Laurie Mays Locust Trace AgriScience Farm Breeds of The Horse Laurie Mays Locust Trace AgriScience Farm

Light Breeds At least 14.2 hands tall at the withers 900 - 1400 pounds Most common type of horse in the United States

Arabian Origin is disputed Mideast or Northern Africa As long as 3000 years ago First registry in America was not until 1908 General purpose, light horses Known for endurance 14.1 – 15.1 hands 800 – 1000 lbs Smaller than most, general-purpose horses Head Small, dished and triangular Small muzzle Wide-set eyes

Arabian Neck Tail Colors Long and highly arched Set high on the shoulder Tail Often arched above croup level when horse is walking or trotting Colors Generally solid Bay Brown Chestnut Gray Black Crosses with other breeds result in various other colors

Arabian

Thoroughbred Developed for speed at intermediate distances 6 furlongs to 1 ½ miles Furlong = 220 yards (6 furlongs = ¾ mile) Popular as polo ponies, hunters, jumpers Thoroughbreds and half-thoroughbreds were popular in the US Cavalry

Thoroughbred Foundation stock for many light horse breeds of the United States Standardbred American Saddle Horse Morgan Quarter Horse Began in England 3 major foundation sires Herod Matchem Eclipse (~ 90% can be traced back to him) Bulle Rock is regarded as the first TB imported to America 1730 at the age of 21

Thoroughbred Ideal TB Typical TB’s Color is not important Hard to describe “they run in all shapes and sizes” Typical TB’s Long forearm and gaskin Longer from hip to hock Long, smooth muscling 15.1 – 16.2 hands (typical, but not a requirement) 900 – 1150 pounds Modern TB is about 2 hands taller than its foundation animals Color is not important Color and markings are recorded in registry Identification purposes Jockey Club recognizes Black Dark bay (brown) Bay Chestnut Gray Roan

Thoroughbred

American Quarter Horse First breed developed in the US Before TB was developed Long before Paul Revere made his historic ride Supposedly on a QH Named for the distance they ran Short, flat distances in towns and villages Probably developed from crosses with horses brought to FL by Spaniards History is slightly controversial TB has big influence in breed

Early QH Types Steeldust QH types called Steeldusts until about 1938 Foaled in Illinois in 1843 and moved to TX in 1846 QH types called Steeldusts until about 1938 Copper Bottom Shiloh 1895 - Peter McCue Foaled in IL 20% of horses registered before 1948 traced back to Peter McCue Very influential sire in breed Wimpy P-1 Awarded first permanent registry number in 1941

Quarter Horses Many different performance types Color Racing Ranch work Roping Jumping Reining Etc Color Any color other than those colors with spots (for example Paint, Pinto, Appaloosa, or American Albino colors)

Standardbred Once called American Trotting Horse Developed from Thoroughbred Norfolk Trotter Barb Morgan Canadian pacing ancestors Name Standardbred started in 1800s Registered horses that trotted or paced the mile in less than a “standard” time 1879 standard – 2:30 for trotters and 2:25 for pacers

Standardbreds Measure of performance is speed Conformation is considered but not primary importance 14.2 – 16.2 hands 850 – 1150 lbs (in racing condition) Bay = predominant color Chestnut, brown, black, gray No color discrimination if the horse is fast

Appaloosa From the Palouse River country of NW US Derived from a slurring of “ Paluse” Basis for present-day Appaloosa Spanish horses brought to Mexico in about 1600 1730 – Acquired by Nez Pierce tribe in Palouse country Colorful markings Surefootedness, endurance Bred for rugged mountain traveling over next 100 years

Appaloosa Appaloosa Horse Club – 1938 Preserve, improve and standardize breed 3 characteristics required for registry Eye encircled with white (like human eye) Skin is mottled irregularly with black and white Particularly around nostrils and genitalia Hooves are narrowly striped vertically with black and white Color patterns vary widely 8 different patterns Can also be any combination of the 8

Appaloosa Color Patterns Few spot Solid Blanket or Snowcap Blanket with Spots Leopard Snowflake Varnish Roan Roan with Blanket (solid or spotted)

Morgan Only breed named after an individual horse Justin Morgan Foundation sire of breed Called Figure as a foal Took on the name of his owner (custom in late 1700s) Registry founded in 1894 Morgan Horse Club in 1930 Today they are popular for riding and showing 14.1 – 15.1 hands and 1000 – 1200 lbs

