Print size 17″ X 22″, Image Size 11″ X 14″

This print has been in storage since 1967 and has slight discolorations around the print border which does not distract from the beauty of the print and would be easily covered up when matted and framed.

Warrior Leopard, 1956. Owner, Earl Boyles. Standing at Bo-Mar Farm, Lexington, KY.
A fine example of the Appaloosa, a breed rapidly gaining in popularity with equine admirers, is Warrior Leopard, who stood his first full stud season in 1959. Mr. Boyles has one of the few Appaloosa herd in the East, but there are a number scattered throughout the West. The largest, numbering over 250 head, is located in Nebraska; and other sizeable groups may be found in Texas, Colorado and the Northwest.

Of Spanish origin, the Appaloosa is a colorful breed, both in looks and in historic background. It was developed chiefly by the Nez Perce from stock they acquired trading in Mexico. They were one of the rare Indian tribes to practice gelding and selective breeding. Lewis and Clark admired their horses on the famous expedition of 1805.

The true versatility of the breed was revealed in 1877, when Chief Joseph refused to make a new treaty with the United States government and attempted to lead his tribe to Canada. For 1,500 miles of the roughest terrain the tribe trekked with all their possessions, and fought off the U.S. Cavalry in repeated skirmishes. They depended solely upon their Appaloosas for transportation, hunting and fighting throughout this epic journey, which ended only when the Nez Perce were surrounded and captured in Montana’s Bear Paw Mountains, 50 miles short of the Canadian border. The Appaloosas had proved so far superior to Calvary mounts that military authorities decided it would be too dangerous to allow the Indians to keep their horses.

Local ranchers took some of the Appaloosa stock, and crossed it with Percheron blood to obtain horses strong enough to buck the snow drifts of Montana winters.

Later the breed was allowed to deteriorate, and it began to revive only with the organization some 75 years ago of the Appaloosa Horse Club. Recently, though, its popularity has been soaring; and many major horse shows now include classes for Appaloosas. Their strength, stamina, speed, agility, sure-footedness, intelligence and kind disposition have led to their use for working livestock, pleasure riding, parades, rodeos, polo-playing and lead ponies at the Thoroughbred tracks.

The distinguishing characteristics of the Appaloosas are their beautiful markings, particularly a “blanket” or spotted area over the hind quarters, around the rump and along the flanks. Some are spotted all over and there a few solid-color Appaloosas. Some members of the breed tend toward a blue or even roan cast.

Among other leading Appaloosa stallions of the present days are Gus and Virginia Oettermann’s Chief of Fourmile in Texas, Cecil Dobbin’s Bright Eyes Brother in Colorado, and Candy Anderson’s Little Britches K.