AraAppaloosa Horse - The Best of Both of the Ancient Worlds

The AraAppaloosa is a cross between the Arabian horse and the Appaloosa that combines the refined physical characteristics of the Arabian with the leopard-spotted coloring of the Appaloosa. Since both breeds have been noted for endurance and intelligence, the resulting cross tends to excel at endurance riding as well as a variety of horse show disciplines, including ranch work, which has been performed by either breed. It is also known as the Araloosa and can also be found under the variant spellings of Arappaloosa and the Ara-Appaloosa. But the AraAppaloosa is not a new type of horse, but rather it is a breed that dates back centuries. However, it is a relatively new horse registry in the United States where the breed is represented by the AraAppaloosa and Foundation Breeder's International (AAFBI) which is, in some ways, a 1995 off -shoot of the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) that was founded in 1938.

The founder of the ApHC, Claude Thompson, remembered seeing the beautiful Nez Perce Indian Appaloosa of his childhood and felt that Arabian blood was the only way to develop the true Appaloosa, so that was the only outcross originally permitted in the ApHC in 1938, which means that many of the foundation Appaloosas already have these genes.

In fact, the spotted or parti-color horse is one of the earliest, identifiably distinct breed types and many examples of this horse pattern appear in ancient paintings of the early Middle East and Egypt, as well as in cave paintings, artwork and other artifacts throughout Europe. Historians say that the spotted horse was of the Arabian breed, which dates back several centuries and that the Appaloosa and the Arabian horses are two of the oldest horse breeds with the Arabian being one of the purest. Because the Arabian has been a distinct breed type for thousands of years, this is important information about what the foundation of the AraAppaloosa looked like and there is no denying that the original Arabian was spotted.

Spotline purebred Arabian horses can be traced to the parti-colored purebreds of the Arabian Desert that had white spots or other spotting along with white sclera, some mottled skin and/or striped hooves, all of which are characteristics that make the Appaloosa breed unique. Although some experts do not agree that these characteristics on an Arabian horse are the result of Appaloosa genes, it is generally agreed that the genes that produce such color features certainly complement the Appaloosa. The AraAppaloosa also displays the "leopard" or "Lp" gene and therefore must have one of the color patterns found on the Appaloosa horse, such as tobiano, overo, and sabino. The gene for roan is also useful in attaining the optimum color in the AraAppaloosa.

The AAFBI supports those breeders who cross Arabian bloodlines into their foundation-based Appaloosa breeding stock, creating what they consider to be the original type of Appaloosa horse since the backgrounds of the both the Arab have much in common. AraAppaloosa breeders are trying to keep alive the true type of the Appaloosa as a refined, elegant, athletic and colorful horse with the AraAppaloosa of today being considered a re-establishment of the best examples of the Appaloosa breed as originally developed by the Nez Perce people of the Pacific Northwest in the 18th and 19th centuries.

So, an AraAppaloosa with one purebred Arabian parent may be registered as a half-Arabian with the Arabian Horse Association. Additionally, since the Appaloosa breed still has an open stud book to horses of Arabian breeding, many AraAppaloosas can also be registered with the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC). However, they also have their own organization, the AraAppaloosa and Foundation Breeders' International, where they can now be registered as their own breed, so it is not unusual to find an AraAppaloosa that has been triple registered.

The AraAppaloosa averages between 14 and 15 hands high and have the general physical conformation of the Arabian horse, including the refined head, the high-carried tail and the overall elegance. The overall impression of an AraAppaloosa will be that of a more refined build than the more common type of modern Appaloosa that has a high percentage of American Quarter Horse breeding which means that the AraAppaloosa is usually lighter and more athletic than the Appaloosa.

Like both the Arabian and the Appaloosa, the AraAppaloosa horse has considerable endurance, sure-footedness, intelligence and a fiery and spirited temperament. With the careful blending of the bloodlines of these two breeds, a most amazing AraAppaloosa can be produced.

With the future of the AraAppaloosa leaning more toward sporthorse competition, many horses are now participating in endurance racing, 3-day eventing and dressage. The AraAppaloosa is a fine Appaloosa of great Arabian quality; with all the color, elegance, performance ability, and stamina that one could want.


