WHAT’S
WRONG WITH
THE “APPALOOSA” HORSE INDUSTRY
IN CANADA?
A commentary by Rick Hemmett
About the author
With almost a half of a century experience as a horseman, the
author is a long time Appaloosa breeder. He is also, a retired ApHCC judge,
internationally successful multi-breed professional trainer, clinician and an
Inductee into the ApHCC Hall of Fame in the Builders of the Breed category.
Many of the opinions expressed in this article are in direct
contrast to the financial interests of the author but reflect his beliefs on
what is required to advance the cause of the Appaloosa Horse.
“Appaloosa
is a color…not a breed!”
“Appaloosa is not a breed.
It is specific colors, consisting of genes that modify the base coat color of
the horse and contribute the other recognizable characteristics such as
mottling, striped hoofs, sceleras and occasionally sparse manes and tails”.
Recent genetic research
has identified the gene responsible for these modifications and to call a horse
without this gene an Appaloosa is misleading. It can be likened to calling a
sorrel a blue roan. Without color, a chestnut is a chestnut, not an Appaloosa.
A black is a black…not an Appaloosa. And on it goes. The previously mentioned
contrasting colors and characteristics are the only specific traits that
identify the Appaloosa as unique.
For example, lets
consider a 31/32 Quarter Horse, 1/32 “Appaloosa”. It may have Appaloosa
coloring and if so, it possesses at least one Appaloosa color gene. Genetically
it is 96.7% (almost pure) Quarter Horse and its color and characteristics are
the only significant things that make it an Appaloosa.
Appaloosa Not an Appaloosa, but a sorrel.
Grand dam of horse to the right Daughter of a
colored stallion and a solid “Appaloosa” mare, she possibly carries a recessive
Appaloosa color gene.
Fact
The definition of a breed is as
follows: A distinctive type with common characteristics which reproduce
themselves generation after generation.
The current definition of the Appaloosa horse falls short in
this department. In fact, the AQHA
and numerous other so called “breeds” do not meet the criteria either. Many
others do... The Arabian, Thoroughbred, Morgan, Clydesdale and even the Fjord
horses are easily identified because there is a uniformity of characteristics
evident in their appearance. Not co-incidentally, their registries are closed
to outcrossing.
It is widely accepted that the “Appaloosa” is a light horse
suitable for riding and light harness. However it varies from 14 hand heavy
muscled “bulldogs” to refined 17+ hand “thoroughbred” types of animals, so it
lacks a defining type of conformation. Therefore the Appaloosa does not meet
the definition of a breed.
It is a fact that consistent type and color will only evolve by
limiting the gene pool to horses of a certain type that are homozygous for the
Appaloosa color gene. And of course this means limiting the gene pool by
closing the books and then selectively breeding for the desired
characteristics. These issues must be addressed immediately in order to be of
any benefit in the near future. The
longer we procrastinate, the more damage is done.
A purebred is easily distinguished by its unique
characteristics. We need only look at Hereford, Jersey or Black Angus cattle to
see the differences between these breeds. The same holds true in the world of
dogs. We can all differentiate between a French Poodle, a Collie and a Black
Labrador. Using the latter as a model, all Black Labs have very similar
conformation, are similar in size and black in color. After approximately
eighty years as a registry, why do Appaloosa Horses not yet meet the criteria?
Is it apathy or a misunderstanding of the basics of genetics that is causing us
to drag our feet?
Those familiar with genetics know that dominant and recessive
genes (genotype) are responsible for the traits an animal exhibits and if these
genes are not present, the traits (phenotype) are not available. Some solid
colored horses do carry a recessive Appaloosa color gene…a gene that by its
nature is not manifested in visible traits.
If two of these recessive horses are bred to each other, then a double
recessive may be produced and it may exhibit visible traits.
Quarter Horses occasionally exhibit this “outcrop” phenomenon
with Appaloosa or Paint colored foals produced by two solid colored parents.
Misinformed people like to think that this proves the Appaloosa or Paint gene
is strong. But in reality an ancestor or ancestors of the colored foal
contributed the gene(s) responsible for the trait and they were just lying in
recession, waiting for the right genetic combination to allow the expression of
the color.
Other solid colored horses in the Appaloosa and other registries
do not carry any Appaloosa color genes and it is therefore impossible for them
to produce Appaloosa color unless bred to a horse with a color gene. Research
indicates that few spot leopards and snowcap blanketed Appaloosas are dominant
homozygous for Appaloosa genes and will produce color on every offspring so
they are the obvious choice for a solid to be mated with if 100% color is
desired.
