Moscow, Idaho, is a few minutes shy of five hours away from the Canadian border. The first permanent settlers arrived in 1871; it’s home to the University of Idaho, and perhaps most importantly, lays claim to the Appaloosa Horse Club headquarters.

Moscow is the starting point for an Appaloosa adventure that will take us to a variety of places—some with pertinent historical meaning, some sharing commonality in name only. So this trip will begin at 2720 W. Pullman Road, only feet from the Idaho-Washington border and where all things Appaloosa converge.

History note: Only 33 miles south of Moscow sits Lewiston, where the very first National Show took place in 1948.

Adjacent to the ApHC building is the Appaloosa Museum and Heritage Center, a must-visit for any Appaloosa enthusiast. The museum contains a theater, kids’ area and exhibits pertinent to the breed’s history, as well as a live exhibit open from May to October.

George Hatley had long made Moscow his home. He and his wife, Iola, manned the growing Appaloosa registry, first from their home and by 1974, from the current building. But the ApHC didn’t start in Moscow.

History note: Jackson hosted the 13th World Show in 1973.

Continuing to the eastern United States, one could visit Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee, around eight hours away from Jackson. FSU has proudly adopted “Seminoles” as the name for university athletic teams (a tribute approved by the Seminole Tribe of Florida and reaffirmed in 2005), and in 1978 a Seminole warrior aboard a horse was introduced at a football game. Since then, the horse has been named “Renegade” and is ridden by “Chief Osceola.” Renegade is depicted by an Appaloosa; Bill Durham, a 1965 FSU graduate, has supplied the horse since 1978. FSU is currently using Renegade V, and the appearance of Renegade and Osceola is a well-loved tradition for home football games.

Renegade is not the only well-known Appaloosa to call Florida home. Many Appaloosa professionals and owners enjoy their horses in the Sunshine State; there are four regional clubs that operate within its sea-lined boundaries. Char-O-Lot Ranch resides in Myakka City; trainers Cindy and Mike Mergaert are in Oxford and Timothy Zuidema is in Micanopy. Of course, to find hundreds of fellow Appaloosa owners, get in touch through regional clubs!
By Tafra Donberger

Full-text version printed in the March 2010 issue of Appaloosa Journal.
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