The Early Years Ferras as a horse and said he weighed By John Hess 1,050 pounds, stood about 14-3 and had When Claude J. Thompson was in his a good frame and he was not a dainty teens his father gave him a colt out of dish faced horse but had a straight facial their mare Julie. This colt profile with an acceptable stock horse stayed deep in his memory. He was a conformation. His son Red Eagle, is real piece of horse flesh for a young kid proof of that. It is evident that while to own. He was called ‘Dude’ because Claude would line breed to intensify the he was so handsome. Claude promised Painter strain, he did so carefully. His himself that someday he’d have the best best broodmare Painter’s Marvel F-47 herd of spotted horses in the country. was out of a daughter of old Painter. To Claude grew up and carved out a produce Red Eagle F-209 his finest & prosperous wheat ranch. He was now best product. Claude mated Painter’s ready to keep his boyhood promise. He Marvel to her paternal grandsire, Ferras. crisscrossed the northwest looking for Very few Horsemen have accomplished the lost breed. After months of searching this much in so short a time. He he finally got a few mares nothing fancy recognized that you must breed for a and he continued his hunt for a good type with compatible individuals. He stallion. He found the stallion he was bred Appaloosa to Appaloosa. He looking for near Fossil, Oregon. His considered the Appaloosa to be a breed. name was Old Painter he belonged to The color was a breed characteristic. His Fred Busby. Claude leased the stallion use of Ferras reflected his belief that for a year and purchased his 18 month Arabian and Appaloosa genes were old colt, Young Painter. In the mid compatible and secondly this was the 1920s he started his own breeding quickest genetic shortcut he could take program. How these stallions were used for the refined character. His advice on shows Claude Thompson well outcrossing is clear “Where the Arabian understood what he had studied about blood is not available, it may be genetics. As he looked over his first foal advisable to use Morgan or crop he could see they had one fault in blood where individuals common. They lacked the refinement may be found that have Arabian he’d remembered seeing in the characteristics and saddle confirmation. of his youth. He studied Eventually outcrossing will be pedigrees and breeding charts and finally discouraged and perhaps discontinued selected the . Shortly after altogether. The nucleus of Claude’s herd Ferras arrived, Claude put his breeding was established by early 1937 when he plan into operation: Ferras to Old Painter met Dr. Haines. Dr Haines was taking and Young Painter females and that time from his doctoral studies to prepare offspring back into the Old Painter line. an article for Western Horseman which The Kellogg Arabian farm was at appeared in January 1937. There was a Pomona, California. He knew about the surprising response by letter from Mesaoud bloodline. It was during the ranchers throughout the West. Claude depression in the very early 1930’s that Thompson who already had his breeding Claude dealt for Ferras. Claude traded a program going was among those who team of Percheron mares for the responded. Claude Thompson was seen weanling Ferras. Bob Peckinpah saw by Haines as the man more likely to go forward seriously with an organized secretary of the club. One year later in registry than any other respondent. September 1947 George was appointed Claude kept good records of pedigrees Executive Secretary of the club. Dr and incorporated the Appaloosa Horse Haines became Vice President of the Club as an Oregon corporation in club, the Appaloosa Horse Club was December 1938. Headquarters were at moved from Moro to Moscow, ID. In Claude’s ranch in Moro. He became the 1947 George Hatley and Dr. Haines first president of the club, an office he started work on the first stud book which held until June 1948. The Appaloosa was ready for distribution early in 1948. Horse Club was organized with the The second goal was a national all- following objectives: To collect records Appaloosa show to interest the public in and historical data relating to the origin the product itself. This was held on June of the Appaloosa horse; to file records 20, 1948. and issue certificates of registration for The first formal meeting was June 19, animals thought to be fit foundation 1948 at Lewiston ID. Points stressed at stock of the breed; to preserve, improve the meeting were: 1) Closed registration and standardize the breed of spotted is the only way to develop a desirable horses known in the Northwest as uniform type, and make the Appaloosa a Appaloosas. true breed. 2) We must close our Originally it was planned to hold an registration if we are to secure national annual meeting of members, and elect recognition and the right to stand our officers at that time. War time travel stallions in the various states. The restrictions prevented this, so Mr. National Stallion Board will not Thompson and his two daughters, Faye recognize the Appaloosa as a breed until and Claudine, carried on the work and after our books are closed to foundation kept the club growing. Growth of the stock. At present, states will not issue a club was very slow. By 1941 they had registered license for a registered only 45 members and 113 horses. When Appaloosa. The same is true with the World War II started interest in the horse Canadian Stallion Board. 