The British Appaloosa Society

Cat & her family are from Malvern, Worcestershire, where they live with Snow who is 13.2 16-year-old Welsh x British spotted pony, Cat’s first 'owned' pony. She is an all-rounder family pony and such a character, a typical mare. She has taught all four of Cat’s children to ride.

Then they have Rosie, 36" full reg British spotted pony. Rosie is their son's therapy pony and does long reining, carriage driving and showing, she is small but mighty. Their last girl is newbie Star, who is 5 and again a British spotted pony cross. She is very green, and they are hoping to train her for showing/driving in the future if she takes to it, ATM they are building trust and bonding.

Their son has rare genetic conditions with special needs and disabilities and loves carriage driving, so they spend a lot of time helping friends with their horses and they like to go to Carriage driving events as it is a very sociable pass time. They often take Rosie to join in. 

Cat has said “We just love spotty equines, and also spotty dogs as we have three British spotted ponies and a Dalmatian. Snow our biggest spotted pony is only one hand from being an appaloosa, if we find her some stilts, we can sneak her in as an Appy”

“We joined the society about 7 years ago, around the time of our first British spotted pony Snow arriving. They really love doing the pleasure awards scheme, photo competition's and also looking forward to taking part in the treasure hunt scheme too”.

Charlie and Mr Bojangles live in the North of England in the Lake District. They feel very lucky to have moorland, beaches and fells within riding distance or within just a short journey. They can be in Grizedale Forest or overlooking Coniston very quickly!!

They joined BApS at the end of 2023, after getting a recommendation to join due to the Society accepting non-appaloosa membership, and so they are joining in the Pleasure Scheme. They really thrive being out on adventures and are thrilled to be able to do the Treasure Hunt too!!

Charlie and her husband have had Mr Bojangles for 9 years and he has become an integral part of their lives. They are part of the team at South Lakes Horsemanship where Boue is used as a school master helping to develop the next generation of riders. They also enjoy horse agility, western riding and Equiagility.

The family can be found out every weekend and are often joined by the South Lakes Horsemanship, Appaloosa….DOG, the rescued Dalmation, Ruby. Together they cover miles.

Mr Bojangles had a traumatic accident a few years ago and he was lucky to survive. But with the love and care of Charlie and her husband and the fabulous environment in which they live, they soon had him fighting fit again and have vowed to make the most of any opportunities they get. Through this rehabilitation Charlie’s husband firmly embedded his relationship with Boue, despite choosing not to ride.

We are thrilled to have you join as a non-appaloosa owning member and thank you for your support.

One is never enough is it?...or so they say!

I started properly with horses about 11 years ago when we moved from Oxfordshire back to Wales, now living in Powys Mid Wales on our small holding. My wife’s friend had a horse locally for loan and we had the chance to ride that, but he was sold on before we could properly get to riding and also, he was a bit green. In the meantime, my wife found a local ex riding school RDA horse for sale and after a viewing and a chat we became the new owners of an Irish Sports Horse…. aka Jess. Jess was a 16.2, 15-year-old bay mare had been their and done it all, which was just right for us. For my 2 daughters who had not ridden at all and myself who had not ridden since 1999 was going to be an eye opener.

So, after a mad and stressful entry (that’s a race in its self as the site crashes a lot) we got a place, Jess and I. Not knowing what to expect and having never done a competition on a horse, this was probably not the first one to try out on, but hey, what could go wrong?

On the day Jess had woken up to be a different horse from our happy hacker to fire breathing Bay monster. We had to start at the back so not to get in the way of other horses while we waited for the runners to start first. With 10 minutes wait we were then led off down the road until we went off road and the race began. So that’s 700 plus runners, 59 horses ahead of us, we did ok. Jess settled to a good pace, and we finished 36th over all and 16th horse home. That was to become the start of our yearly event.

The next year Keri and I did it together on May and Jess, and the following year Keri did it on May by herself as my new horse wasn’t ready. Keri takes great pleasure in reminding me that her cob beets an Irish sports horse in just over 3 hours while Jess was 3 hours 20 minutes (twice)….(remember these times..)

