This page contains pictures and facts about horse breeds and general facts about horses.
Horse Breed Facts
The Thoroughbred is classified by its place of origination, appearance and its use as in riding or work. It is bred mostly for racing. The horse has a small head, deep chest and straight back. Its legs have been developed through breeding to allow a long easy stride. The color of its coat is usually chestnut.
The Arabian is light and fast. It has stamina, character and is intelligent. The Arabian has a small head, wide nostrils, a short back, strong legs and protruding eyes. It has 23 vertebrae. It is usually gray in color but can be other colors as well. The coat, mane and tail fine silky hair.
Asian breeds or Persian are small in size but great in intelligence and endurance. These breeds include the Cossack, Mongol, Kirghis and Tartar horses.
Anglo Arab breed developed in France from crossing Arabian with English Thoroughbred horses. The result was a horse smaller than a Thoroughbred yet larger than an Arabian. The color of its coat is usually chestnut. This horse is capable of carrying a great deal of weight.
The Andalusian is characterized by its high stepping and spirit.
The Appaloosa is thought to have descended from Wild Mustangs in the Nez Perce Indian territory. It stands about 14-15 hands high. It has a sturdy build ideal for farm work.
The Cleveland Bay is another carriage horse that stands 17 hands high.
The English Hackney is used as a carriage horse. It stands 15 hands high.
The Morgan horse is very versatile. It is used for pulling wagons or carriages, riding, ranch work and more. It is about 15 hands high. The Morgan is very intelligent and good natured. The color of its coat is usually dark brown.
The Quarter horse was bred to race in short races of a quarter of a mile or so. It stands about 14-16 hands high. It is also good for ranch work.
The Standardbred breed is a good harness racer. It is an excellent trotter and pacer.
Gaited Breeds have been developed by American breeders. These breeds include the Missouri Fox trotting horse, the Tennessee walking horse and the American saddle horse. These horses are used mostly for show.
The Lipizzaner is small in size and stands about 15 hands high. It has a powerful build, slender legs, a long silky mane and tail. It has a good disposition and is intelligent.
Other breeds used for riding and carriage include the Holstein, Hanoverian, East Prussian, or Trakehner.
Heavier breeds are used for heavy loads and farm work. These breeds include the English Shire, Suffolk, Clydesdale, the Belgian, the Percheron, the Pinzgauer and the Noriker. These horses stand 16-19 hands high. The English Shire is the world's largest horse.
Ponies are horses that are not Arabians and stand under 14 hands high. They come in all colors. Some ponies are: Welsh, Exmoor, Connemara, Highland, dale, Fell, Shetland, Norwegian and more. The Shetland pony is under 7 hands high.
During the Crusades , the Arabian horse was king. The Arabs had the advantage because of the Arabian Horse and because they were on their own grounds.
The Belgian is a heavier, calmer work breed.
General Facts on Horses
Horses were first domesticated in Central Asia. There were 2 groups that emerged. the Arab- Barb types that were from the Barbary coast and the types that came from Northern regions.
- A male horse is a stallion.
- A female is a mare.
- A stallion used for breeding is a stud.
- A castrated horse is a Gelding
- Young horses are called foals
- male foals are called colts
- female foals are called fillies
History of Horses in America
Horses were not native to America. The horse was the key to conquering the Americas as the Natives, (especially the Incas and Aztecs) thought the Spanish were gods as from a distance they looked as one creature on their horse. And the natives had never seen a horse before. The wild horses were a result of horses that were left when the conquering Spanish went home as it was cheaper to leave the horses as to transport the horses back to Spain. The horses adapted to the environment and the natives rounded them up and trained them.
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