3) This will came to a halt. With the end of the war raise our breed in public estimation. and of travel restrictions the club became Now too many people regard the more active. While Claude was getting Appaloosa as merely a color, like the back on his feet, the bitter truth came to Palomino. 4) Last but not least, this will him: bringing back the Appaloosa was eliminate a great deal of competition too much for one man. A man easing from poorly bred horses that carry the into sixty one years. A younger man was Appaloosa color. At present many needed to pick up the reins. In the breeders use Appaloosa stallions on any summer of 1946 young George Hatley solid color mare they happen to have. stopped at Claude’s ranch to talk Any colts that come spotted are then Appaloosas. He just finished a hitch in sold as true Appaloosas, thus depressing the Navy and was interested in helping the market for our better bred stock. It save the Appaloosa ever since he bought was voted to close the books to a fine stallion Toby II and joined the foundation stock August 1, 1949. After horse club in 1941. Acting on a hunch, that date the club would only accept only Claude handed him a bunch of letters to such Appaloosas as were produces by answer. He then made him the assistant registered sire and dam or with one Appaloosa parent, the other being a approval, the Appaloosa horse could not registered Arab. In May 1949 the enter open or all-breed shows. George Appaloosa horse received important Hatley and Dr. Haines agreed to make a recognition, and the breeding program joint appearance before that body as the was helped, when the Light Horse board’s agenda would require. That Judging School and Horse Show, held appearance was made in Chicago in by Washington State College at Pullman, November 26, 1950. Hatley led off with WA. Included the Appaloosa as one of the physical attributes of the breed, the the light horse breeds to be studied and ongoing effort to establish uniformity in judged. a breed standard, and the production of a June 17, 1949, the club held its second studbook and organized shows to annual meeting at the Lewis-Clark motivate breed standard compliance as a Hotel, Lewiston, ID. The ground work breeder goal. Francis Haines followed was begun for a tentative registration with a well documented and well book, for inspection of horses, and for reasoned summary of the proud history deciding on a standard type. of the breed and of the effort of the The second show, June 18, 1949 was ApHC, in an awareness of that past, to superior in every way to the first one. bring it to the fore once more, on its More horses were entered and the horses inherent merit. They were commended were of a more uniform type. The for their efforts in seeking uniformity appaloosa horse as a breed received and advised the decision would follow added emphasis at the Light Horse by letter. The letter from the Stallion Judging School and Stock Show at Registrations Board was dated Washington State College in May 1950. December 5, 1950. This was a landmark The third annual meeting of the club was accomplishment. It meant that the held June 24, 1950, at the Lewis-Clark Stallion Board recognized the Appaloosa Hotel, Lewiston, ID. The two important as a breed. It should be proof that to topics of discussion were tentative responsible unbiased minds the registration and the standard type. To Appaloosa is a breed and not merely a establish the standard type, a questioner color. This authority recognized the was sent to all owners of registered breed standard, the efforts of the ApHC Appaloosas and the results were to maintain it, which demands incorporated as the standard. responsible members to propagate the Interest in the national show had grown breed with care. The idea to improve the so that the club decided to hold the show breed by breeding “up” rather than out two days instead of one. On Saturday fits well here. Their new prestige June 24, breeding classes were held. The brought an entirely different show performance classes occupied Sunday circuit. Before it had only been afternoon. Appaloosa against Appaloosa at a few At last the ApHC was ready to seek small shows. They could now compete approval of their breed from the National with other purebreds at places like San Association of Stallion Registration Antonio, Ft. Worth and Houston. This Board at Chicago. This austere group achievement is tribute to Claude J. has the final authority as to what is and Thompson. His initial efforts in restoring what is not a recognized breed in our a “lost” breed will ever stand as a nation. Without their silver stamp of hallmark of a great horseman. •2.0 HISTORY OF THE APPALOOSA HORSE CLUB The rapid progress of the club, through the active ley and Dr. Haines appeared before the board at its annual cooperation of the directors and members, led the officers meeting in Chicago, November 26, 1950. As a result of this to seek recognition for the Appaloosa from the National meeting, the club received the following letter: Association of Stallion Registration Boards. George Hat-