Under present conditions, solid colored horses can be of value
as breeding stock if bred to color producing individuals. Some of the most
vividly colored Appaloosas are the offspring of one solid parent.
Fact
Traditionally, the Appaloosa is a horse of
color!
The original Appaloosa Horse Clubs were established as
registries for colored horses, and the solids inadvertently produced were
relegated to breeding stock status. These solids could be used for any purpose
other than approved Appaloosa shows or racing but were not Appaloosa colored
and therefore were not identifiable as Appaloosas. Many were discarded as grade
animals at reduced prices but the integrity of the Appaloosa was preserved and
the Industry prospered.
Fact
When the Appaloosa horse was recognized as a
horse of color,
the Appaloosa was the third largest
registry on earth.
This color inclusive system created an identity for the
Appaloosa. Short-sightedness, misinformation, ignorance and sometimes
self-interests allowed this system (which worked well) to be dismantled. The
results were to the detriment of the organizations and the promoters of the
true Appaloosa. Although mostly well-intentioned, the powers that be were
looking for a solution that appeased the solid argument and they incorrectly
re-defined the Appaloosa horse. We can no longer afford to perpetuate the
misconception that solid colored horses are Appaloosas.
Fact
There was and can again be a large demand for
these distinctively colored individuals if we re-establish the identity of the
Appaloosa as a colored horse.
As proof of the logic of this argument, we only need to look at
the rapid growth of the Paint Horse industry. The Paint is promoted as a stock
horse type with a distinctive coat pattern. In most respects, the Paints,
Quarter Horses and Appaloosas of today are almost identical in conformation,
type and appearance, with the exception of coat patterns. Although a much
younger registry, the Paints have surpassed the Appaloosa and become the second
largest registry on the planet by promoting their colorful identity. Paint is a
multi-colored horse and no knowledgeable horse person would identify a solid
colored horse as Paint.
In these times, many solid “Appaloosas” are mistaken for Quarter
Horses or Thoroughbreds. This further supports the argument that without color,
the Appaloosa-bred horse is not identifiable as a distinct breed. Basically, we
gave away the farm when we started calling solid colored horses Appaloosas.
To further substantiate the argument for desirable colors, the
American Quarter Horse Association, (possibly perceiving a threat from the
Paints?) is now allowing outcrop Paints from two AQHA parents to be recognized
as Quarter horses. They are also now allowing Quarter Horse produced cremellos
full status. The fact that cremellos are homozygous and can consistently
produce duns, grullas and palominos obviously factored into this decision. The
largest registry in the world is recognizing the advantages of producing
distinctive colors and has taken steps in allowing their registry to adapt.
This allows their breeders to access the genetic tools that consistently get
desired colors. I would expect that outcrop Appaloosa colored Quarter Horses
will also be granted the same status. How will this change in Quarter Horse
color standards affect the AQHA, Paint and Appaloosa registries in the future?
Only time will tell. Possibly, we are headed for a single AQHA stock horse
registry with all colors being accepted in the future.
Fact
When the Appaloosa horse was recognized as a
horse of color,
it had an identity and the public
accepted it as a unique animal.
In the heyday of the Appaloosa, it was internationally
recognized as a colored horse of the stock type. It appeared on the covers of
the most prominent magazines of the day. The spotted horses were visible in the
movies and on television. Major show classes often exceeded one hundred horses
in one class. To the vast majority of the population, the Appaloosa was and
still is a colored horse, in spite of what we have allowed our Associations to
erroneously determine the definition to be.
Fact
By showing and exhibiting solid colored
horses and representing them as Appaloosas, short term advantages were derived
by a few, but the true Appaloosa colored horse and its promoters suffered major
and possibly irreversible setbacks.
In order to win in the show ring or on the racetrack, many
influential individuals spent and continue to spend large sums of money
outcrossing to the popular Quarter horses and Thoroughbreds of the day. When a
solid foal was produced, and could not be exhibited or raced, it represented a
large financial loss. Thus the pressure to allow solids to be recognized as
full status Appaloosas was lobbied for and obtained. This resulted in the
Appaloosa horse losing its unique identity.
The outcome of this devastating decision is that the general
public did not buy into the re-definition and quickly became disinterested in
seeing “just another Quarter Horse” or becoming involved in a “breed” without a
unique identity. The buyers decided if
they were going to have a solid colored horse, it might as well be a Quarter
Horse that had much more market appeal than a solid colored “Appaloosa”. How
long will the Appaloosa industry keep its head buried in the sand before
acknowledging that a solid colored horse is NOT an Appaloosa?
Many will argue that we need
outcrossing to improve
the quality of the Appaloosa colored horse.
