| While most people are familiar with many | | | | onto many pony breeds to produce |
| of the pure breeds of horses, there are | | | | pony-sized offspring with horse-type |
| many interesting crossbreds. Each breed | | | | bodies. This type is highly popular in |
| has its own benefits, and it is not | | | | the hunter ring. Many successful ponies |
| unusual for people to try to get the | | | | that near the highly desirable 14.2hh |
| best of both breeds by crossing them. | | | | size are in fact part Thoroughbred. |
| The following are some common crossbreds | | | | Many breeders like to cross |
| and their usual characteristics. | | | | Thoroughbreds to draft horses. These |
| Arabian Crosses | | | | crosses are lighter weight than drafts, |
| Most Arabian crosses are designed to | | | | and are well suited to riding. Many |
| refine the horse, without adding much | | | | draft crosses become field hunters, but |
| height. Arabians are known for being | | | | some of the more refined crosses become |
| highly sensitive and intelligent horses, | | | | good performance horses. |
| who can be a bit flighty or silly at | | | | Appaloosa Crosses |
| times. Most of the breeds they are | | | | Appaloosas are hardy horses who are |
| crossed to tend to be solid citizens who | | | | renowned for their unusual coloring. |
| could use a bit more pep. Many Arab | | | | Some breeders like to cross other types |
| crosses make excellent all-round horses | | | | of horses to Appaloosas to attempt to |
| who do well for children and for | | | | get the Appaloosa coloring on a horse |
| pleasure. Some make excellent dressage | | | | while retaining the type of the breed |
| horses or hunters, combining the | | | | they are crossing to. Arapaloosas are |
| beautiful Arab movement with the solid | | | | the Arabian x Appaloosa cross mentioned |
| personality of their crosses. | | | | earlier, but other popular crosses |
| Some of the most common Arabian crosses | | | | include Pintos (Pintaloosa) and |
| include the Morab (Morgan x Arabian), | | | | Tennessee Walkers (Walkaloosa). |
| the Quarab (Quarter Horse x Arabian) and | | | | A cross between a Shetland pony and an |
| the Arapaloosa (Appaloosa x Arabian). | | | | Appaloosa mare produced the colourful |
| Another common Arabian cross is the | | | | Pony of the Americas, now an established |
| Anglo Arabian (Thoroughbred x Arabian). | | | | breed. |
| Anglo Arabians are unlike the other | | | | Gaited Horses |
| crosses in that they are highly | | | | Some people enjoy crossing the highly |
| sensitive, have good height, and are | | | | popular gaited breeds, such as Tennessee |
| excellent athletes. The cross has been | | | | Walkers, to other breeds. They try to |
| so well established in France, that it | | | | retain the gait, but gain the size, |
| became the foundation of their Selle | | | | substance or coloring of the other |
| Francais breed. Arabians also cross very | | | | breed. Some gaited crosses include the |
| well with some pony breeds such as Welsh | | | | National Show Horse (Arabian x |
| Ponies. | | | | Saddlebred) and the Tennuvian (Tennessee |
| Thoroughbred Crosses | | | | Walker x Peruvian Paso). |
| Thoroughbreds are the most common horses | | | | Other Crossbreds |
| to see crossbred into other breeds. | | | | No matter where you look, you will see |
| Adding size and refinement, the | | | | other types of crossbred horses. Some |
| Thoroughbred is an amazing athlete who | | | | are popular enough that breed registries |
| generally produces crossbreds with | | | | have been formed for them. Others are |
| excellent performance potential. | | | | still rare. While many breeders |
| One of the most popular Thoroughbred | | | | consider crossbreds to be no different |
| crosses is the Appendix Quarter horse. | | | | than grade horses, others will defend |
| Not only are half-breds accepted as | | | | their crossbred "breed", claiming that |
| Appendix Quarter Horses, a high | | | | it has as much validity as other breeds. |
| percentages of Thoroughbred blood is | | | | Either way, you can find a cross of |
| permitted in the registry. | | | | almost anything if you look hard enough. |
| Smaller thoroughbreds are also crossed | | | | |