W. L. BLIZZARD. PK..IC.HT R. B. CooLIY. «tc«.TAiiY.n.«A.u««ii HARRY D. LINN. IND vici-ninioiin • TtLLWATM, OKLAHOMA LAFAvrTTr, INDIANA Dtt MOIN», IOWA A. l_ HARVEY. UT VICK-PM»II>CNT M. L. BUCHANAN, 3*0 vicK.mttiDtNT §T. PAUL. MINM..OTA r,..aO| Nolml DA11OTA I National Association Stallion "Registration Boards

Lafayette, Indiana December 5, 1950.

Mr. George B. Hatley, Secretary Appaloosa Horse Club. Inc., Moscow, . Dear Mr. Hatley: Thanks for the application form for registration received yesterday. YOU will be glad to know that following your talk at our Stallion Board meeting in Chicago November 26th, our National Association of Stallion Registration Boards passed the following: "Members present were sympathetic 'with the con structive work now being carried on by the Appaloosa Horse Club, Inc., Moscow, Idaho, in their efforts to improve and standardize Appaloosa Horses for the purpose of Appaloosa improvement. Our members felt that the Appaloosa Horse Club should be complimented in its efforts toward developing a more uniform type with improvement in Duality and refine- sment. We are .recommending to the various .state Enrollment Boards that they give encouragement to the constructive efforts now being made by the Appaloosa Horse Club of Moscow, Idaho." This means that in case some state should inquire as to the attitude of the National Association of Stallion Boards toward the licensing of Appaloosa stallions, they will be notified of the above action taken, which means that our Association approves of the constructive work that is being done in standardizing the type, color, performance and other desirable qualities in Appaloosa Horses. However, the in- dividual decision as to whether a particular state should license Appaloosa stallions is entirely a matter for that 1 state to decide. I would add that we were glad to have you and Dr. Haines with us to bring us up to date in regard to the activities in Appaloosa horse improvement.

Very truly RBC:kh Copy to: Dr. Frank- Haines Secretary

HISTORY OF THE APPALOOSA HORSE CLUB

<&.

D. A. STUBBLEFIELD CDMMIBSIDNCR

STATE OF IDAHO of BOISE, IDAHO

February 9, 1951

TO: Owners of Purebred Registered Appaloosa. Stallions:

Dear Sir: The Idaho Bureau of Animal Industry wishes to inform you that following the action of the National Stallion Registry Board in accepting the Appaloosa breed as purebred, this Bureau, which is a member of that board, is now ready to re-register any animals that' ere covered by a grade certificate as purebred, providing these horses pre registered in your own Association as purebred. As you know, your stallion licenses are due for renewal whether grade or purebred, February 28. Therefore, Then you send in your application for renewal if you desire to have your stallion transferred from grade status to purebred, providing he is qualified, it will be necessary for you to enclose your grade stallion license certificate so that we may cancel it out and resend you your renewed license end a purebred certificate. In doing this it will be necessary for you to also enclose evidence in the way of your Appaloosa registry certificate so we may issue you your new license and certificate. There will be no fees for the transfer from these animals from grade to purebred status; however, the $1.00 renewal fee will be necessary. If you have any particular questions or desire additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us. Very truly yours, p

Arthur F. Schneider, 3.S..D. • Director, Bureau of Animal

______BUREAUS AND DIVISIDNS______„ ______AUDITS. BONDED WAREHOUSEa PLJkNT INDUSTRY, AND HORTICULTURE, FOOD PRODUCTS INSPECTION SERVICE. DAIRY INDUSTRY, BEAN INSPECTION SERVICE, ANIMAL INDUSTRY, BEE INSPECTION, COMMERCIAL FERTILIZER, WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, AND NOXIOUS WEEDS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Appaloosa Horse Club, Inc. Appaloosa Museum Appaloosa Newsletter July 1948 Appaloosa News Dr. Francis Haines R.E. Hawkins & S.J. Hubbell Palmer Wagner Lee Arlandson Appaloosa Horse Club Stud Book and Registry Vol. III