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