[Little Red Dun]

What is a "Nez Perce Horse"?

I thought the Appaloosa was the Nez Perce Horse (since the tribe created them originally didn't they?), but I just saw an add for a stallion listed as a "registered Nez Perce Horse", in addition to being an Appaloosa Sport Horse. So what exactly is a Nez Perce Horse?

[Top Dun]

the new Nez Perce horse is an Ahkle Teke Appaloosa cross
Nez Perce Horse Registry

The Nez Perce is striving to regain that fine horse through their Appaloosa - Akahl-Teke cross.

[Little Red Dun]

I see. Thank you.

I'm a little confused as to why they don't just breed the Foundation Appaloosas. Aren't they closer to the original type? This seems like starting from scratch, but some of them are quite beautiful, I admit.

I always thought Akhal Tekes were gorgeous horses, though not exactly "ideal" when it comes to conventional conformation.

[Sandra-A1]

The horse's the Nez Perce are trying to breed today are their attempt to bring back the spotted horses of their ancestor's, not the modern day version the breeders of the AHC registered horses produce.
The uncontrolled out crossing to other breeds, especially the American Quarter Horse, has caused a severe loss in special conformation that the spotted horses of the Nez Perce Tribe used to have.

The spotted horse of Chief Joseph's days was a greyhound type of equine with lean head and neck, high withers, good bone, and not muscle-bound.
Meriwether Lewis described the Appaloosa in his journal dated February 15, 1806: Their horses appear to be of an excellent race: they are lofty, elegantly formed, active and durable: in short many of them look like fine English horses and would make a figure in any country".

Their breeding program is also part of an educational, and economical program, for their tribe and it's youth:

The Nez Perce Horse, administered by the Nez Perce Young Horsemen Project will re-establish the Nez Perce as the leaders in horsemanship. The Young Horsemen Project is dedicated to recruiting Nez Perce youth, ages 14-21, to learn the art of good horsemanship, horse management practices and the economic opportunities via horses.

[Top Dun]

no even the 'foundation" horses are still pretty cross bred. If you look at Joker B he's 'foundation" appaloosa by registration designation, but basically QH by bloodlines. there are several other " foundation" horses like that Such as Wapiti, Bright Eyes brother. etc.

It all started Way back when the federal government saw fit to kill the original herds of appaloosas that were taken from the Nez Perce. The few that did survive were then cross bred to draft horses and or donkeys for mules so very few true Nez Perce Type horses ever survived. Then during the drive to "re-create" the breed they allowed crosses to Arabians TB's and QH and for a while basically allowed any colored horse to be hardship registered as long as it didn't look like it had paint or draft breeding. There are appaloosas that carry Morgan blood and standardbred blood and Walking horse blood and almost everything else. Even the " Foundation" appaloosas of today don't resemble the True Appaloosa of the Nez Perce

Originally Posted by Little Red Dun

I see. Thank you.

I'm a little confused as to why they don't just breed the Foundation Appaloosas. Aren't they closer to the original type?

[Sue B]

There is also some indication that the govenment turned drafts and bad conformation horses out with any herds of escaped Native American horses....to breed out their good qualities.

When I was a kid...a friend had one of these "grey hound" looking Apps. Back then...we called them "old style" as opposed to the newer "foundation" horses like Joker B. This horse could run like the wind, was so kind and even tempered a kid could ride him...easy gaited....and the color was indescribable....such a mix that when we took a picture of him against the colored trees of fall....you could barefly see him. Without a rider...he would have disappeared into the colors.

[Little Red Dun]

Thank you all for the information.

I didn't realize that Foundation Appaloosas were not really the original types. I had them grouped with Foundation Quarter Horses, which are supposed to be closer to the original type.

I didn't realize the Appaloosa had been changed so much from its original form. That's very sad and I'm glad the tribe is working to be able to recreate the original type. I always like the look of Akhal Tekes and the added bonus of spotted patterns is rather beautiful.

[Horsey Girl]

I own three Nez Perce horses and they are wonderful. They are smart like Appaloosas (I am a former Appaloosa owner.) and gentle and sweet like the Akhal Tekes. The body type is long and lean and very elegant. Two of my boys have blankets and they all have the incredible sheen of the Akhal Teke on their coats, like liquid metal. The best thing though is the disposition. The handbook of the Nez Perce Horse Registry says, "Obedience, wiilingness to work and elegant, flowing and elastic movement are dominant characteristics of the Nez Perce Horse breed." The gentler you are with this breed the more amazing they become. They are so willing to please they will practically read your mind to get it right. I was a long time Appy owner, but now I am so devoted to the Nez Perce Horse, I applaud the Tribe for breeding this incredible horse.

[luvs2ride79]

Originally Posted by Little Red Dun

I see. Thank you.

I'm a little confused as to why they don't just breed the Foundation Appaloosas. Aren't they closer to the original type? This seems like starting from scratch, but some of them are quite beautiful, I admit.

I always thought Akhal Tekes were gorgeous horses, though not exactly "ideal" when it comes to conventional conformation.

That's the point. They are trying to get back to the original conformation of the Nez Perce people. Most "foundation" appaloosas still have a good deal of QH and TB blood in them. Crossing an Appy with a Teke is thought to get a horse that looks more like what the Indians were riding 200 years ago, though likely taller .

Similarly, my Anglo Arabian gelding (TB dam, Arab sire) looks a LOT more like the original Arabians being bred in the middle east historically than ANY of the Arabs on today's market, lol.

~Barbara

[CowGirlUp1833]

Akhal Teke cross!?!? Wow...thats one I wouldn't have thought of. I know modern apps are a far cry from the origional Appaloosa bred by the Nez Perce...but I wouldn't think an Akhal Teke/App cross would be a close replica..... Huh.