired traits and traded the rest that lacked those desired traits. Over time, the Nez Perce became especially skilled and sophisticated horsemen due in large part to the Appaloosa's abilities. This made their horses prized and envied by other tribes of the Pacific Northwest! However, there is one main reason why few horses are as instantly recognizable as the Appaloosa's distinctly spotted coats! These can be presented in any one of five patterns: blanket, snowflake, leopard, marble, and frost. All of which add to the Appaloosa's mystique and appeal!
Appaloosas are known for their quiet temperaments, gentle dispositions, and eager-to-please attitudes. This makes them a pleasure to train and work with. They are considered easy keepers, making them popular amongst beginners & experts alike. Though no longer used for hunting and defense, they are instead regarded as versatile horses, equally at home in rodeos as they are on quiet trails or bustling ranches!
There are a few lameness problems associated with them; however, the Appaloosa is a low maintenance breed overall. Some afflictions Appaloosa owners need to be aware of are Congenital Stationary Night Blindness (CSNB), Equine Recurrent Uveitis, Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP) and sunburn.
Great Horses Benefit From Great Supplements
Appaloosas need to receive moderate amounts of feed twice a day. But it is important to remember that proper supplementation of feed can benefit even the healthiest of horse breeds. It is because of this that Horse Guard Inc. developed a range of products to provide your horse with scientifically proven, balanced nutrition. Appaloosas can benefit from our Simplete High Performance formula, which is a 2 lb daily supplement featuring the perfect combination of oats, extruded soybeans, Probiotics & Prebiotics, and Omega-3 oils, along with the nutrient package of our 4-in-1 Trifecta supplement. All this makes Simplete a truly simple, complete, and concentrated nutritional supplement for performance horses of all varieties.
Since our creation over 35 years ago, we have strived to make horse health and customer service our highest priorities. Contact us today to learn why we remain steadfast to that promise, and why we proudly live up to our slogan of "Healthy Horses".
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