Paint horses have been fashionable in this country for many years, due largely to their beautiful coat of many colors. Not as versatile or capable as many other breeds of horse, the Paint Horse Registry is based almost entirely on the color of the horse. Such as happens when animals are bred for such a superficial trait, the structure of the animal begins to degrade, and the capable ponies of yester year are now walking pieces of art (which is why many fine horse gifts feature the paint horse), and many do not live far into their teens due to a variety of hoof and limb issues. The Paint Horse Registry is also a closed book registry, which means though the issues plaguing the breed today are largely genetic ones; little or no new blood is offered to correct the problems.

I would always ask for radiographs on the horse’s coffin joint, fetlock joint, and tarsus/Carpal joint. Think that is too spendy try talking Navicular Syndrome treatment for five years, let alone the rest of the animals life. Even that won’t tell you what will happen in the future, just what is there today, and the radiographs are only as good as the vet and farrier reading them. Paint horses are prone to so many lower limb and hoof ailments that many are shod in therapeutic shoes from a very young age, even as early as yearlings for some corrective measures. I will want to know how many solid, non dun/palomino/buckskin horses are in the animal’s pedigree. Those animals were chosen based on their merits as bloodstock, not for a particular pretty color, and I turn my nose up at diluted (Palomino and Buckskin) Paint Horses, especially the cremello and perlino types. I will also turn down a “homozygous” pinto of any breed, such a horse was only bred for spots and not for anything else.

Many programs exist for lovers of Pinto Horses, in all sorts of disciplines and breed types not simply stock horse types.  The Pinto Horse Association of America is a great place to learn all about Pintos, and I know some high percentage double registered Arabian Pintos that will reign circles around a paint horse, as well as cut cows with the best of them.  Because all Paint horses are Pintos, but not all Pintos are Paint horses, there are more opportunities for showing, and more people to show with and against.  Pinto World Championships are held in Tulsa Oklahoma, in or about June of every year.