In Mallorca, you never know what you might come across next, just round the corner from your daily routine.

A few years ago, I was involved in some correspondence with the Appaloosa Horse Club in the USA, on behalf of a friend here in Mallorca. The ApHC is the international breed registry serving members and Appaloosa enthusiasts by recording and reserving the horses’ heritage and history, and by providing services that promote, enhance and improve the Appaloosa, a breed defined by ApHC bloodline requirements and preferred characteristics, including coat pattern (to quote from the ApHC website). At the time, we were required to send in hair from a horse’s tail to facilitate a DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) genetics test.

The Appaloosa breed are unique and beautiful horses. The steed is easily recognized from the spots and splashes of colours over their coats. Appaloosas are extremely versatile, and have set records in speed on race racks, earned high honours in dressage, games, roping, endurance, jumping and reining. Appaloosas have gentle dispositions and are eager to please their owners. The name Appaloosa came from white settlers that arrived in the Northwest Palouse region of the USA during the 18th century, slurring the specification for horses from the Palouse area.

More than half a million Appaloosa horses are registered with the international breed registry in the USA, including a dozen or two of them here in Mallorca, some of which are owned and were bred by my friend Bernat, near Felanitx.

The photo was taken in Porreres, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: November 22nd, 2009. The time was 14:41:26.