Types of horse classifcation, an overview of horse classes including the major groups, types by physical characteristics, and types by training for show horses
Evolution of the horse from Eohippus to the oldest breed of horse, primitive wild horses that including Prezewalski Horse, Forest horse, Tarpan, and Tundra horse
Information about light horse breeds, backgrounds and history of hot-blooded and warmblood light horses with horse class, equestrian discipline, and horse training by body types: stock type, hunter type, saddle type and others.
I just lost my Arab two weeks ago. He was 27 1/2. My best friend for over 26 years. By far the smartest horse I have ever met. Rode him two weeks before I had to put him down due to colic. Miss him so much. At 59 I thought that I may not get another horse but have started looking for another Arabian. I have a 16.3 ottb but want another small go to guy like my old Traveller. kay yeager
i want buy a horse .pls help me at low price Sher khan
Billy Appaloosa gelding for sale £1000 He is a lovely natured 13.1 pony he is 9years old,I have had billy for a year and to be honest it’s a sad sale due to not enough time and my experience not being my strong point.Selling due to lack of time to reach her full potential. I would like billy to go to a loving caring experienced home where he is going to get the work and schooling he needs, he hasn’t been in work much in this last year either. He has a fantastic temperament, personality and bags of potential I have a 3year old and he is amazing around her and other children in my family. Morgan
I am looking to purchase a haflinger gelding for english riding on trails and ocean. Hopefully 15 hands with an age between 6-12. calm disposition of a 1-3 out of ten. janet
Looking for a Bay Gelding to drive with our Black Gelding thank you! Chris
I have a 10yo rigistered Pintabian gelding (99.21% Arabian) for sale. Stunningly beautiful black and white shiny coat with a few spots of grey and bay. Asking $3800 US dollars. He is trained and has been shown lightly in hunt seat. However he could go any direction. Serious inquires only please. Located in central Minnesota, USA. Alix
I ride a quarter horse called Rue. He is awesome he's so fast that I can run barrels on him in about 11 seconds. That isn't even his fastest time!Anonymous
The Quarter Horse got its name by being the fastest horse to run a quarter of a mile sprint!
The Quarter Horse is one of the oldest American breeds. The history of the Quarter Horse begins in Virginia in the early 17th century when American settlers obtained horses from the Chickasaw Indians. These wild horses were descendents of the horses brought to America by the Spanish explorers. They were then crossed them with imported English ‘running horses'. These horses were well- suited to the needs of the early colonials, everything from pulling, hauling, and as riding horses.
The Quarter Horse began to move westward with the pioneers. Its speed and agility made it known as a great cow pony. It is said that the Quarter Horse is able to ‘stop on a dime' from a full gallop. Their stocky build with muscular hindquarters made them ideal sprinters, and they began to dominated short-distance racing. Quarter Horse racing has continued in the western United States and is still alive today.
The first Quarter Horse registry, the American Quarter Horse Association, was founded by Robert Denhard in 1940. Today there are more than 3 million registered horses, making it the largest breed registry in the world. With its long history and development in the United States, the American Quarter horse could be considered as one the native American horses.
The Quarter Horse is a light horse breed. Light horse breeds generally weigh under 1,500 pounds. They are typically used as riding horses for leisure and trail riding. Being agile and swift, many are also used on the racetrack, in the show ring, and for work on the ranch.
Light horses are grouped in a couple of different ways, one being the continent or country where they originated from. They are also grouped according to training, classified as either a stock type, hunter type, saddle type, or 'other'. A body type is generally attributed to each class, with the 'other' classification being a bit of an odd ball. It includes those that are color breeds or those that may fit a body type of one of the training classes, but not be used for that type of training. The 'other' types can also include those that may fit into more than one of the type groups.
The horse class the American Quarter Horse fits into the stock type class.
Horse Backgrounds
The origins of the Quarter Horse begin in Virginia in the early 17th century when American settlers obtained horses from the Chickasaw Indians, who were descendents of the horses brought by the Spanish explorers, and crossed them with imported English ‘running horses.' These ‘running horses' may have been Irish Hobbies from western Ireland and the now extinct Galloways from northern Britain.
The early Quarter Horses were well- suited to the variety of tasks required by colonial life: they were used for farm work, hauling goods, pulling carriages, and as riding horses. Their stocky build with muscular hindquarters made them ideal sprinters, and they began to dominated short-distance racing.
