appaloosa cross for eventing?

[flypony74]

I evented a 14.3hh bright white leopard Appy for many years, and was proud to be her person for 27 years. For what she didn’t have in stature, she had in heart, and she never met a XC jump she didn’t want to tackle, with jumping form that George Morris couldn’t fault. She was super athletic, sure-footed, and until the day she died, she was certain that I was going to put her on the trailer and take her around Rolex! She was insanely smart and could be a bit stubborn, but she showed me the meaning of a true partnership by complementing my strengths, and compensating for my mistakes.

My friend has an Appy/TBX that she’s evented him at Prelim for years. He is a super solid citizen and just a really cool horse. She has a couple of younger Appys that she is bringing up that I hear are doing pretty well. Appys are smart, hardy, versatile horses, and a lot of them have a great jump!

[Groom_amp_Taxi]

Derek DiGrazia won Rolex with an Appaloosa TB cross in 1985 (and I was there!)

http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/tbt-sasquatch-ruled-rolex-kentucky-30-years-ago

[snoopy]

[QUOTE=Blugal;8443980]
Learn something new every day. I would have sworn I’d seen (multiple times) him named an Appaloosa.[/QUOTE]

So did I. I was “schooled” otherwise by another here on COTH some years back… The horse is off the track as well!

[AKB]

Some appy’s are prone to uveitis. Make sure you get a good eye exam as part of the prepurchase. Good vision is important for an eventer.

[kiwifruit]

Thank you all for your insight! My biggest concern is of course, the prepurchase. Finger’s crossed!

[rascalpony]

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 can’t remember who this might have been, but there was one in the early 2000’s at Advanced - Naughty by Nature. Not only was he an Appaloosa, I believe he was also pony sized. I had his issue of Practical Horseman somewhere because I thought he was so cool. I can’t remember who his rider was, or if he actually went to Rolex. I just remember that he was a Canadian horse, and he was awesome.

Appaloosas! Woo! As long as he’s safe over fences and enjoys his job, who cares? Spots always add a little extra pizzazz

[NoDQhere]

The right Appy is an excellent choice for many people. They tend to be sensible and sound, perhaps a bit stubborn, but very trainable and have a good work ethic.

I evented an Appy through Intermediate. He had very little TB blood and was not big at 15.2 but he could jump the moon. Never took a lame step and when he was sold at 13 had the cleanest x rays the Vet had ever seen.

We are breeding Appy/Warmblood crosses for sport with the intention of producing a quiet minded horse suitable for the AA, in pretty colors! Our Appy stallion has virtually no QH breeding and the foals look great. The oldest will be 2 in 2016 so we’ve a ways to go.

[yellowbritches]

Do be warned, appys are kinda evil geniuses. If you can harness that genius, it is awesome! But when left to their own devices, things can get exciting. My old dude is an absolute menace at almost 30 because he has gone basically feral. It’s hilarious and obnoxious all at the same time. When he was working, he was usually quite good and easily swayed into doing stuff, but he liked doing fun stuff and hated mindless repetition and would make it exciting.

[crimsonsky]

[QUOTE=NoDQhere;8444405]
The right Appy is an excellent choice for many people. They tend to be sensible and sound, perhaps a bit stubborn, but very trainable and have a good work ethic.

I evented an Appy through Intermediate. He had very little TB blood and was not big at 15.2 but he could jump the moon. Never took a lame step and when he was sold at 13 had the cleanest x rays the Vet had ever seen.

We are breeding Appy/Warmblood crosses for sport with the intention of producing a quiet minded horse suitable for the AA, in pretty colors! Our Appy stallion has virtually no QH breeding and the foals look great. The oldest will be 2 in 2016 so we’ve a ways to go.[/QUOTE]

Your appaloosa stallion is quite the looker!

[devvie]

“I can’t remember who this might have been, but there was one in the early 2000’s at Advanced - Naughty by Nature. Not only was he an Appaloosa, I believe he was also pony sized. I had his issue of Practical Horseman somewhere because I thought he was so cool. I can’t remember who his rider was, or if he actually went to Rolex. I just remember that he was a Canadian horse, and he was awesome.”

