Breeds of Horses IMS #8894
Overview Many uses have brought about great variety Work horses - large, heavily muscled Speed horses - refined, longer legged Various gaits - ease in riding or pulling
Objectives Identify classes, breeds, and types of horses Discuss origins, descriptions, and uses of breeds of horses Locate addresses of horse breed registries
Classes, Breeds, and Types Common origin Possess certain well-fixed, distinctive, uniformly, transmitted characteristics not common to other horses
Classes, Breeds, and Types Certain breeds better adapted for specific purposes Diverse and distinct horse breeds
Types of Horses Thoroughbreds Quarter Trotters Pacers Riding Horse Saddle Walking Stock Polo Hunters Jumpers Ponies Race Horse Running Thoroughbreds Quarter Harness Trotters Pacers
Types of Horses Driving Horse Work Horse Heavy harness Fine harness Roadsters Ponies Work Horse Draft Wagon Exhibition
Classes, Breeds, and Types Height measured in hands Measurement taken from top of withers to the ground Hand = 4 inches
Classes, Breeds, and Types Classified depending on size, build, and use Light Ponies Warmbloods Draft
Light Horses American Paint Horse American Saddlebred Appaloosa Arabian Morgan Palomino Pinto Quarter Horse Standardbred Tennessee Walking Horse Thoroughbred
Light Horses 14-2 to 17 hands Primarily for: 900-1400 pounds Riding Driving Racing
American Paint Horse Light Horse Breed Origin – United States 14-1 to 16-2 hands Uses Stock Pleasure Show Racing
American Paint Horse Light Horse Breed Color – White with any other color Overo Tobiano Tovero
American Paint Horse Light Horse Breed Overo Predominantly white or dark No white crossing back between withers and tail Legs - One or all dark Tail - one color
American Paint Horse Light Horse Breed Tobiano Predominantly white or dark Spots distinct, round, or oval patterns extending down over the neck and chest Legs - all 4 white Tail - 2 colors
American Paint Horse Light Horse Breed Tovero Dark pigmentation around ears and mouth Chest and flank spots in varying sizes One or both eyes blue
American Saddlebred Horse Light Horse Breed Origin – Kentucky Color – Bay, brown, chestnut, gray, black, or golden 15 to 16 hands
American Saddlebred Horse Light Horse Breed Three gaited horses show: Walk Trot Canter Five gaited horses show: Slow gait The rack
American Saddlebred Horse Light Horse Breed Uses: Three gaited Five gaited Pleasure Stock Fine harness
Appaloosa Light Horse Breed Origin – Idaho, Oregon, and Washington Descended from Central Asia First bred by Nez Perce Indians
Appaloosa Light Horse Breed Color – Variations and combinations of colors and spots Four distinguishable characteristics Coat pattern Mottled skin - speckled & blotchy pattern of pigmented & non-pigmented skin White sclera – area of the eye which encircles the iris Striped hooves
Appaloosa Light Horse Breed 14 to 15-2 hands Uses: Stock Pleasure Race Parade Hunters Jumpers
Arabian Light Horse Breed Origin – Saudi Arabia Color – Bay, gray, chestnut some white and black White marks common on head and legs
Arabian Light Horse Breed 14-2 to 15-2 hands Dish face - Most distinguishable characteristic Uses: Saddle, show, stock, pleasure, racing, endurance races, competitive trail rides
Morgan Light Horse Breed Origin – Vermont Color – Bay, brown, chestnut Some black, palomino, buckskin, gray 14-2 to 16 hands
Morgan Light Horse Breed Stamina Docility Beauty Courage Longevity
Morgan Light Horse Breed Uses: Saddle Stock Harness
Palomino Light Horse Breed Origin – United States Spanish descent Color – Golden with light colored mane and tail No more than 15% dark or chestnut hair in either mane or tail
Palomino Light Work Horse 14-2 to 16 hands Type desired depends on intended use
Palomino Light Work Horse Uses: Parade Stock Pleasure Saddle Fine Harness
Pinto Light Work Horse Origin – United States Spanish Conquistadors Color – White with any other color Tobiano Overo Color breed rather than type breed
Pinto Light Horse Breed Uses: Hunters Polo Mounts Racing Saddle horses Stock horses
Quarter Horse Light Horse Breed Origin – United States Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas Color – Gray, black ,bay, sorrel, chestnut, brown, buckskin, palomino, dun, grullo, red dun, blue roan, and red roan
Quarter Horse Light Horse Breed 15 to 16 hands Well muscled Powerfully built Most versatile of all breeds
Quarter Horse Light Horse Breed First breed native to United States Uses: Stock Racing Pleasure Hunting Jumping
Standardbred Light Horse Breed Origin – United States Color – Bay, brown, black Some chestnut, gray, roan, dun 15 to 16 hands
Standardbred Light Horse Breed Developed for harness racing Important requirements Pleasing conformation Style Quality
Standardbred Light Horse Breed Uses: Racing Trotting Pacing Show
Tennessee Walking Horse Light Horse Breed Origin – Tennessee Color – Sorrel, chestnut, roan, black, white, golden, gray, bay, brown 14-3 to 17 hands
Tennessee Walking Horse Light Horse Breed Three easy riding gaits Flat-foot walk Running walk Canter Natural, inherited characteristics
Tennessee Walking Horse Light Horse Breed Uses: Pleasure Plantation Walking Show