Morgan American Morgan Horse Association Registers only horses with registered sires and dams All colors accept white are acceptable No spotted patterns Darker chestnut or black is predominant

The American Saddlebred Originated in the United States Bluegrass Region KY, TN, VA, WV, MO (later) Evolved as needs of the country changed Desire for easy-riding, general-purpose type of horse Plantations and hilly grazing areas First called the Kentucky Saddler Developed from Thoroughbred, Canadian Pacer, American Trotter, Morgan, Arabian, and others

The American Saddlebred American Saddle Horse Association formed in 1891 Current name adopted in 1980 American Saddlebred Registry, Inc. Breeding now largely for show purposes 3- and 5-gated classes, fine harness, and combination saddle and harness classes Also used for pleasure riding Show class animals have emphasis on flashy and exaggerated but controlled gaits, high carriage of head, distinctive set of tail

American Saddlebred Dark colors are often preferred but can be bay, brown, black, chestnut, gray, or roan Large white markings are avoided Can be 3- or 5-gaited Basic 3 gaits Walk – slow, springy, 4-beat gait Trot – high-stepping, 2-beat (diagonal) Canter – slow, rhythmic – 3-beat gait Other 2 gaits Slow gait – high-stepping, 4-beat gait Rack – fast, flashy, 4-beat gait

Tennessee Walking Horse Also developed for general-purpose riding, driving, and farm work Originated in Middle Basin of TN Seem to originated from Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds, American Saddle Horses, Morgans, Narragansett and Canadian Pacers and other unrecorded stock horses Naturally over-strides Good show horses when running walk = put back hoof in front of print of front hoof (50 + inches)

Tennessee Walking Horses Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ Association Formed in 1935 Allan F-1 (Black Allan) = designated as official foundation sire Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration (Shelbyville, TN) First of September Began in 1939 Solid colors White markings are common Gray and roan are not desired

Paint and Pinto Horses Many breed registries will not register horses with body spots Not related to function Registries for “spotted” horses have developed Paint, Pinto, and spotted All basically mean the same thing…horse with white body markings Piebald Black horse with white spots Skewbald Any other color (except black) horse with white

Paint and Pinto Two types of spotting Overo Tobiano Describe general location of the white on the horse not the amount of white White does NOT cross the back One or more legs are dark Head is often bald, apron-, or bonnet-faced White markings are irregularly spotted or splashy Tail is usually one color

Paint and Pinto Tobiano American Paint Horse Association White crosses the back Head is marked like that of a solid-color horse Solid, or has blaze, strip, star, snip etc All legs are white, at least below hocks and knees Body spots are regular, oval-shaped, distinct One or both flanks are usually dark American Paint Horse Association Formed in 1965 Partly formed because the AQHA wouldn’t register colored horses Registers primarily stock and quarter-type horses

Paint and Pinto The Pinto Horse Association Founded in 1956 Generally belong to 4 conformation types Stock horse (quarter horse type) Hunter type (thoroughbred) Pleasure type (Arabian and Morgan) Saddle type (Saddlebred, Hackney, TN Walker)

Top left – pieballed, tobiano Top right – skewballed tobiano Bottom left – pieballed, overo Bottom right – skewballed, overo

Palomino Registered according to color NOT type except that pony and draft breeds are excluded Golden color with white or near white mane and tail No more than 15% dark hairs in mane and tail allowed Wide variety of uses including Cutting, racing, parades, pleasure, trotters and pacers, harness horses, 3- and 5-gaited classes, etc Can be double registered

Palomino First registry was private and began in 1932 Palomino Horse Association Formed in 1936 Palomino Horse Breeders of America Primary registry in 1941 Requirements are similar for both registries except Light or dark skinned horses can be registered with PHA Only dark skinned horses can be registered with PHBA

Palomino General color rules Body coat color must be approximate that of a US gold coin Main and tail must be white Not more than 15% dark, sorrel, or chestnut hairs in either

Buckskins 2 registries have developed since 1963 American Buckskin Registry Association, Inc. 1963 International Buckskin Horse Association 1971 Both have almost identical color descriptions for registry Draft animals are not eligible Ancestry traced to Spain, the Sorraia, and Norwegian Dun

Buckskin Colors Buckskin Dun Body coat is predominantly a shade of yellow or gold (ranging from cream to nearly brown) Points = black or dark brown Dun Sometimes lighter in shade True dun – dorsal stripe, transverse stripe (shoulder stripe), and barring (tiger stripes) on the legs is always present (dorsal stripe not necessary for registration)