So, my new, back then horse, Diva, or Ruby Cruise Diva by Blood a Chestnut mare at 16.1 was quite a challenge. After the honeymoon period of ‘I’m not listening’ , the kicking out, the rearing, the napping, bucking and the odd biting we soon got on well and this is where after being on hack1000 Facebook  group I saw a post about BApS and the pleasure ride challenge. I signed up Diva and May to start with in 2020, Jess was now becoming semi-retired as she was getting on a bit.

On March 13th at 2pm we lost Lady May to colic, and she died in my arms which as you can imagine broke all our hearts, especially Keri’s. Jess took over the challenge for May but didn’t do too many miles that year and Diva and I continued up until June 2020 which she covered 84 hours 36 minutes.

One of her last ever ridden rides Diva bolted on the road and after having her checked out, poor girl was diagnosed with Kissing Spine, her days were numbered. As the result wasn’t in favour to operate, she was destined to be pts that winter. Fortunately, this was 4 years ago and Diva over the 6 month to winter had mellowed and is still with me now (2024) and a happy companion to her best friend Casi.

Casi is also a local Welsh D and was to become Keri’s new pony, at 13.1/2 she is very cheeky but adorable and loves a good scratch. She came to us in September of 2020 as a green but ridden pony, so needed a little work.

2 months after having seen Casi, Bali came to us as my replacement for Diva. Bali is a 16.1 Chestnut Arab x Dutch Warmblood mare who loves her job as an endurance horse. Bali, like any new horse, had ‘the discussion’ where we humans normally see dirt after being bucked off, and boy she has a buck. Once we sorted what that issue was, she didn’t like the saddle so a new, bespoke saddle was fitted and the bucks stopped, simple as that.

In2022 Bali was entered into MvH, her first time in this race, but she did do a few EGB rides beforehand with me. She likes to stick around other horses which isn’t a problem but not on MvH as I wanted to be competitive.

I really need not have worried as about quarter way through she knew what was required and enjoyed passing other runners and a few horses. 700 runners and 55 horses started, and she finished 2nd horse passed the finish line only pipped to the post by a horse length, we dis this in 2 hours 22 minutes….so guess who was bragging back!!

Celebrations were sadly cut short, as 3 days later my poor Jess broke her leg and had to be PTS which broke my heart as she was my first owned horse and we had so many adventures.

Bali did MvH again in 2023 and again she knew her role far better this time round, but the weather was hot and tough. We came in first at the half way vet check with second and third horses a few minutes behind, these where seasoned EGB riders at a high level and they left before me to continue the race. But when I went out (3rd now) we caught them up and when crossing the finish line all 3 of us went for it but Bali hadn’t the legs to pass and came in 3rd place…but only just behind 1st and second! A true champion in my stable.

With a lot of endurance rides at novice we had now achieved the right number of passes to class as open, which means higher miles, but in August Bali was hit by a car which resulted in our season stopping, as well as the hacking and BApS challenge. 6 stitches in her fetlock and a swollen leg but thankfully no new tendon injuries. 

Under vets’ instructions it was in hand walking to keep her moving for a few weeks, which is easier said than done with an endurance horse that likes to go go go. In November we were able to start riding in walk only and as of February we are walking 2 hours on a hack with no issues.

In 2022 my wife saw a horse she liked and (as you do) we went to view; this would be a replacement to May as Casi is too small for the Mrs. Ellie a 15.3 Cob x TB skew mare came home, she’s still new and has bags of character and is boss of the other mares. She is currently restarting work with the winter off as I was concentrating on Bali and my wife wont ride on the road by herself.

In the 11 years or so we have had horses we have had the big ups and downs, the tears of laughter and sorrow and I can not see ever not having a horse in our field. With only having lessons at the age of 26 and only in a school for 2 years and not being able to get canter correctly back then, with a 14 ish year brake from riding until we moved to Wales I think I’ve done ok, all my horses have taught me how to be the horseman I am now.

I have joined BApS for the 5th year again with the added bonus of doing the treasure hunt which will be more adventures for Bali/ Ellie and me. This year’s goal - I’m hoping to walk up a local mountain with Bali, it’s been on the wish list for years but never got round to it.  

I used to be involved with the Pass Wide and Slow campaign and ran 3 rides locally over the years. I have taken a step back from all this, but I will always support the cause.

We all need to do our part to keep other riders safe.

Thank you Mike for being part of the Society with your horses and family.