Thoroughbred Light Horse Breed Origin – England Developed as a running horse 15 to 16-2 hands
Thoroughbred Light Horse Breed Color – bay, brown, chestnut, sorrel, black gray White markings on face and legs Conformation emphasizes factors contributing to racing and sports
Thoroughbred Light Horse Breed Uses: Race Saddle Hunting Jumping Polo mounts
Ponies Pony of the Americas Miniature Horse Shetland Pony Welsh Pony
Ponies Under 14-2 hands Less than 900 pounds
Miniature Horse Pony Origin – England Color – Any color, marking patterns, or eye color Height – no more than 34 inches
Miniature Horses Pony Uses: First used to pull ore carts in coalmines Pets Show First used to pull ore carts in coalmines
Pony of the Americas Pony Origin – Mason City, Iowa Color – Very similar to Appaloosa Several color patterns acceptable 46-54 inches
Pony of the Americas Pony Conformation between Quarter Horse and Arabian Uses: Juniors who have outgrown Shetlands but not ready for a horse
Shetland Pony Pony Origin – Shetland Isles Color – Any color, solid, or mixed Height classes Under 43 inches 43-46 inches
Shetland Pony Pony Long, shaggy outer coat during winter Full mane and tail One of oldest breeds in existence
Shetland Pony Pony Uses: Children Harness Racing Roadster
Welsh Pony Pony Origin – Wales Color – Gray, roan, black, brown, bay chestnut Some white and dun
Welsh Pony Pony Height – Two Divisions Weight “A” – Cannot exceed 12-2 hands “B” – Over 12-2 but not more than 14-2 Weight “A” – Less than 500 pounds “B” – 500 to 900 pounds
Welsh Pony Pony Uses: Children Harness racing Trail riding Parades
Warmblood Horses American Warmblood Hanoverian Holsteiner Trakehner
Warmblood Horses 15-1 to 17 hands 1200 to 1600 pounds
Warmblood Horses Primarily for sporting competitions Dressage Driving Hunting Jumping Three-day events
Warmblood Horses Combination of “hot blooded” (Arabians and Thoroughbreds) crossed with “cold blooded” (draft) Do not have closed studbooks Official record of the pedigree or ancestry of purebreds Outside blood is not allowed into gene pool
American Warmblood Warmblood Breed Origin – United States Color – Any color Preferably solid with few white markings 16-17 hands
American Warmblood Warmblood Uses: Dressage Driving Jumping Three-Day eventing
Hanoverian Warmblood Origin - Germany Color – Solid color (bay, chestnut, gray) Excessive white not desired 16 – 17 hands
Hanoverian Warmblood Noble horse Cooperative temperament Elastic gaits Outstanding ability in international equestrian disciplines
Hanoverian Warmblood Uses: Dressage Driving Jumping Three-day eventing
Holsteiner Warmblood Origin – Province of Schleswig-Holstein in Northern Germany Color – Bay Few or no white markings 16 to 17 hands
Holsteiner Warmblood Relaxed and willing temperament Good character and eagerness to work Carries head in beautiful arch Excellent jumping ability
Holsteiner Warmblood Uses: Dressage Driving Jumping Three-day eventing
Trakehner Warmblood Origin – Trakehner, East Prussia Color – Solid color (bay, chestnut, sorrel, gray) without excessive white markings 15-3 to 16-3 hands
Trakehner Warmblood Originally developed for Prussian Army “Floating trot” Excellent balance Excels in dressage
Trakehner Warmblood Introduced to North America in 1957 Uses: Dressage Hunting Jumping Three-day eventing
Draft Horses Belgian Clydesdale Percheron Shire
Draft Horses 14-2 to 19 hands More than 1400 pounds Primarily for heavy work and exhibition
Belgian Draft Breed Origin – Belgium Color – Chestnut, sorrel Some roans and bays 15-2 to 17 hands
Belgian Draft Breed Size Known for draftiness Widest Deepest Most compact massive Lowest set draft breed
Belgian Draft Breed Most numerous draft breed Docile Quiet Gentle
Belgian Draft Breed Uses: Exhibition Special Attractions Farm Work
Clydesdale Draft Breed Origin – Scotland Color – Bay Some black, brown, chestnut, and roan 4 white socks Well-defined blaze or bald face
Clydesdale Draft Breed Size – Medium Draft breed 16-2 to 18 hands Superior style and action Heavy feathering of feet Fringe of hair around foot just above the hoof
Clydesdale Draft Breed Uses: Exhibition Special attractions Farm work
Percheron Draft Breed Origin – France Color – Most common: black or gray Some chestnut and roan Size – Intermediate Between Clydesdale and Belgian
Percheron Draft Breed 16-2 to 17-3 hands Extremely docile Clean-cut head
Percheron Draft Breed Uses: Mated with Thoroughbreds Exhibition purposes Special attractions Farm Work Mated with Thoroughbreds Produce hunters and jumpers
Shire Draft Breed Origin – England Color – Black, brown, gray, chestnut/sorrel Undesirable: Excessive white markings roaning
Shire Draft Breed Size – Large Matched in weight only by Belgian 16-2 to 17-1 hands War horses in 15th and 16th centuries
Shire Draft Breed Uses: Exhibition purposes Special attractions Farm work
Summary Breed Common origin Possess certain well-fixed, distinctive, uniformly, transmitted characteristics not common to other horses
Summary Classified as: Light Ponies Warmbloods Draft
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