Buckskin Colors Grulla Red Dun Smokey blue or mouse colored Black points No white hair mixed in with darker hairs Grulla comes from Spanish meaning “blue crane” Hairs are solid mousy blue or slate color Red Dun Body coat may vary from yellow to nearly flesh color Points are dark red Dorsal stripe must be present

Top L – buckskin Top middle – grulla Top R – Dun Bottom L – Red Dun or dun Bottom middle – grulla Bottom R – red dun

Ponies Shetland Pony of Americas Welsh Max height = 46 inches Developed in Shetland Islands (100 miles North of Scotland) Very hardy breed Pony of Americas POA organized in 1955 46-56 inches Ideal = cross of QH and Arabian with Appaloosa color pattern Welsh Developed in Wales Welsh Pony and Cob Society – 1906 Welsh Cob = larger version of Welsh Pony In between from Shetland and horse Kids pony after Shetland Children’s hunters Frequently gray, any color acceptable (no spotted)

Ponies Hackney Connemara Prince of Ponies Almost exclusively shown in harness classes Bred for driving in England Selected for flashy action at trot American Hackney Association 1891 Connemara Famous for being a jumper Originated in Connemara region of Ireland Connemara Pony Breeders’ Assoc. 1923 All colors permitted except spotted or blue-eyed cream ponies

Top L – Shetland Top middle – Welsh Top R – POA Bottom L – Hackney Bottom middle – Connemara Bottom R - Connemara

Draft Breeds Horse of knights in armor in middle ages All 5 breeds developed in Northern Europe Scotland, England, France, and Belgium Named for regions of origin Developed into heavy-carriage, draft, and farming horses 16-18 hands tall, 1600-2200 lbs

Percheron La Perche, south of Normandy, France Imported to US in 1839 Percheron Horse Assoc of America – 1876 Black and gray breed ~ ½ are black and ~ ½ are gray Other colors known and white markings common but not extensive Active and light on their feet Considerable knee action and bold trot Popular at draft shows Popularity as draft due to speed at walk and lack of feathering

Belgian Originated in Belgium 1910-1930 popularity surpassed the Percheron with American farmers Predominant color – sorrel with white mane and tail Very quiet and docile, slower and less knee- action Recently, more Belgian drafts have been registered than any other draft breeds combined

Clydesdale Clyde River area of Scotland Budweiser horses Extensive white face and leg markings Extensive feathering Long, springy strides with extreme flexion of knees and hocks Lighter on average than other breeds But just as tall Cleaner, flatter boned than other draft breeds More nervous than other draft breeds

Shire English areas of Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire One of the tallest draft breeds Commonly black in color Bay, dark brown, gray and chestnut also present White face and leg markings common Feather is finer and silkier American Shire Horse Association

Suffolk Suffolk, England Chestnut breed Developed for farm use No feathering on legs Chestnut or sorrel color, mane and tail often lighter Very minimal face and leg markings American Suffolk Horse Association

Top L – Percheron Top middle – Percheron Top R – Clydesdale Middle L – Belgin Middle R – Belgin Bottom L – Suffolk Bottom Middle – Shire Bottom R - Shire

Other European Breeds in the US Hanoverians Originated in Hanover, Germany Hunters, dressage, and show jumpers Holsteins Schleswig-Holstein, Germany Tall, light horses Dressage and jumpers Usually bay or seal-brown Trakehners Germany Dressage and show events

Other European Breeds in the US Haflingers Small, general-purpose mountain horse South Tyrol region, Austria Long, easy stride; somewhat resemble a draft horse Often light shade of chestnut with flaxen mane and tail Gotland Sweden Small horse Served as mounts for Goths, Vikings etc Now used as children’s mounts due to quiet temperment

Top L – Hanoverian Top R – Holstein Bottom L – Gotland Bottom middle – Haflinger Bottom R – Trakaehner

The Long Ears Equus asinus Come in all sizes and colors Male = Jack Female = Jennet Longer, larger ears Less mane and tail Cow-like, smaller hooves Gestation period = ~30 days longer

American, Mammoth, or Standard Jack and Jennet Bred for crossing on horse mares to produce mules George Washington = one of first breeders of Jacks Any color is permitted, most Jacks are dark or red sorrel with white points

Burro Small, so-called feral ass of North and South America Most are 40-50 inches tall Blend of many European and middle eastern breeds Come in all colors and sizes