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BREED SHOWCASE – QUARTER HORSE

History

The American Quarter Horse was the first breed that was developed in the Americas, and became recognized in 1611. It came from horses already in the Americas (like Arabs, Turks, and Barbs) crossed with imported English 'running' horses. These were the basis for English Thoroughbreds. This cross resulted in a very fast, very powerful horse, excellent at sprinting. The settlers in Virginia and the Carolinas adopted Quarter Horses for racing. They uses the village street, or lanes between the estates, for this hobby. The horses excelled at going the 400 meters (quarter mile), which is why they are called Quarter Horses. Although now mostly Thoroughbreds race, Quarter Horse racing is still popular for business and pleasure.

Appearance

The Quarter Horse, with its muscular build and large hindquarters, is meant for sprinting. An attractive, compact horse, it has excellent conformation. Its head is quite short and wide. Its neck is usually long, set low on strong shoulders and well defined withers. Its chest is wide and it has a short back and well-muscled thighs. It must have strong hocks and sloping pasterns. The sloping pasterns act as shock absorbers for sudden stops. The most common color it comes in is chestnut, but any solid color is allowed. Its average height is 15 hands.

Uses

The Quarter Horse was originally used by the pioneers in their westward journey. It is ideal for ranching and cutting cattle and it's also good at hauling and transporting things. It has become a great all-purpose horse, used in many Western riding contests, participating in barrel racing and steer roping, for rodeos, and trail and pleasure riding. It also jumps quite well and could be a top-class show jumper or event horse, especially when crossed with Thoroughbreds.

For More Information

Books

  • Horse: The Complete Guide, by Mary Gordon Watson
  • The Big Book of Horses, by Fran Ames & Lesley Bayley

Websites

© 2006 by Warren Wechsler for Horse Talk Radio


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