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