Recommendation of Appaloosa by rockygirl

I had Pal for quite a few years, and it was through him I switched from Dressage to NATRC and horse-camping. He was a nice all around horse...could be opinionated and stubborn, but tough as nails, and I learned a lot from him. he was also a "husband horse"and preferred to take my husband for a ride, than have me ask him to do what I wanted. He could buck under pressure quite easily and was very athletic. I would not recommend the breed because Uveitis is so prevalent in this breed, and the horses go blind eventually if they have it. I treated his eyes most of his life with steroids every day, and he lost the sight in one eye..had it taken out, then ultimately the second eye. I put him down because he did not live with being blind well. Until they find the gene for this disease, and the breeders breed away from it, it is a terrible health issue that makes the horse miserable. It is very prevalent in Appy's. I say this as  Rocky Mountain horse breeder, and am familiar with the ASD eye problem in that breed...color should not be everything..from chocolate horses in Rockies to Appy's with the most spotted markings if it compromises their soundness..sight being an essential soundness in a riding horse.