Horse Breeds: Appaloosa, AraAppaloosa, Arabian, Ardennes, Argentine Criollo, Asturian

LOOSA*breeders, and today's Arabian will never be mistaken
Easily recognized from the spots and splashes offor another breed of horse. It can be rode English or
colors over their coats, the Appaloosa breed areWestern saddle, shown or used for trail riding. The
unique and beautiful from the inside out. Appaloosa'sArabian's appearance consists of a dished profile and
are extremely versatile, and have set records in speeda prominent eye, small muzzle, and large nostrils. They
on race racks, earned high honors in dressage, games,have graceful, arched necks, and a broad chest.
roping, endurance, jumping and reining- and even makeArabians carry their tail carriage high. The horses
wonderful family horses due to their gentleness.weight between 800 and 1,000 pounds, stand about 15
Appaloosa's are eager to please their owners andhands tall, and are usually grey, bay, chestnut or roan in
have gentle dispositions.color.
The name "appaloosa" came from white settlers that*ARDENNES*
arrived in the Northwest Palouse region in the 1700's.Although there is no complete records on the
They began calling the spotted horses by "palouseArdennes breed, it is thought that they were
horses" for groups of them, and for a single horse, "Adescended from heavy draft horses that were often
palouse horse". Then name was shorted and slurredpraised by Julius Caesar in De Bello Gallico. Napoleon
to "appalousey" and then eventually, "Appaloosa" wasvalued the breed for their endurance. Sometime during
born.the 18th century, Ardennes were bred with Arabian
More than half a million Appaloosa horses areand Belgian Draft blood in order to increase their
registered with the international breed registry, and thestrength and size.
Appaloosa Museum and Heritage Center which isEssentially, the Ardennes breed is a lighter version of
located in Moscow, Idaho. The breed is so popular,the Belgian Draft Horse, bred in the mountains. Black
they have their own monthly magazine: "TheArdennes are rare, and cannot be registered with the
Appaloosa Journal".Ardennes registry. Most Ardenne horses are chestnut,
*ARAAPPALOOSA*palomino, bay, or gray in color.
AraAppaloosa is a breed that dates back many, manyArdennes are not only capable of working in rough or
years- although the horse registry is fairly new withinhilly terrain, they are also calm and tolerant in disposition
the United States. The AraAppaloosa and Foudnationand are economical to feed.
Breeders International supports breeders who mix*ARGENTINE CRIOLLO*
Appaloosa horses with Arab bloodlines. The spottedAlso known as the Argentine Landrace, or Criollo, the
horses were seen in early Middle Eastern andArgentine Criollo is found in Uruguay and Argentina. It is
Egyptian Art, making the spotted horse one of theused as a light riding horse.
earliest, identifiable distinct breeds. The spotted horse*ASTURIAN*
was of the Arab breed, which dates back severalAn extremely rare breed of horse, the Asturian is
centuries.small, with a heavy head and a straight profile. They
Arappaloosa horses are Appaloosa's with greathave moderately high withers and a long deck with an
quality, having stamina, performance ability, goodextremely flowing mane that often grows to cover
termperament and multiple coloring.their eyes. the Asturian originated in Northern Span and
*ARABIAN*stands about 11-12 hands in height.
The Arabian horse has very romantic tales associatedThe Romans referred to the Asturian as asturcons,
with their beginning. Bodouin tribes living in the desert,and the horses were popular during hte Middle Ages
believed horses were a gift from God. The Arabianwith the French. The horses do not really trot, but
horses were known to "fly without wings". Breeding ofrather they move with an easy gait and alternately
Arabians was done carefully, to create horses thatmove their legs on one side. This gait makes the
could withstand the desert terrain, and tribal wars.Asturian a comfortable riding horse, and have been
Arabians were bred strong, with stamina and courage,popular as ladies' mounts. Sometimes referred to as a
as well as speed."hobby horse" throughout Ireland, France and England,
Europeans imported Arabian horses to cross with theirthe breed is admired greatly.
native breeds to improve their saddle horses. ArabiansMany believe the Asturian is a breed developed from
are all around the world now, and most breeds havecrossing a Garrano pony from Portugal and Spain with
Arabian blood.the Sorraia, a saddle horse of Iberia.
Arabian horses were kept pure by the Bedouin