I’m a fan of Naughty by Nature.

He’s still out and about at prelim level in Ontario, being ridden by Grace Emmett this past season, and going to the provincial champs. He’s got good sense, rhythm, and a jump. I covet this horse.

Oh, and look, here’s a video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1qEw_tLwdU

[HiJumpGrrl]

Friend of mine evented one (and his cross was an arab/percheron if I remember correctly) through intermediate and **. HOW COOL IS THAT?

[Jenerationx]

[QUOTE=devvie;8444840]
“I can’t remember who this might have been, but there was one in the early 2000’s at Advanced - Naughty by Nature. Not only was he an Appaloosa, I believe he was also pony sized. I had his issue of Practical Horseman somewhere because I thought he was so cool. I can’t remember who his rider was, or if he actually went to Rolex. I just remember that he was a Canadian horse, and he was awesome.”

I’m a fan of Naughty by Nature.

He’s still out and about at prelim level in Ontario, being ridden by Grace Emmett this past season, and going to the provincial champs. He’s got good sense, rhythm, and a jump. I covet this horse.

Oh, and look, here’s a video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1qEw_tLwdU[/QUOTE]

What a neat little guy!

[dog_amp_horsemom]

One of my favorite jumpers was an App and that fact that he was western trained is probably a bonus!

[yellowbritches]

[QUOTE=devvie;8444840]
“I can’t remember who this might have been, but there was one in the early 2000’s at Advanced - Naughty by Nature. Not only was he an Appaloosa, I believe he was also pony sized. I had his issue of Practical Horseman somewhere because I thought he was so cool. I can’t remember who his rider was, or if he actually went to Rolex. I just remember that he was a Canadian horse, and he was awesome.”

I’m a fan of Naughty by Nature.

He’s still out and about at prelim level in Ontario, being ridden by Grace Emmett this past season, and going to the provincial champs. He’s got good sense, rhythm, and a jump. I covet this horse.

Oh, and look, here’s a video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1qEw_tLwdU[/QUOTE]

I remember cheering him on at Fair Hill!

[drawstraws]

OP, do you happen to know his bloodlines? I’m just curious if he comes from app show bloodlines or something different. Has he shown on the app circuit?

[snoopy]

Bonanza’s Little Dandy. Went advanced or at least OI with Torrance and was national junior champion with Terry or Cindy or Susie Irwin. This was about 1974 or so.

[findeight]

These days, with so many breeders crossing with QH types and selectively breeding for the show ring, the Appy types we used to see out there are increasingly rarer. The last good Appy Jumper I knew recently passed in its mid 30s.

I know there are some out there but OP needs to be careful the horse has the conformation for the job she needs.

[Sing_Mia_Song]

I’m dating myself, but how about That Odd-Colored Horse of Molly Bliss’?

[vagabondrider]

When I was a kid, there were 3 Appaloosas on the area VI NAYRC team (2 star long format only at that time, there was no 1 star at the time). I can’t remember if they were the same year or just within a couple years of each other. Sarah Vandenberg on Cattywampus (she later won the NAYRC individual gold on another horse & went to Pratoni in Italy for the European YR I believe), Matt Brown (who was top placed US rider on a USEF funded trip this fall- Boekelo? Blenheim? Can’t remember) on Maximum Speed, and Gina Ostini (Miles) (Olympic silver medalist & team regular with McKinlaigh) on Southbound were all Californians on appaloosas for the Area VI team.

Other notable appy eventers I remember: Joyce Brown on Spots Off (on the cover of the USCTA rule book in the mid 90’s), H Appy USA with Yves Sauvignon (competed at advanced in Area VI) & Fleet Makani with Parisa Bastani (competed to intermediate & I believe did Radnor?)

[kiwifruit]

Well, he didn’t quite work out so back on the hunt! Thanks for the great responses! Good to know about Appys!