CHARACTERISTICS

There are EIGHT basic coat patterns with unlimited combinations - no two Appaloosas ever have identical markings. Many carry dual patterns such as roan and spots.

The basic patterns are:

SPOTTED BLANKET - Dark forehand with white over loin and hips, with round or egg shaped spots, many with halos (ie roan rings edging the spots). Spots may vary in diameter from half inch to 4 inches. Blankets may be small patches on the rump, to large ones.

WHITE BLANKET - Dark forehand with a blanket without spots, or nearly void of spots.

MARBLE (or ROAN) - Base colour is usually red or blue roan, at times described as bay, brown or black roan. Marbles usually have 'varnish marks'.

LEOPARD - Base colour pure white with evenly distributed dark spots over the entire body from head to hoof. They are born with these spots and carry them throughout life.

NEAR LEOPARD - Born with leopard coloured body markings but with different coloured head and legs. As it matures the dark colouring often fades, the horse becoming a full leopard.

FEW SPOT LEOPARD - Has a basic colour of white with blue or red roan 'varnish marks' and just a few spots.

SNOWFLAKE - The base colour is dark with white spots over the body. The snowflake is usually born solid coloured and 'colour out' to this pattern, often becoming roan.

FROSTED HIP - Dark base colour with either frost or white spots on the loin and hips. This pattern can develop with age or they can be born with this colouring.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

PARTI-COLOURED SKIN (Mottled Skin) This is one of the most tell tale physical characteristics of the breed. This mottling of pink and black skin is always evident on the genital region and may be evident around the soft skin of the lips, muzzle, nostrils or eyes. Some Appaloosas have a minimum of mottled skin, others may have a lot.

WHITE SCLERA - This is sometimes called the "human eye" as the white which encircles the eye is like a person's eye. Most other horses have dark sclera.

STRIPED HOOVES - Vertical stripes of the hoof

FACE AND LEG MARKINGS - Horses with 'misplaced white' such as large belly patches, wide blazes and extra high stockings are not eligible for registration.

THE "GREYING GENE" - A foal that is affected is usually born with black stripy or splashy spots, which fade as it matures - and is likely to turn white, although the skin remains patterned. This is not to be confused with horses which roan out or are few spots. This genetic problem is caused by breeding an Appaloosa to a grey. A foal from this breeding has a fifty-fifty chance of carrying the greying gene, and if both parents carry the gene, the chances are increased to 75%.

UNDESIRABLE CROSSES - Crossing with duns and palominos is discouraged as the colour contrast becomes diluted, making it difficult to distinguish coat pattern.

ACCEPTABLE CROSSES - In order to improve and maintain the breed quality it is necessary to allow a certain amount of out crossing. This is restricted to registered animals from three other breeds. Thoroughbred, Arab and Quarter Horses. Animals from these crosses are only allowed in the Primary Registers.