Appaloosa | Krapfontein
Die Appaloosa is ‘n perderas wat bekend is vir sy gesogte kolpatroon tesame met ander uitstaande fisieke eienskappe. Alhoewel bewyse bestaan van gekolde perde so ver terug as tot in die Paleolitiese era in Europa, het die Nez Perce Indiane van die Amerikaanse Noordweste hierdie besondere perd ontwikkel. Blanke setlaars het op ‘n stadium na hierdie perde as “Palouse horses” verwys, waarskynlik weens die feit dat hulle in die omgewing van die Palouserivier wat deur die sentrum van die Nez Perce grondgebied loop, aangetref is. Die naam het geleidelik na Appaloosa verander. Die Nez Perce Indiane het die grootste meerderheid van hul perde in die Nez Perce oorlog van 1877 verloor en hierna het die perderas byna uitgesterf, was dit nie vir ‘n klein groepie toegewyde telers wat die ras laat voortleef en uiteindelik in 1938 ‘n telersgenootskap gestig het nie. Vandag is die Appaloosa een van die gewildste perderasse in die VSA en is ook die amptelike staatsperd vir die Idaho staat.
Die Appaloosa se kleurpatroon is baie interessant deurdat oorerwing aan die sogenaamde “Lp” of “Leopard” geen of geen-kompleks gekoppel word maar die presiese oorerwingsmeganisme en patroon word steeds nie volkome verstaan nie.
Die Appaloosa is ‘n sterk perd wat bekend is vir sy uitstekende, gematigde temperament, lae onerhoudsbehoefte, gehardheid en uithouvermoë, wat hom ‘n ideale plaasperd vir vir ‘n veeplaas maak.
The Appaloosa is a horse breed known for its preferred leopard-spotted coat pattern and other distinctive physical characteristics. While there is evidence of leopard-spotted horses dating back to the Paleolithic era in Europe, the Nez Perce people of the American Pacific Northwest developed the American breed. They were once referred to by white settlers as the “Palouse horse”, possibly after the Palouse River which ran through the heart of Nez Perce country. Gradually, the name evolved into “Appaloosa”. The Nez Perse lost most of their horses during the Nez Perce war in 1877 and the breed fell into decline for several decades. However, a small of dedicated breeders kept the Appaloosa alive for several decades until a registry was formed in 1938. Today the Appaloosa is one of the most popular horse breeds in the USA and it was named the official state horse of Idaho in 1975.
The Appaloosa is beste known as a stock horse used in a number of western riding disciplines. The colour pattern is of great interest as it is linked to the “Lp” or “leopard” gene or gene complex, but the precise inheritance mechanism is not fully understood.
The Appaloosa is well known for its excellent temperament and hardiness. It is sturdy, good-natured, sure-footed, hardy and of low maintenance. This makes it an excellent horse for use on a stock farm.