As long-distance racing became more popular with the rise of the Thoroughbred, quarter-mile sprints were no longer held in the eastern states. The Quarter Horse began to move westward as pioneers moved west, and its speed and agility made it known as a great cow pony. It is said that the Quarter Horse is able to ‘stop on a dime' from a full gallop. Consequently, Quarter Horse racing continued in the western United States and is still alive today.
The Quarter Horse does not have clear lines back to its ancestors and has been mixed with other horses by ranchers who were not interested in the pedigrees of their horses. It was not until the early 1900's that the first serious attempts to trace the Quarter Horse's origins were made. There are 12 principle Quarter Horse families and the two most important founding sires of the breed are Janus, an imported English horse who died in 1780, and Sir Archy, the son of the first English Derby winner Diomed.
Description
The Quarter Horse is generally fairly short (15-16 hands) and compact. They are very muscular, especially the hindquarters, which are the source of the horse's great power for sprinting. They have a short head with a flat profile and a short, muscular neck. The underline (belly) is longer than the back, and the cannon bones are short.
Horse Care and Feeding
Quarter Horses are known to be easy keepers and maintain weight on a fairly low amount of feed. A diet of grass hay with minimal vitamin and mineral supplements is usually sufficient. It is important to not overfeed your Quarter Horse as they tend to become easily overweight.
The breed does equally well in pasture or in a barn or box stall. Like the mustang, ancestors of the Quarter Horse were free roaming wild horses in the Americas, lending to their being a hardy breed with simple nutritional requirements.
Horse Training and Activities
Quarter Horses dominate the sports of cutting, reining, and gymkhana with their agility and speed. They are used by ranchers to drive cattle and are great Western Pleasure horses. They are also used for English Pleasure and jumping.
Common Health Problems
Although it is not very common, there is a genetic disease in the Quarter Horse bloodlines from the sire Impressive called hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP) that leads to uncontrolled muscle twitching or profound muscle weakness. In severe cases it may lead to collapse and/or death. Before buying a horse, make sure he is tested for HYPP.
Availability
The American Quarter Horse is readily available throughout the United States.
Anonymous - 2017-09-23 I ride a quarter horse called Rue. He is awesome he's so fast that I can run barrels on him in about 11 seconds. That isn't even his fastest time!
Jessie Jo - 2015-06-22 I have 6 American Quarter Horses and they are great!!! My competition horse Harley is wickedly quick!!! Harley and I have gotten a 21 second run on POLES!!! I was so proud of her!! Quarter horses are just a pleasure!!!😊
horselover - 2014-01-16 hey, i was just wondering which horse i should get i want ride western and want to know if a quarter horse is better or a friesian
Clarice Brough - 2014-01-17 My family had a Quarter Horse as I was growing up. He was fun to ride but very quick to turn, even when galloping, so you had to be prepared when turning, or get tossed...lol.
Anonymous - 2014-03-02 Get a quarter horse. I ride Western, and have three Quarter Horses and they're all loving. Great Barrel Racing and Pole Bending Horses. They're bred to ride Western unlike The Fresian which is more of an English Riding Horse.
Emily - 2014-09-01 It depends on what you want to do. Friesians are popular for dressage and because they are beautiful. The quarter horse may not be as majestic-seeming, but they are incredible versatile, willing, and sweet. Quarter horses are one of the most popular western horses, and should you want to try a different discipline, your horse will gladly try it with you. As a quarter horse owner who does 7 different disciplines, I definitely say that they are the best of the best :)
Sadie B. - 2015-01-21 I live on a ranch where we raise Quarter horse. A quarter horse is definitely the way to go in my opinion. They are going to be better in the western show ring. If you are going to be doing English then the Friesian would be better. Also if you are on a budget the Quarter horse will be cheaper and easier to find or at least where I'm from that's the case
savanah albarran - 2015-01-25 I want to know if a quarter horse is better for rounding up cows?
Joly - 2015-06-22 I have 6 Quarter horses and they are so great!!! My competition horse Harley is very Quick. We have gotten a 21 second run on POLESTAR!!! It was awesome!!! Quarter horses are a pleasure!!!😊
horselover 902 - 2011-07-26 My family owns 5 quarter horses. I love the breed. I ride a 7 year old gray gelden named pekito [little bit in spanish]. I just found this website and love it.