GE ING TO KNOW... WAL LOOSA

From the Walkaloosa Horse Association, https://walkaloosaregistry.com/

Although the Walkaloosa Registry is fairly new, the Walkaloosa horse has been around for centuries.

Appaloosa breeders claim to have the oldest recognizable breed known to man, a claim which is backed by drawings of spotted horses in the pre-historic ice caves of France. Paso Fino breeders consider theirs to be the oldest breed in the Western Hemisphere; the ancestors of the

Paso Fino came to the New World with Columbus on his second voyage from Spain. The Paso Fino horses were the preferred mounts of the Conquistadors; Paso Fino literally translated is “smooth gait,” and some of those horses also carried the spotted coat patterns of what is known as the Appaloosa today.

As horses made their way north, the Nez Perce Indians eventually claimed them and wisely preserved their color and smooth gait through selective breeding. They were very proud of their spotted horses and well pleased with how these versatile horses could move their households quickly without undue jarring of belongings or riders.

These horses eventually became the horse of the rancher, who appreciated the unique gait, calling it the Indian Shuffle. Cowboys were said to be willing to pay up to $50.00 more for a “Shuffler” because the easy gait saved wear and tear on the cowboy and his gear, as it had for the Spaniards and the Indians before him.

With the large percentage of Quarter Horse, Arabian, and Thoroughbred in today’s Appaloosas, many breeders today have never even heard of a “Shuffler.” The Walkaloosa Horse Association was founded in 1983 to preserve the history and pedigrees of these fantastic pleasure, work and performance horses.

The disposition of the Walkaloosa is typically gentle, kind and willing. They are suitable for amateurs. They are outstanding pleasure and trail mounts. They are typically used for field trials, pleasure riding, range work, cattle work and the show ring.

To be eligible for Walkaloosa Registration, a horse must meet the following criteria:

1. It must be the progeny of a registered Walkaloosa stallion and a registered Walkaloosa mare, OR, be a horse of verifiable Appaloosa and gaited horse blood.

2. Be a horse showing Appaloosa coloring. Patterns include, but are not limited to, Leopard, Blanketed, Roan and Snowflake.

3. Demonstrate the ability to perform an intermediate gait other than the trot (such as rack, foxtrot, running walk, singlefoot, pace, etc.). The gait must be certified by a veterinarian or professional trainer on the application form, or a video of the horse gaiting can be sent for evaluation.

Horses that do not show Appaloosa color characteristics in pictures taken from at least ten (10) feet or that do not gait are eligible for “ID” registration (identification breeding purposes) papers only.

Julie Lamberton, from Waymart, Pennsylvania, had a great competition year in 2022. success. Her longtime partner is Seabreeze Savajé Vaquero, aka Cowboy, an 18-yearold Paso Fino gelding. She took some time to talk with us about her horse and her riding accomplishments.

Sound Advocate: Could you tell us about your riding background?

Julie Lamberton: I started taking lessons at nine years old. My parents made me pay for them, so after a couple years I ended up having to stop. In college, I studied Equine Pre-Vet at Otterbein University. While there, I was on the Western riding team, and I also started taking dressage lessons. While in college, I worked at a horse rescue place and ended up adopting a thoroughbred. I started getting into low level dressage with this horse.

SA: How did you get involved with gaited horses?

JL: I got into gaited horses a few years after college. I found this barn, RONO Ranch, where I still currently work, ride and train horses. They are primarily a Paso Fino facility, but all breeds are welcome, and we teach an all-round style of riding. It was here that I fell in love with the Paso Fino breed.

SA: What were your accomplishments in 2022?

JL: Last year I was the Eastern Zone Champion for Working Equitation at