The effects of this logic are many. In the past we have gained some superior traits,
but at this point in time, the Appaloosa horse can and must stand on its own
merits. With selective breeding, we are able to produce a product as good as
our competitors and have the color as a bonus. Furthermore, outcrossing dilutes
the Appaloosa gene pool and can also introduce unfavorable traits such as the
Impressive Syndrome (HYPP).
If a breeder wants to gamble on outcrossing, that person should
be willing to take a loss on a solid colored foal as part of the cost of doing
business and not insist on hurting the whole Appaloosa industry by
misrepresenting his product as an Appaloosa. If he gets color…he wins. If not, he should not be allowed to exhibit
it as an Appaloosa in approved Appaloosa events. Leave it at home and it may be
of benefit in his breeding, using or Open Horse Show programs. If this option
doesn’t appeal to the breeder, get out of the Appaloosa business and breed
solids in another breed.
Specific interest groups will argue that outcrossing brings in
speed or conformation. No breed of horse
can be all things to all people, so this argument while having some merit,
dilutes the Appaloosa industry. Does an Appaloosa have to be the very fastest?
Should it look just like a Quarter horse? Does its’ speed and/or conformation
have to come at the cost of losing its identity?
Where is the logic in holding a competition for Appaloosa Horses
if the majority of the entries are really mostly of Quarter Horse or
Thoroughbred lineage and are not identifiable as Appaloosas?
Excessive outcrossing dilutes the Appaloosa genes, puts money
into the pockets of the competing breeds and weakens our financial position in
the market places. From an economic point of view, with outcrossing breeding
fees and the related monies associated with these and many other segments of
the industry are lost to the Appaloosa interests. As financial resources are
filtered out of the Appaloosa Industry, working capital is lost and
opportunities disappear. Many Appaloosa breeders have lost heart and gone out
of business.
Outcrossing further gives the impression that our “Appaloosa
breed” is inferior and needs improvement from the other breeds. We are, by
these actions, telling the consumers and the world that our horses are not as
good as those we are outcrossing to. And the Appaloosa industry suffers as a
whole.
Many will argue that history shows that many outcross horses
have been phenomenal. Granted, but who is to say that if the resources spent on
the promotion of these part-breds would not have had equal or better results if
poured into a pure Appaloosa.
We have had eighty some years of outcrossing. Enough is enough!
What is the current status of the
Appaloosa industry in Canada?
I do not know of one person in this country currently making a
living off exclusive Appaloosa breeding or training operations and this
eventually hurts all Appaloosa devotees.
Without readily available support services, any industry is
doomed to collapse. Many Appaloosa breeders have fallen by the wayside or
changed to breeds they can make a living with. In western Canada, the number of
professional trainers appearing at Appaloosa competitions is exceptionally low
and entry numbers are generally very discouraging. Prominent breeders and show
people are dropping out.
The Canadian Appaloosa magazine itself is proof of the decline
in the Canadian industry. Formerly a monthly publication, it is now printed
tri-annually because the industry apparently cannot presently support a monthly
format. With the curtailment of this valuable communication tool, we are at a
great disadvantage. Without regular
communication, this Association is bound to further erode and possibly
collapse.
What’s next? Cut backs in office staff or higher service fees to
maintain the status quo? Continued dwindling markets for Appaloosas? Where is the logic in allowing the collapse
of the organizations that represent the Appaloosa, leaving no organized venues
to promote the horses? Now is the time to address the issue, close the books
and start the reconstruction of the Appaloosa Industry before it is too late.
By closing the books, will we gain more
than we loose?
Definitely. Let’s explore
some pros and cons.
PRO
CON
What effect would these changes have on
the Appaloosa industry?
To re-affirm, the long term effects will again position the
Appaloosa as a uniquely colored light horse. It will be identifiable. With
product identity (the basic factor in marketing), the demand for colored horses
will return. The value of Appaloosa horses will increase and breeders, dealers
and trainers will again be able to make a decent return producing quality
colored horses.
How would we deal with the solid
outcross horses being bred presently?
Any horses of approved outcross breeds currently in Appaloosa
breeding programs could be issued an Appaloosa breeding stock number and
identified as acceptable for the balance of their life span. In this way,
breeders currently using these other breed animals would not be exposed to a
financial hardship by having to disperse of these animals. This is a compromise
to the timing in achieving the end goal of developing the purebred Appaloosa,
but it seems the only fair way in dealing with the effects of past
policies. The end result will still be
the purebred Appaloosa, but this compromise will add a generation or two in the
timing. Obviously no new outcross stock will be allowed from the date the books
are closed.
How would we deal with the solids being
shown or raced now?
