Good Western Racing Horses

Whenever the term "Western horse" is used, mostof working on little food and foraging for himself. Also,
people picture a rough-and-tumble rodeo - an event fullhe has a perfect canter.
of color but so full of danger, too, that no youngsterHowever good Morgans and Arabians may be, an
would be permitted to enter the regular events. Whatimportant western breed we haven't yet talked about
few people realize is that many small, country horseis the quarter horse. Every Westerner will boast of the
shows have classes open to Western horses. Thequalities of this breed, but the fact is that the quarter
wide range of these local shows gives them theirhorse had his beginnings in the East - in Virginia.
importance to the show world, and if you own aIn the late 1600's, Virginia gentlemen enjoyed racing
Western horse, you should pay attention so you'lltheir stock but there were no big race tracks available.
know about the shows in time to enter your horse.They would use stretches of road near the towns -
In case you strongly prefer western riding, you don'tthe road lap usually being about a quarter of a mile
have to worry about being left out of the fun - orlong. The distance became standardized and men
change your style simply because you thought allbegan to breed horses especially for these
horse shows were exclusively for English riders. "Well,"quarter-mile races. Usually the breeder combined
you may be thinking, "all I have to do, then, is to pick outimported English horses either with the speedy little
the kind of horse I want and then use a westernrunners developed by the Chickasaw Indians or with a
saddle and bridle on him. That's just fine."Rhode Island variety which had come down from New
But it isn't quite as simple as that! You wouldn't adviseEngland and competed successfully against earlier
a person about to go on a hunt to use an AmericanVirginia horses.
saddle horse on the chase. You'd suggest he use aThen a horse named Janus, an English racer with
thoroughbred - or a horse with thoroughbredthoroughbred bloodlines, was imported and began to
characteristics. The same standards of suitability holdtransmit his characteristics to all his offspring. In time,
true if you're picking out a Western horse for yourself.the entire breed was influenced by the speed and
Suppose that, during your excursions to find a horse, apower he passed on to his foals, and, as sprinters,
big, long-limbed thoroughbred strikes you as aQuarter horses became unbeatable. Then, when
handsome animal - one you'd like to own. After all, youracetracks were built, the Easterners gave up the
reason, he has speed, courage, stamina - just right forquarter Horse in favor of thoroughbred racing on
a Western horse.longer tracks. But ranchers and cowboys soon
Strictly in terms of breeds, the Morgan and the Arabiandiscovered that the compactness of the quarter horse
offer good Western horse prospects.enabled him to turn quickly and stop short. In fact,
Both are small horses and have plenty of strength andmany people who want a Western horse get a
endurance. The Morgan is compact and thereforequarter horse. Western horses come in all shapes and
good at making fast turns, stops and starts. Thesizes, you just need to find the one that's right for you.
Arabian is traditionally a desert horse and so is capable