| Just like dogs, there are hundreds of different breeds | | | | popular choice for the riding trail, and now often seen in |
| of horses. Just like dogs, horses have also been bred | | | | western riding shows. Aside from its coloring, the paint |
| to serve many different purposes over the centuries. | | | | is considered identical to the quarter horse in |
| These purposes have eventually determined the body | | | | appearance and height. |
| structures, and even the temperaments of the horse | | | | Appaloosa |
| breeds. Even today, most of the popular breeds retain | | | | Appaloosa horses used to be synonymous with the |
| much of their original form and tendencies. If you are | | | | Nez Perce Indians of northern Idaho, who kept the |
| thinking of buying a horse, knowing these facts will help | | | | breed throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. When the |
| you make the best choice for your intentions. If you | | | | Nez Perce were forced onto reservations, the |
| just want to be in-the-know about other horse breeds, | | | | Appaloosa breed was almost lost until the 1930s. A |
| read on to quickly understand the essential facts of | | | | concerned group of horsemen got together to start |
| the most popular breeds. | | | | the Appaloosa Horse Club in an effort to save the |
| Quarter Horse | | | | breed. Since then, the breed has recovered and |
| The most popular of breeds, the original quarter horse | | | | became quite popular. The appaloosa is known for its |
| is the result of cross-breeding the horse of the | | | | spotted coat, which comes in a number of different |
| American colonists with the horse of the Chickasaw | | | | patterns, including leopard (white with dark spots over |
| Indians. They were then further developed to herd | | | | the body) and blanket with spots (a dark body color |
| cattle, and the quarter became the horse breed of | | | | with white over the hindquarters which is covered with |
| choice of the American western regions. The breed's | | | | dark spots). Other distinguishing characteristics include |
| name comes from its ability to run a quarter-mile | | | | very bright tissue that surrounds the pupil, striped |
| distance faster than any other breed. Quarter horses | | | | hooves, and a mottled skin appearance. Also good trail |
| are considered a rugged work horse with a small head | | | | mounts, appaloosas range between 4' 6" to 5' 3" in |
| and muscular neck. The hindquarters of the quarter | | | | height, have quiet temperaments, and are often seen in |
| are powerful, with straight, solid legs. The quarter horse | | | | western riding and jumping shows. |
| comes in many different colors including reddish-brown | | | | Saddlebred |
| (chestnut), light reddish-brown (sorrel), rich brown (bay), | | | | Saddlebreds began as a potpourri of horse breeds |
| black, palomino, or gray, and stand anywhere from 4' | | | | including the morgan, the Narragansett pacers, |
| 8" to 5' 3" tall. They are known to be quiet, easygoing, | | | | Canadian horses, and several strains of Spanish |
| forgiving, and steady. A staple breed in the western | | | | horses. Breeders hoped to develop a horse that could |
| show ring, the quarter horse is most often seen in | | | | comfortably carry riders over long distances, yet |
| cattle-work competitions, western pleasure classes, | | | | perform specific disciplined maneuvers. The |
| and gymkhana (timed speed events). Quarter horses | | | | saddlebred became another example of the gaited |
| are a very good option for beginning riders. | | | | horse, capable of performing the stepping pace like the |
| Standardbred | | | | Tennessee walking horse, and a four-beat gait called a |
| Standardbred horses were originally created for use | | | | rack, as well as an animated walk, trot, and gentle |
| as harness racers, but many are later retrained as | | | | gallop. Saddlebreds are distinctively featured with a |
| riding horses. The breed originated during the early part | | | | long, arched neck and a high, fine head held aloft. The |
| of American history and was created to race under | | | | saddlebred turned out to be slim and lean, but has a |
| harness at either the trot or the pace speed. | | | | broader range of 5' to 5' 6" high. The most common |
| Standardbreds are still used for this purpose. They | | | | colors for this breed are black, brown, rich brown, |
| tend to move at great speeds without galloping. Some | | | | chestnut (red), sorrel (reddish brown), and gray. |
| unique specimens are natural trotters, and can trot at | | | | Saddlebreds make great show horses because of |
| nearly 30 miles an hour. Some few others are known | | | | their flashy appearance, but they're also good trail |
| as born pacers (their legs on one side move in unison) | | | | mounts and are very comfortable to ride because of |
| and are just as fast as trotting horses. The early | | | | the breed's smooth gait. |
| training of standardbred race horses fine-tunes these | | | | Thoroughbred |
| skills while discouraging the urge to gallop. However, | | | | The thoroughbred is the breed you will most often see |