About Crystal Eikanger
Crystal Eikanger is a freelance writer, web designer, video editor and voice talent working as Ei-Kan Productions on www.rentacoder.com as well as other freelance sites. www.HorseClicks.com is a popular website filled with classifieds of horses for sale, horse trailers, tack, and horse related properties.

The Irish Sport Horse - Untangling the Confusion

The Irish Horse, also known as the Irish Hunter, Irish Sports Horse or Irish Draught Sport Horse is the result of a cross between the Irish Draught Horse and the Thoroughbred. It has not yet been given recognition as a separate breed, but it is commonly bred from Irish Sport Horse parents, as well as being bred from crossing the definitive parent breeds.

In North America, this cross is called the Irish Draught Sport Horse and in Europe it is known as the Irish Sport Horse, and there is a reason for the difference in names.
The Irish Draught Sport Horse as recognized in North America by the Irish Draught Horse Society (IDHS-NA and IDHS-Can) is a crossbred animal with a portion of registered Irish Draught in the pedigree. Only the cross with a registered Irish Draught horse is classified as an Irish Draught Sport Horse.

The Irish Sport Horse as recognized by the Irish Horse Board (IHB) in Europe is a horse of any breeding which may or may not have any Irish Draught blood in its pedigree at all. As an example, an Arabian crossed with a Thoroughbred; a Thoroughbred crossed with a Connemara; a pure Thoroughbred or the Irish Draught and Thoroughbred combination may all be classified as being an Irish Sport Horse, even when there is no Irish Draught Horse blood in the animal at all. Ireland produces a large number of these Irish Sport Horses each year, many of them selling for high dollar amounts in the United States and Europe.
The Irish Draught Sport Horse is not a special breed, and it is not just a product of an American breeding program but rather it is just a new name to be used for educating the public about the Irish Draught Horse that is becoming so common in many of the top performance horses.

The Irish Horse is traditionally an all-purpose equine and has been used for transportation, riding and working the land. Its natural athletic ability and fantastic jumping talents means that it is becoming increasingly popular as a competition riding horse. It excels in the show jumping arena, as well as competing at the highest levels of eventing. The Irish Draught Sport Horse is globally renowned for being one of the best fox hunting mounts in the world and has a tremendous gallop with plenty of speed. While there have been other crossbred combinations that are showing promise, it is still the Irish Draught Horse with Thoroughbred cross that has achieved world-wide recognition in the Grand Prix circuit and in the eventing world. This cross is not only a top caliber international athlete, but is a perfect novice mount that can boost the confidence of a lower level rider.

The Irish Draught Horse Society of North America was established in 1993 to assist in the conservation and appreciation of the Irish Draught Horse and its successful crossbred: Irish Draught Sport Horse throughout the world and it maintains the studbooks for qualified Irish Draught and part Irish Draught horses in North America.

With over a century of selection in shaping the original Irish Draught Horse, a very sound, sensible animal with good bone and substance, great stamina and an uncanny jumping ability was produced. It is these qualities that, when crossed with the Thoroughbred, produced the world renowned Irish Hunter that is now known as the Irish Draught Sport Horse.

The Irish Draught Sport Horse has the sense and honesty of the Irish Draught with an excellent temperament of calmness, yet lively when needed. This even temperament, durability and power of the Irish Draught when crossed with the speed and athleticism of the Thoroughbred creates a horse that can handle the demands of modern day competition. Some Connemara is also found in the pedigrees of some Irish mares.

The Irish Draught Sport Horse stands 15 to 17 hands high and comes in any color. It has a large attractive head with a convex or Roman nose profile and a slightly arched, muscular neck. The back is short and compact and the high withers of the Thoroughbred are sometimes seen.

Whether the cross is known as an Irish Draught Sport Horse or an Irish Sport Horse if there is Irish Draught in the pedigree, it's likely to be a great horse.


About Crystal Eikanger
Crystal Eikanger is a freelance writer, web designer, video editor and voice talent working as Ei-Kan Productions on www.rentacoder.com as well as other freelance sites. www.HorseClicks.com is a popular website filled with classifieds of horses for sale, horse trailers, tack, and horse related properties.