These horses would continue as acceptable for their lifespan and
eventually all the solids would disappear from the public’s eye and be replaced
by colored horses. This “grandfathering out” is the only fair way in assisting
solid owners with the transition back to color and correcting past mistakes.
Obviously no new solids would be admitted to show or racing status, except in
separate categories such as breeding stock or part-bred classes or races.
Note: I currently show
some of my solid colored horses. Obviously, I would be disappointed if I had to
leave them at home in the future because it would cause devaluation in their
value as show horses and negate some of my investment in them. However, for the
betterment of the breed I would willingly accept the losses if it was decided
to disallow the exhibiting of solids as Appaloosas. I know that in the long
run, this is the right thing to do to re-establish the viability of the Appaloosa
industry.
What are workable solutions to
re-establish the Appaloosa?
Option 1
Correctly define the Appaloosa as a
colored horse of the light horse type.
These
steps will eventually lead to a uniform type along with a homozygous color gene
pool … color will again become the recognizable trait of all Appaloosa horses.
The Appaloosa can then be legitimately recognized as a breed.
Option 2
Continue incorrectly defining the
Appaloosa as a non-color specific breed which is the current situation.
This
short sighted option has already proven that it will not improve things. In
fact it continues contributing to further declines in true Appaloosa numbers.
Breeders are less concerned with getting color if a solid is as acceptable as a
colored and so the percentage of colored horses being produced continues to
decline.
Option 3
Define the Appaloosa as a color and
record only colored horses of light horse type regardless of parentage.
This
is not a sound option for the betterment of the Appaloosa.
Conclusions
To paraphrase a philosopher, “those who
do not learn from history
are doomed to make the same mistakes”.
Option 1 is the only long term solution to advancing the cause
of the Appaloosa horse and its promoters. Many of its components have proven to
be successful in the past and with this knowledge, we have the opportunity to
correct the previous mistakes and implement progressive changes.
Option 2 has proven not to be effective. In fact it is counter
productive. Appaloosa breeders and many organizations of today are struggling
to survive because without color, the Appaloosa Horse is not identifiable!
Option 3 would not improve the “breed” or help to define it
because type would not be uniform.
What if the American based and other
foreign registries
don’t recognize these advancements?
At this point, they do not recognize Canadian Appaloosas as their
equals anyway. It is believed by many that the American registry would like to
be the only registry for the “Appaloosa” and have complete control over the
direction of the future of the industry. Sadly, they have proven incapable of
maintaining this previously vibrant industry.
Our organization is The Appaloosa Horse Club of Canada. We have
no control over what the others do. The
American organization’s short sighted policies have led to many of the
situations we now face. We have
compromised the Appaloosa’s identity in order to appease them in the past and
we have suffered for it. They first
allowed the solids to be “recognized” as CPO Appaloosas. We followed suit. They
allowed genetic faults into their gene pool (HYPP), which we went along with
for a while but have now eliminated. And after all of that, now they do not
recognize Canadian papers to breed or appear in their approved competitions.
They will however take our money and issue “American” papers to these same
horses and then recognize them as one of their own. None the less, at this
point in time, there is nothing to stop the Canadian breeders from dual
registering their “Appaloosa” horses if they feel there are certain benefits to
be gained by belonging to both organizations.
It is long past time for Canadians to
follow our own path.
We need to promote regional and National development of Canadian
Appaloosas through product identity, promotion and competition. An example of how
far we have fallen is the fact that in the “days of color”, Alberta with the
most horses of any province in Canada, had five thriving ApHCC Affiliated
Regional clubs…now there are two. We had a Provincial Show of Champions…now
there is none. In the past, I personally made a decent living in the Appaloosa
industry…now I supplement my Appaloosa business and operate at a loss. The
numbers of Appaloosa breeders have drastically decreased in the last two
decades because the demand for Appaloosa Horses has dwindled significantly.
Revamp the show system!
We must reassess the numbers of classes offered in a day. For example eighty classes in a twelve hour
period breaks down to an average of about 9 minutes per class and often doesn’t
allow enough time to show case the animal’s abilities. Fewer classes with more
pomp and ceremony would contribute to bringing the audiences back to the show
rings. Awards presentations must become spectator friendly with multiple judged
classes awarded separately. During my judging career, I often heard complaints
from spectators who couldn’t keep track of the winners and left disappointed.
Those who chase points will object to this format, but their
concerns could be alleviated by revamping the point system to make the qualifications
for Awards less stringent. With travel expenses constantly rising and the costs
of showing becoming a financial burden to many, we must look at workable
alternatives if we are to preserve the Show Industry.
