[Busterzkool]

Appys don't have manes and tails right? Well short ones at least...b/c i know they characteristically don't have long manes and tails. I just bought a pure bred and he has a short mane and a very short tail (the hairs come about 4 inches past the tail bone). But how come some appys have long manes and tails even if they're purebred?

[Love2TrailRide]

well first off, there arent any PUREBRED appaloosas. And secondly, from what I know even appy's with many generations of appaloosa x appaloosa breeding can have long long manes and tails. Take the stud Pratt Sully Fire. He is 93% appaloosa and he has a VERY long mane and tail.

[Love2TrailRide]

Here is Pratt Sully Fire
http://www.d-rea.com/sullyfire.htm

[Busterzkool]

so then what seperates a registered appy from a non-registered one?

[Top Dun]

The Original Nez perce appaloosas have a different genetic make up thne the current general registry appaloosa horse. The Old foundation bloodline appaloosas have more of the old nez perce original bloodlines in them and they have dfferent genetics then the moddern appaloosa. The majority of currently registered appaloosas may be cross bred with QH, TB or Arabs. There is NO purebred appaloosa because there are no appaloosas that have a minimum of 8 generations of Appaloosa to appaloosa breeding. EVEN with some foundation breeders working toward this goal, at the moment the closest they have gotten is to have a 6 generation appaloosa to appaloosa breeding with no cross breeding to other breeds in those 6 generations.

As for manes and tails, that is totally dependant on the individual horse and not as a general rule the same with every single appaloosa.

[CanadianWrangler]

That is dependant on the specific appaloosa club/registry you are applying to. All have basic requirements of breeding, and color.

Here is a link that list various appaloosa registry sites, and on thier sites they will have the requirements to meet thier registry. http://barnlot.tripod.com/registries.html

[denise davis]

I have always heard a true appaloosa had the short, and thin mane and tail, and it is listed as such in my dictionary. But I have seen many who didn't have the "appy tails".
Those leapards are gorgeous. I am going to start looking for my appy after selling a couple of the mustangs I adopted in July. My dream has always been to buy a black appy with white blanket. But I have always loved the leapards too.

[ejforrest]

From the Appaloosa museum:
The Nez Perce Appaloosa looked very much like the Appaloosa of today. The major difference between them, is the Nez Perce Appaloosa had a very sparse mane and taile sometimes beign referred to as "rat-tailed". Through cross breeding with Arabians, thoroughbreds, and quater horses, the Appaloosa has developed very full manes and tails.
More on Appaloosas go to:
www.appaloosamuseum.com
write to them at: museum@appaloosa.com
www.thehorse.com

[CowGirlUp1833]

Well, I have a full blooded app mare and she has a thick beautiful mane and her tail touches the ground...so not all of them lack hair.

[Shotgun93]

We had an appy mare that had a beautiful long thick tail. But, she had a total of about three hairs on her main. I just always kept it shaved, otherwise she looked scraggely.