So after looking for a very long time for a prospect, I found something unconventional, an app/QH/TB cross. He is supercute with just a little bit of a snowflake or two on his rump to make him look different. He is making a career change from the western world to eventing. My first time with this type of horse. I’m usually drawn to the TB’s or Warmbloods but this guy was pretty special when I tried him out. Any other appy crosses eventing out there? If so, how are they doing? Can they jump?
My husband has an Appy/ TB cross. She was a field hunter when he got her … 15.1 but was a first flight horse… Not a hilltopper. My current ride is a Paint/ TB cross. He free jumps 4 1/2’.
There have been many appaloosas and appy crosses who event. Lisa Cook had a couple of pure ones and loved them.
Any issues with them making the transition from the western trail to English/eventing?
If he walks trots and canters, answers your seat and legs so that bending and suppleness for dressage isn’t a problem. If he has done the western trail competitions, or is calm about things going on around him, and is able to jump, he will do.
I’d start him off slow, so he gets to understand his new job.
Just remember, it’s not the breed, it’s the horse.
Plenty of appies in eventing. A famous one from years past was Red’s Door ridden by Torrance Watkins at upper levels.
sunhawk on these forums rode an appy for quite a few years at Training level, he had nice form and was a little guy (I think in the 15.1hh range).
When I was a YR I got the ride on a former 3* appy for a year; he’d been converted from the appy racing world.
You’ve had good responses here already.
I’ve been associated with or owned a number of appys over a long period of time. I currently don’t have one, but not because I wouldn’t like to LOL. I have a softness for spots. I had one that couldn’t jump, but he was a great lead pony at the track. Most of the rest of the ones I’ve been associated with, or known, have been very good jumpers. My main interest is appys with at least half TB blood, but have seen others who apparently do not have this much, or any at all, and they also have been good jumpers often. It gets to the point that one must think that there is SOMETHING that often “comes with the spots”, that is useful for jumping pursuits. IMO that thing is a “pony” type character… smart, athletic, quick, and brave. Sometimes too smart for some people to be able to deal with. IMO, crossing that with a TB to give you a bit more size and gallop can get you a superior sport horse for jumping pursuits.
In terms of switching careers, it depends on what sort of western training he has been given. Some is very much on the forehand, hind end not well engaged. Other western trainers don’t do this. So take a look at the situation and act accordingly.
I too am an appy fan. I have not evented one but bred a couple that way. Julie Memler of Topaz Farm here in Georgia has very successfully evented her Appy stallion Collected Remarks, now deceased; is still eventing his son, Tangled Up in Blue, and has another son, Romeo, she is just getting going with. She’s on FB and did have a web page.
My daughter is currently riding a 14.2hd liver chestnut with a blanket POA gelding and he’s a great little horse. I find them to be smart and versatile with good gaits. They can sometimes be a bit on the hardheaded/stubborn side, but their hearts are generally in the right place. I like the Appy/TB crosses alot. The foundation bred Appaloosas with size are real finds too.
Despite the fact there aren’t nearly as many of them, seen quite a few that were great jumpers in good competition over the years. BUT they were the foundation type with good, useable conformation for many jobs, even had actual spots. Not the overstuffed show ring shufflers built for big butts, low heads and short strides. And no spots.
Going to depend on the basic conformation of this horse. Link to some pictures or vids and/or get somebody who is experienced with jumpers to evaluate his potential. Cannot tell by what is in writing or his purported breeding or by how pretty, cute etc he is.
Aww. One of my favorite horses was an appy that crossed over from western gaming. She was at the lesson barn I was at as a teen, and I got to school her over fences and then she sold to a pony clubber. I miss that horse.
Wasn’t there a solid appy that went around Rolex back in the mid-late 90s? I remember having the Practical Horseman cover he was on taped to my bedroom wall.
I event my almost foundation Appaloosa gelding and find he’s quite suited to the job. Of course, he was started under saddle with eventing in mind so that might have something to do with his abilities thus far (as in no retraining, etc.). I get asked quite often if he is a cross and happily answer no. 
Good luck with your spots!
I had a purebred app in the past and although he didn’t event(did show hunter stuff) he was a cute jumper and mover. He wasn’t speedy, but he was a smooth, fun ride.
Red was a full TB. Red’s Door, grey gelding, 16.3h.h. Thoroughbred, s. Swinging Door, d. Miss Tribal"
He did have the colouring on his face that would suggest he was, in part, Appy.
Wasn’t there a girl on this board who had a horse named fleckenawesome? Very nice appy! She had others as well. I think her name was holly. Epona cowgirl had a cute little app. I’m not sure he went about BN or N. Still a good boy!
I love appys. They hate me however. I can’t for the life of me ride one well. I’ve been trying for years.
I have an AppX large pony who was a trail horse before I got him. His biggest issue was that he was taught when you touch the bit (it was always a western curb), you slam on the brakes and back up. So teaching him to first accept consistent contact then half halt through his back took some time. But he’s wickedly smart, has 3 wonderfully balanced gaits and loves jumping. Actually he loves everything, life is an adventure to him and he has an enormous sense of humor. I’ve always believed that Apps have springs in their hind ends and he’s no exception. He’s currently on trial and is very likely to become a Pony Clubbers dream horse. If I find another like him, I would not pass him up, he’s been an absolute blast.
Friend of mine used to have a 17.2 leopard appy. He could JUMP–would bounce one stride combinations, barely tried over Prelim tables–and eventually did 3rd and 4th level dressage (though how she put him together I will never know). He wasn’t brave over ditches and never quite got over that fear, so he didn’t go beyond a few Trainings–but otherwise he would have gone pretty far. If you think he has the talent and the heart, go for it!
[QUOTE=snoopy;8443581]
Red was a full TB. Red’s Door, grey gelding, 16.3h.h. Thoroughbred, s. Swinging Door, d. Miss Tribal"
He did have the colouring on his face that would suggest he was, in part, Appy.[/QUOTE]
Learn something new every day. I would have sworn I’d seen (multiple times) him named an Appaloosa.
Mark Todd’s Broadcast News (was that his name?) was an appy. Looked like a TB, and I remember reading something about Toddy always being a little embarrassed when people found out what he was. He was a mighty fine event horse.
My old dude is an appy (out of a QH mare, if I remember correctly). He did not event at a very high level, but was a dandy little eventer. He could put in 3 good phases, even in his 20s, and never left an event without a ribbon. I don’t think he ever had a rail. My old coach agreed with me that had he and I come to eventing much sooner than we did, he would have probably gladly toted me around a one star. He wasn’t super duper scopey, but was game, wicked smart (too smart), and all heart. And freaking adorable.
FlexkenAwesome doesn’t post much, but she has eventer her Fleck through prelim (I think he’s an appy/TB cross) and has her youngster, and Appy/ISH following in his foot steps. Both are super nice.
A good appy is a great horse!
Not eventing but the lady who bred my horse also crossed the same Clydesdale stud to some Appys, and a few of them are foxhunters. Mine is a Clyde/Paint and I plan on eventing.
Where I was a working student they had an older leopard app as a schoolie who did low level/local everything, barrels, hunters, dressage, whatever you wanted as long as he could do the pony strides. 
There’s an appy at my barn now who is mostly retired but he was an eventer, I think they got to training before his owner stopped riding.
First horse I evented through Prelim was a solid Appy. He wasn’t much of a mover but man was he brave and could he ever jump! I’d take another good one in a heartbeat.