Changes in venues must be implemented in order to expose the
Appaloosa to new audiences. For example, in Alberta, at present, there are two
or three ApHCC approved Circuits and two are held in Claresholm. These shows do
not attract any noticeable number of spectators for various reasons. Primarily
Claresholm is a small town and its residents have had decades to be exposed to
the Appaloosa. They are not flocking to see the Shows. We need new enthusiasts
in order to stimulate growth, so we must plant the seeds of interest in higher
populated areas.
We need our own ApHCC World Championship Show and we need it
now! We then could, over time, develop a system of qualification for future
World Championship Shows through ApHCC approved venues. This will help promote
that all important Regional development and give World wide validity and appeal
to our Canadian Appaloosa Horses.
We must continue to insist that all horses competing in ApHCC
shows meet Canadian standards and in addition they must have Canadian
registration papers. Appaloosa Horse Club of Canada events must feature
Canadian registered horses exclusively. Many American horses are eligible for
Canadian papers and if Americans want to take advantage of our prestigious
events then they must recognize, contribute to and join our registry. The added
advantages of increased revenues and growth in numbers are obvious.
We must stop assuming the position of “second fiddle” and start
promoting Canadian! Currently, our National Show is in reality, an
International Show that allows and even encourages the competing registry
members to take advantage of our venues, while generally speaking, giving
little or nothing in return…other than their attendance.
We need to support and prioritize Canadian judges in Canadian
events in order to keep them in the system. When any judge at our prestigious
Canadian National Show is from out of this country, it is an affront to our
passed over Canadian judges. After intense personal sacrifice and expense to
become an approved ApHCC Judge, it is disheartening and insulting to be passed
over for an American who has not gone through our system. And if there is a
shortage of Canadian judges, could this be one of the reasons? Canadian judges
deserve the recognition and the prestige of presiding over our biggest shows.
Check out the current judges list and you will see that there are more approved
American judges than the total number of Canadian judges in the four western
provinces. This is not to say the Americans are not qualified, but they have
not contributed to our system and should not be given preference over those
that have. Imported judges should only be used if no Canadians are available.
At this point I wish to make it clear that I am not
anti-American, but I am pro-Canadian when it comes to advancing the cause of
the Canadian Appaloosa Industry and those that support it. We are in
competition with the American registry at this time so why are we still
allowing Canadian resources to be sent south of the boarder with members of
that organization?
Develop the Canadian Market!
In order to grow, we need to steer our own course and set our
own standards, disregarding what happens south of the 49th parallel. When we are successful, the American ApHC may
eventually recognize the fact that we have the right idea. Then, in the future,
reconciliations may occur.
We must take care of our Canadian interests and stop
over-emphasizing international markets.
I estimate that the foreign markets constitute less than two percent of
total Canadian sales and yet we seem to be tailoring many of our organizational
decisions to appeal to this insignificant market at great expense and
inconvenience to the majority.
Re-establish the Appaloosa identity!
Until the Canadian Appaloosa re-establishes its colorful identity
and is again thriving in Canada, it will never have any significant local,
national or international appeal.
In closing, there will
always be Appaloosa colored horses produced throughout the world from countless
gene pools. Because of the nature of things, no organizations or persons will
ever regulate or control all of these global factors. However these other Appaloosa colored horses
do not have the unique physical traits exhibited by the North American horses
which have evolved over the last century or so.
We
have it in our power to make “our” Appaloosas the standard by which all others
are compared. We have it in our power to be honest with ourselves, recognize
the problems and take on the responsibilities of re-establishing the Appaloosa
as a quality horse of unique color.
We are currently on the
wrong path and the longer we stay on it, the more time it will take to
backtrack and get on the correct road to a prosperous future.
Future generations of
Appaloosa owners will be indebted to us for our foresight…
Definitions
Homozygous: Carries two
genes in a pair for a certain trait
Heterozygous: Carries one
gene for a certain trait and one gene for another trait in a certain pair
Dominant: Overshadows
or is the stronger gene of a pair, manifests its trait
Recessive: Less
dominant or weaker gene of a pair only manifests its traits when paired with a
like recessive gene.
CPO: Certified
Pedigree Option
HYPP: Hyperkinetic Periodic Paralysis,
a.k.a. The Impressive Syndrome. A mutated gene that involves cellular dysfunctions causing symptoms from
negligible muscle tremors to death in extreme cases.
ApHC Appaloosa Horse Club, located in
Moscow, Idaho, U.S.A. Original Appaloosa registry.
ApHCC Appaloosa Horse Club of Canada located
in Claresholm, Alberta, Canada. Canadian
counterpart to and formerly a recognized affiliate of ApHC.
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