| because standardbreds can very capably gallop, they | | | | on the racetrack. Famous horses such as Man O' War |
| are trained for riding. Standardbreds have large heads | | | | and Secretariat were thoroughbreds. The breed was |
| and powerful legs, and these horses measure | | | | developed in England in the 18th century for the |
| anywhere from 5' to 5' 3" high. They are mostly a rich | | | | purpose of racing and was later imported to the |
| brown or red color, but are sometimes seen in brown, | | | | American colonies prior to the revolution. |
| gray, or black. Another possibility for the beginning riser, | | | | Thoroughbreds are known by their straight profiles, |
| the standardbred is gentle and easy to train. | | | | high withers (shoulder blades), and long, fine legs. They |
| Tennessee Walking Horse | | | | stand from 5' to 5' 6" high and have a lean, often lanky |
| Tennessee walking horses were developed in the | | | | appearance. They come in rich brown, chestnut, gray, |
| early part of the 18th century by American plantation | | | | and black. Thoroughbreds are the fastest horses in the |
| owners. The purpose of this breed was to | | | | world, and can reach speeds of 40 miles per hour in a |
| comfortably transport the rider. The breed is | | | | full gallop. They are also talented jumpers and quite |
| considered a gaited horse, which means it is able to | | | | suitable as candidates for dressage events. |
| perform a remarkable four-beat running walk for which | | | | Arabian |
| it is justly famous. This gait is so smooth that it can | | | | The Arabian is one of the oldest and purest breeds of |
| give the rider the sensation of floating on air. | | | | horse still among us. The horse was developed in the |
| Tennessee walkers will also trot and gently gallop. The | | | | Middle East several hundred years ago and has been |
| breed has a distinctive straight head with large ears. | | | | used to improve the quality of other breeds throughout |
| The neck is arched gracefully with prominent shoulder | | | | the centuries. The breed has an easily recognizable |
| blades or withers. The breed can be just about any | | | | head, with a nearly concave profile. The Arabian ears |
| color, are 5' to 5' 3" in height, and have easygoing | | | | are small and curve inward; its neck is long and arched. |
| personalities. A wonderful choice as a trail horse, it is | | | | Oddly, the Arabian has only five vertebrae, not six as |
| another one to consider if you are a beginning rider. | | | | in most other breeds. This difference makes the |
| Morgan | | | | Arabian back shorter and stronger. Arabians also |
| The morgan is an American breed developed in | | | | measure 5' or less. They are gray, chestnut, bay, and |
| Vermont during the 1700s. Started from one horse, a | | | | black. Arabians are friendly but often high spirited |
| stallion named Justin Morgan, the breed was created | | | | animals, known for elegance, stamina, and prowess in |
| by breeding a variety of mares to this stallion. Today's | | | | endurance competitions. They are a good choice as a |
| morgans are small, strong horses, that are usually | | | | show horse. |
| under 5' high. They are most often rich brown, | | | | The breed of horse you finally choose may or may |
| chestnut, but sometimes black.. Another choice for the | | | | not make a performance difference, depending on the |
| trail, they are willing to work and are patient. Morgans | | | | purposes for which the breed is most suited. You may |
| are good western horses, but can be used in hunt | | | | only wish to ride a trail a few times each week. In that |
| seat classes of competition. | | | | case, you have a broader range of choices as long as |
| Paint | | | | it is an easy, affable animal. If you plan to jump |
| The paint was created by a small, enthusiastic group | | | | competitively, hunt, or even work your way into the |
| of horse lovers 50 years ago. They formed an | | | | upper levels of dressage (the intricate training of horse |
| organization called the American Paint Horse | | | | movements in competition), the breed becomes much |
| Association with the intent to preserve horses with | | | | more crucial. Even if you aren't planning to go into |
| pinto markings, which are irregularly shaped patches of | | | | competition, you may still prefer a particular breed of |
| dark color against a white background. The paint | | | | horse. There are some people that fall in love with a |
| parentage is usually that of quarter horses. Though | | | | certain breed, unable to explain the fascination. Most |
| only previously considered an oddity, paint horses | | | | importantly, bear in mind that each horse is an individual, |
| were hitherto ineligible for registration with the | | | | so you should thoroughly understand how you and |
| American Quarter Horse Association. Its fate is fully | | | | your chosen horse within that breed will get along for |
| reversed today, as the paint is one of the most | | | | the long term of your ownership. |
| popular breeds in America. It is quiet, easygoing, a | | | | |