The Nez Perce Indian Nation in north central Idaho is embarking on an ambitious endeavor to revitalize its ancestral connection with horses through the Young-Horseman Project. This initiative is focused on reestablishing a high-quality horse-breeding program, culminating in the launch of a new registry: the Nez Perce Appaloosa. This unique crossbreed will unite the resilience of western Appaloosa mares with the rarity and distinguished lineage of four Akhal-Teke stallions, imported from Turkmenistan, Central Asia. The Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee has wholeheartedly endorsed this project, recognizing its potential to strengthen the tribe. Beyond breeding horses for sale, the Nez Perce Nation plans to offer guided trail rides through the awe-inspiring landscapes where the Salmon and Snake rivers converge.
The foundational objective of the Young-Horseman Project is to engage Nez Perce youth, aged 14 to 21, in the art of horsemanship. Participants will gain comprehensive knowledge of horse management practices and explore the diverse business opportunities inherent in the equine industry. A recent early morning session, led by Project coordinator Rudy Shebala and four of his Young Horsemen, served as preparation for their inaugural trail ride. Shebala reported the ride as a success, commending his Young Horsemen for their maturity and responsibility. The group traversed the mountainous terrain of the Clearwater National Forest, following historical trails once used by Nez Perce ancestors during their 1877 retreat towards the Canadian border.
Horsemanship, the very skill the Young Horseman Project aims to cultivate, was once a defining characteristic of the Nez Perce people, prior to their cultural integration with settlers. Meriwether Lewis, of the renowned Lewis and Clark Expedition, documented the exceptional quality of Nez Perce horses in a journal entry dated February 15, 1806: “Their horses appear to be of an excellent race; they are lofty, elegantly formed, active and durable; in short many of them look like fine English corsers and would make a figure in any country.” The Nez Perce are now striving to reclaim this esteemed equestrian heritage through their Appaloosa-Akhal-Teke cross. Their prospects for success are significantly bolstered by the exceptional breeding stock they have acquired.
The Appaloosas currently being utilized by the tribe are known for their strength and endurance. While breeds like the Quarter Horse have surpassed Appaloosas in popularity among American equestrians, Shebala maintains a strong belief in the Appaloosa’s inherent qualities. In the verdant, rolling hills of the Lapwai region, the tribe has been meticulously breeding their Appaloosa mares with Akhal-Teke stallions. The Akhal-Teke, an ancient breed hailing from the desert regions of the former Soviet Republic of Turkmenistan, is believed by some to be the progenitor of the English Thoroughbred. For millennia, horsemen have revered the Akhal-Teke for its exceptional mobility, strength, iridescent beauty, and remarkable endurance.
Marco Polo, during his travels along the Great Silk Road to China, even posited that Alexander the Great’s legendary horse, Bucephalas, may have been a Turkmen steed. The Akhal-Teke derives its name from the Akhal oasis, home to the nomadic Teke people. The Teke, forming the majority tribe of Turkmen, officially adopted the Akhal-Teke horse as their national symbol upon Turkmenistan’s independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. The Akhal-Teke stallions currently housed at the Young Horseman Project barn in Lapwai were procured from Hans Sprandel, a German businessman whose late brother was a dedicated breeder of Akhal-Tekes. Sprandel entrusted the Nez Perce with four purebred Akhal-Teke stallions, expressing confidence in their ability to honor these horses. “The Nez Perce were as good as any group to do these horses justice,” Shebala remarked, further asserting that the tribe’s historical prowess as skilled horsemen makes them the ideal custodians.
The Nez Perce breeding program artfully combines the quintessential qualities of fine horses from Central Asia with the cultural emblem of this Northwestern Native American nation. The synergy of the swiftness and endurance of both breeds is anticipated to result in a stunning testament to both natural beauty and human ingenuity. Shebala envisions that the tribe will continue to be recognized for their horsemanship, utilizing this legacy as a “springboard” into a new era. By drawing upon their rich cultural history, the Nez Perce are poised to usher in a revitalized future for the Appaloosa, the Akhal-Teke, and the Nez Perce Nation itself.
