What is your view on Appendix's? Good or bad?

[HunterJumper4EvR]

Real experiences only please. I was wondering if anybody has owned, trained or bred appendix horses? Discribe there Temperament, conformation, ability to jump and to do other english events. I might be getting one, so just want some info on the breed.

Thxs!

[RiosBravo]

I used to work with one, and rode a couple for lessons for awhile.

Everyone I worked with was a great horse. Enough energy to do their jobs, but not nutsy. They had athletism and were fairly versatile.

One I rode was trained for dressage - and was shown up to level 2 (not by me)... the others I've ridden were part of lesson strings for hunter stables.

The one I was hired to work with was a nice guy too, though at the time I was working with him he was only just started undersaddle.

I know a couple here in my community now who do a little everything - and usually land in the ribbons.

Like any breed/type of horse individuals will vary as far as talent and temperament go.

[Alderbrae]

I rode and owned an appendix for nearly 28 yrs and in that time I competed in 3 day eventing, cattle penning, trail classes, hunter/jumper, and did lots of pleasure riding. He did very well in everything I asked of him. I currently own another appendix (by Rugged Lark out of a TB mare) and have had him since he was 2. He has done Training Level dressage (won his first class), goes anywhere I want to go for trail rides, and has just started baby jumping. Both of these horses had good minds, lovely temperments and good movement. For the amateur, junior, or older rider, these horses can make any event fun and are generally a pleasure to be around. However, as previously stated any horses are individuals, so anyone considering one should do their homework on the breeder, the stallion and the mare.

[PonyPony]

My friend and her family on the east coast specialize in hunter/jumper on the big AQHA circuit. MOST of the horses in their barn are Appendix, and go back and forth successfully from the AQHA world to the regular h/j world (Hamptons, HITS, Florida, etc). With their horses, you won't find a better temperment anywhere, and they never look out of place among the big warmbloods.

[Jenn]

I have an Appendix mare (pictured in my avatar) who competes in hunters and jumpers, against big fancy warmbloods, with reasonable success. I'd consider my mare perfectly suited to hunter/jumper if she were bigger. She is 15.2 and that limits her ability to do bigger courses. But over smaller fences, 2'6 to 2'9, she cleans up in the jumpers. She's super handy and we are just about always the fastest in anything we enter - we only don't win if we have a rail down.

In the hunters we don't do as well, my mare is cute but she's not a fancy as the big warmbloods, so we place consistently but rarely win. This is particularly true in flat classes where my mare looks small and plain next to everyone else's 17.2 hand imported warmblood. I've learned to consider placing 3rd or 4th in a hunter class full of really nice horses, a victory.

The biggest thing I LOVE about my appendix is her brain. She is bold and not spooky and never, ever, ever refuses a jump. She can come right off the trailer, have a trot around the warm up ring and then go into the show ring. No need to lunge for an hour or have a coach warm her up for me to enter a warm-up class to show her the jumps. If I get busy with the rest of my life, she can sit in the pasture for a week and I can pull her out and she'll be exactly the same. That's been a huge confidence booster for me.

For english disciplines I think an Appendix is a great way to go if you do not have the budget for a warmblood and you find the thoroughbred temperment to be a little much for you. My favourite appendixes are those that basically look and move like TB's, but a little calmer and less spooky to the QH side.

I'd buy another appendix again for a hunter/jumper in a heartbeat, the only caveat being that I need one that is bigger than my current horse.

[Showaqh]

My last horse was an Appendix and my current gelding is Appendix. Both have absolutely great, great minds. My gelding I have now I would not trade for anything. He is a nice size (16.1), very nice mover and his mind is truly exceptional. I have worked at farms where alot of the horses in training were Appendix and most of them seemed pretty good minded, one could be a tad silly sometimes but nothing that I would say was bad behaviour. As another poster mentioned, I would take a look at the bloodlines and go from there.

[HunterJumper4EvR]

Thxs you guys, keep the reviews comming. I am moving to the island in a week now, and were looking at a horse to buy. She is a 16hh appendix mare, 6 y/o and jumping 2'6 courses. I am going to try her out when I get there. I have owned a Appendix before, but he was 15 and getting a little old to start to learn how to jump. We endend up selling him when we found out that we were moving. He was a great horse, athletic but sane.

If anybody else has anymore reviews on appendix horses, that would be great!

[Giddyup]

Only have/had one. Can't say enough. Totally versatile. We've done hunters, english/western/dressage, trail riding.
They rock.

[Driving Billy]

We have a 17 HH appendix quarter horse gelding - he is a retired pre-lim eventer. He has to be one of the best horses I have ever owned - he taught my oldest son to ride.A gentle giant. His nick name around here is Winnie the Poo.

[Kaitlyn]

I have an appendix mare and I couldnt have asked for a better mix. The breed is so versitile.

[RiverCity]

Great breed! They are very versatile, which is very appealing... Alittle less effort to put together over the WB's because of their build and they have a go button.

Good luck

[In Alberta]

I have an appendix mare here, and gotta say she is one of the best horses I have here. Lots of energy, but a pleasure to ride. She is only used for checking cattle and pleasure rides. I wish she had a stockier hind end, but other than that she is perfect. She is in my avatar.

Laura

[dq for life]

Appendix are super nice crosses. The grey pictured is very nice!

[Jayna]

I love my appendix!! I agree on their versatility. He has done barrels, reining, jumping, trails, and now onto driving. Jayna

[Anna Leigh]

I agree they are one of the most versatile breeds out there. The best of both worlds

[laterider]

I love my TB, but the first horse that I ever leased was an appendix and he was awesome! Had enough brains not to be silly, but had enough get up and go if we wanted to gallop out on the trails. An appendix is high on my list of what kind of breed I want next.

[Nora and Tango]

Jeez yu guys......you're making me want one!

[Shandy]

Rode one for quite a while and he was a very good boy-- a little bit of a klutz missing a little eye-hoof coordination, but that's not really representative of the breed. When he finally figured himself out, he turned out to be an A+ jumper and has been showing quite some potential for dressage, he uses himself very nicely and has a lovely soft canter. And his ground temperment is WONDERFUL. Very cuddly boy, and will put his head right down and open his mouth for the bit if you come near him with a bridle.

Would recommend the breed to anyone.

[`Nickers]

Dash is an appendix, I love him to peices! Everyone comments about how quiet and calm he is. My little sisters love to lead him around and pick his feet. But he still has enough 'go' do you do jumping and galloping and all that fun stuff :) But we still can semi pull off some western, and cattle sorting. He is an awesome boy!

I deffinatly reccomend the breed :)

[`mariah]

My horse was an appendix appaloosa gross, or so I believe- and she was lovely and versatile. We did hunters, dressage, western pleasure- she could do everything.