(Note: Excerpted to include only the historical
information.)
…I defined the Appaloosa as being the horse that the native people of the
northwest developed. More specifically as their horse at its peak in the
early 1800's. These native people created the Appaloosa from horses
brought to the New World by explorers, traders, trappers, and early
colonists.
In the early 1800's the Appaloosa was genetically at its most stable point
in all of its history. It also was considered to be the superior horse of
the west.
By defining the true Appaloosa in this way we respect the Native American
roots and the superiority of these horses. We also do not single out any
known horse, line of horses, breeder, or politician in this way or any
other registry as having the horse we call the standard.
Once our research is complete, I believe we will find horses in the
registry that approach the standard at some level. But, none of us
presently have the true Appaloosa. All of us do have genetics from the
true Appaloosa.
Since the purpose of the ICAA is "To preserve and protect as an equine
breed, by lineage and purity of blood, Appaloosa stallions, mares etc….,"
then the purpose of the standard is to define the Appaloosa as more than
color, characteristics, purity of blood and lineage. It is to define them
conformationally and by their personality and ability.
To help you understand the Appaloosa at its peak, here is some of the
history:
From around 1700 to 1840 the Native Americans of the Northwest developed
the true Appaloosa. Their location and the geography of the region gave
them the isolation and exceptional horse country necessary to do this.
Their breeding practices and the demands they made of their horses
hunting, traveling, racing, and in battle refined them. Their horses were
prized and considered the best by Indians and whites throughout the west.
The Nez Perce are given most of the credit for this. They became a
wealthy, respected tribe because of their horses. They were shrewd traders
and fine horsemen. They traveled across the mountains to hunt buffalo,
visit friendly neighbors and do battle with unfriendly ones. They also
traveled long distances to trade, hauling freight on pack horses. A Nez
Perce tribesman was not considered wealthy unless he had more than 25
horses.
When Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce rode out headed for Canada in 1877, it
is reported that there were 1700 armed men followed by women and children.
All of them were mounted. Behind them were 1500 spare horses. It was just
a part of what they had, they did not have time to gather all their horses
and cattle.
In 1871 they were estimated to have 9000 horses. The Umatilla, Walla Walla
and Cayuse who are reported to have shared in the development of the
Appaloosa had 10,000 horses.
We have found estimates that from one-third to one-half of their horses
were colored. If we take a conservative estimate of about one-quarter
being Appaloosa colored, then just from these four tribes we have 5000
Appaloosa horses.
In 1871 they had been developing their horse for about 170 years. During
this time the Appaloosa was distributed among the tribes of the west by
trading and raids upon them. Where did all these horses end up? Where did
all the horses they had in 1877 end up?
In 1877 the U.S. Government learned of the superiority of the Appaloosa.
After capturing Chief Joseph and many of his horses, the Sioux scouts were
given five horses each. Horses were also distributed among the cavalry
soldiers.
These Sioux scouts took their horses home to the Dakotas. It is also
possible that some of the cavalry soldiers too the Appaloosa horses they
received home them to various parts of the country.
The U.S. Cavalry knew a good war horse when they saw it. We have a picture
of a whole cavalry regiment (dated "after 1879") that shows the whole
regiment mounted on what appears to be Appaloosas…
We have found another story that claims renegade whites in pursuit with
the cavalry stole 500 of the horses with Chief Joseph and sold them into
Canada.
Another that tells of Nez Perce fleeing to Oklahoma with some of their
horses, where they lived in the Kiamichi mountains and continued to raise
their Appaloosa well into the 20th century.
The Ghost Wind Stallion story takes a fine stallion to Michigan and then
on to California.
It appears that many of the horses of the Nez Perce were distributed
around the country after their defeat in 1877.
From 1877 until the 1920's or 30s, when efforts to save the Appaloosa got
going, Appaloosa history is hard to find. These are the Dark Ages for the
Appaloosa. During this time some Appaloosa may have been destroyed by
order of the U.S. Government. The Government promoted a program to breed
draft into the Appaloosa as well. All this to keep the superior war horse
out of the hands of the Indians.
The world changed during these Dark Ages. The gas powered car, truck or
tractor took many of the jobs the horses did. The First World War was
fought. The horses' place in the world changed.
Few Appaloosas can be tracked through these Dark Ages. But we must believe
that since the Indians of the Northwest developed the Appaloosa, and their
horses were distributed throughout the west and possibly all across the
country, we all own Appaloosas with roots in the Northwest. |