Appaloosa Horse Prices in 2024: Purchase Price, Board, Food, and More!

Appaloosas are best known for their colorful coat and charming demeanor. Whether it’s a purebred or a cross, this breed is a reliable mount for equestrians of all ages. But what about Appaloosa horse prices? Besides the initial purchase price, you have to think about food, board, vet care, and more! Let’s learn a bit more about this beautiful breed and the ongoing cost of owning one.

Appaloosa: Breed or Coat Pattern?

A common question you might have is whether “Appaloosa” is a horse breed or a coat pattern. It’s both, just like the Palomino!

The best way to explain it is that all (purebred) Appaloosas are spotted but not all spotted horses are Appaloosas. Other breeds that exhibit the characteristic patterned coat are:

• Knabstruppers
• Nez Perce
• Pony of the Americas
• Norikers
• Colorado Rangers
• Tiger Horses

The Appaloosa is a striking breed that has several unique coat patterns. The most common are blanket (with or without spots), snowcap, Appaloosa roan, snowflake, leopard, and frost.

The Average Lifespan of an Appaloosa Horse

The Appaloosa has a lifespan similar to other domesticated horse breeds. If they are healthy and happy, they can live between 25 and 35 years.

But, before you buy an Appaloosa, it’s important to know that this breed is 8.3x more likely to develop equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) or moon blindness. They are also 4x as likely to become blind as a result.

This diagnosis can lead to higher vet bills and less time in the show ring. This is one of the prices to pay if you want to own an Appaloosa horse! Be prepared for this reality before you purchase a horse of this breed.

Where To Buy an Appaloosa

If you want to purchase this pretty breed, there are a few different avenues you can go down. You can buy a purebred Appaloosa or Appaloosa cross:

• From a horse rescue
• From a private owner
• Through a reputable trainer or breeder
• In online classifieds
• At a horse auction

How do you decide which route to go? Consider your needs for a mount, your goals for the horse, and the size of your wallet.

Appaloosa Horse Prices

Now that you have a bit of background on this beautiful breed, let’s learn about Appaloosa horse prices and the true cost of owning one.

Purchase Cost

Horse prices are best stated in ranges since the exact cost depends on factors like your location and the horse’s age, bloodline, and level of training.

If you want to adopt or buy an Appaloosa, expect to pay between $1,000 and $10,000. A well-trained horse of this breed — one that’s past its prime but not considered old yet — will be around $5,000.

But this isn’t the cost to consider…

Boarding

Your new horse needs somewhere to live! If you don’t have a place for your Appaloosa on your property then a boarding bill can add up quickly.

Depending on where you live and the level of care the stable provides its boarders, you can pay anywhere from a few hundred bucks up to around $900 (per month!). This often doesn’t include the price of feed.

Food

Every horse, no matter their age or activity level, needs access to quality forage like grass and hay. If you compete or ride your Appaloosa often then supplemental feed like grain is also a good idea.

That means that feeding your Appaloosa can cost upwards of $2,000 a year. This is based on the rule of thumb that horses eat about 2% of their body weight in hay per day.

Vet and Farrier Care

Beyond the daily costs of owning an Appaloosa, have you considered the price of your horse’s vet and farrier care?

At a minimum, your horse needs one visit from the vet each year. They will do a check-up, administer required vaccines, and perform other routine procedures.

Here are some common vet and farrier costs associated with horse ownership, whether you have an Appaloosa or another breed:

• Dewormer, which is $10 4x a year
• Vaccinations, which are $50 to $100 1x a year
• Dental floating, which is $50 to $100 2x a year
• Hoof trims, which are $25 to $50 every 6-8 weeks

Additional Costs

By now, you know the foundational prices of owning an Appaloosa horse — from the purchase price and board to feed and farrier fees. But what about everything else?

Here are additional costs to consider before buying an Appaloosa:

• Equipment like a saddle and bridle so you can ride
• Appropriate clothing like riding boots, riding gloves, a helmet, etc.
• Supplies such as buckets, blankets, and brushes
• Training for the horse
• Lessons for you
• Showing (entry fees, transportation, tow vehicle, competition attire, etc.)

Is an Appaloosa a Good First Horse?

Appaloosas are an incredibly fast breed thanks to their Arabian and American Quarter Horse bloodlines. This makes them fun for adults, but they are also a great size for junior riders who want a horse to grow into. Given their gentle nature, intelligence, and hardiness, Appaloosas make some of the best horses to ride.

Besides pleasure riding, they are also dependable show horses that excel in a variety of disciplines such as:

• Barrel racing
• Roping
• Cutting
• Eventing
• Show jumping
• Dressage

No matter what you plan to do with your horse, the Appaloosa is a solid companion for riders of any age who want a fun, reliable, and striking mount!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Viktoria Makarova/iStock via Getty Images