Horse
Pronunciation:
ap-pen-dix ‘quar-ter hors
Breed Description:
The Appendix Quarter Horse breed of horse usually has a smaller quite refined head with a non-dished nose and a compact, well-muscled body with large, well-rounded hindquarters and a relatively wide, strong chest. They can also be taller and leaner if they get more of the Thoroughbred influence in their pedigree.
The Appendix Quarter Horse is actually a cross between a Quarter Horse and a Thoroughbred. Specifically, it is the result of a first generation cross between a Quarter Horse registered with the AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association) and a Thoroughbred that is registered in the appendix of the AQHA studbook. The term “appendix” came about because the resulting offspring is registered in the appendix of the AQHA studbook rather than in the main portion of the studbook.
The Appendix Quarter Horse is well known as a very versatile horse. These horses excel in the show arena, as a rodeo competitor or as an all-around cherished family horse. You will often see Appendix Quarter Horses in the rodeo arena competing in the timed events like barrel racing, calf roping and team roping. Appendix Quarter Horses are also popular as dressage horses, show jumpers and even event horses.
Temperament:
The Appendix Quarter Horse breed of horse has a good temperament and are relatively easy to train.
Height:
The Appendix Quarter Horse breed of horse usually has an average height of 14 to 16 hands. However, you can also see heights of 17 hands in horses in the English disciplines of dressage, show jumping and eventing.
Weight:
The Appendix Quarter Horse breed of horse can weigh anywhere from 800-1400 lbs.
Health Problems:
The Appendix Quarter Horse breed of horse has several genetic diseases that should be noted.
Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP) is caused by an autosomal dominant gene linked to the stallion Impressive. Some symptoms include uncontrollable muscle twitching, paralysis and debilitating muscle weakness.
Hereditary Equine Regional Dermal Asthenia (HERDA), also known as hyperelastosis cutis (HC) can also occur in this breed. This disease causes a problem with the skin where a collagen defect results in the skin literally falling apart where the layers won’t hold together. This tearing can result in the skin disintegrating and even tearing off completely.
Equine polysaccharide storage myopathy, also called EPSM or PSMM, is a metabolic muscular condition in horses that causes tying up and is also related to a glycogen storage disorder.
Living Conditions:
The Appendix Quarter Horse breed of horse is a hardy breed, well adapted for all kinds of living conditions. They tend to be easy to please, maintain their weight well on a normal amount of food and can tolerate severe weather even without shelter.
Exercise:
The Appendix Quarter Horse breed of horse benefits from regular exercise. Whether it’s trail riding, working cattle, running barrels or jumping fences, this breed thrives on working with their owners.
Life Expectancy:
The Appendix Quarter Horse breed of horse has an average life span for a horse. Depending on management and environment, these horses can live to 25 or 30 years of age.
Grooming:
The Appendix Quarter Horse breed of horse can have a variety of hair coats depending on what characteristics they inherit. The horses that get more of the Thoroughbred influence tend to have very thin, shiny coats, don’t grow much hair in the winter and need to be groomed fairly gently because they can be ticklish. The horses that have more of the Quarter Horse influence can have fairly thick coats, especially in the winter, and can tolerate a stronger grooming. Like all breeds of horses, the Appendix Quarter Horse requires daily grooming to ensure coat health and shine. In addition, they should have their feet cleaned out daily.
Origin:
The Appendix Quarter Horse breed of horse is the result of crossing Thoroughbreds with American Quarter Horses.
American Quarter Horses are a multi-use breed that was created by early colonists on the east coast crossing their imported English Thoroughbred horses with a variety of North American “native” horses used by Native Americans that themselves were descendants of horses imported by the Spanish Conquistadors.
Once the settlers started heading west in the 1800s, they really needed a tough, hardy and willing horse to help them conquer the west. As they moved west they discovered the native Mustangs and other types of horses that had been developed by the tribes of the Great Plains. Once the pioneers discovered that their new crossbreed could handle cattle, work all day and was easy to deal with, the American Quarter Horse was well on its way to becoming the most popular horse in America much like it is today.
In 1940, the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) was formed by a group of ranchers who were looking to preserve and protect the bloodlines of their precious working ranch horses.
The Appendix Quarter Horse was created when the AQHA allowed performance tested Thoroughbreds to be included in the studbook and the resulting offspring of a AQHA registered Quarter Horse and an AQHA registered Thoroughbred were designated as Appendix Quarter Horses.
