I NTRODUCTION TO H ORSE B REEDS By: Ms. Ryan

T ERMS : Stallion: mature male horse Mare: mature female horse Foal: young, immature horse Colt: young, immature male horse Filly: young, immature female horse Gelding: castrated male horse

I NTRODUCTION TO B REEDS People first bred horses based on desirable characteristics After a few generations, a breed was born Foundation sires: stallions that founded (started) registered breeds Palomino Horse Association of California First color breed registration

C LASSIFICATION OF H ORSES According to size, weight, and build Light, draft, or pony By use Riding, racing, driving, jumping, utility Warmblood, Coldblood, or ponies

H ORSE C LASSIFICATION Depends on height and weight of the horse Hand: common measurement Top of the withers to the ground Equal to 4 inches Example: 15 hands = 60 inches

L IGHT H ORSES 12 to 17.2 hands high 900 to 1,400 pounds Used for riding, driving, showing, racing, or utility on a farm or ranch Capable of more action and greater speed than draft horses

D RAFT H ORSES 14.2 to 17.2 hands high Weigh 1,400 pounds or more Primarily used for heavy work or pulling loads When used for work, classified according to use as: draft Wagon farm chucks southerners

P ONIES 14.2 hands high or less Weigh 500 to 900 pounds Distinct conformation on a reduced scale Draft, heavy harness, or saddle type

W ARMBLOOD Does not relate to horses with a certain temperature Overall temperament of light-to-medium horse breeds Fine boned, suitable for riding Some classify light horses as warmbloods Some classify any horse that is not definitely Thoroughbred, draft, or pony warmblood

C OLDBLOOD Heavy, solid, strong horses Calm temperament Another way to describe Draft horses

R IDING H ORSES Gaited horses (3 and 5 gait) Stock horses Equine sports Ponies for riding and driving

R ACING H ORSES Running racehorses Pacing/trotting racehorses Quarter racehorses Harness racehorse 6 th per. 1/21

D RIVING H ORSES Heavy and fine harness Ponies roadsters 1 st per. 1/21

A LL - PURPOSE H ORSES Horses and ponies used for family enjoyment Showing Ranch work Others Miniature horses and donkeys

M INIATURE H ORSES Scaled-down versions of full-size horses Not dwarfs Maximum height for registration is 34 inches Often kept as pets Some are exhibited Because of their size, only a small child can ride them Pull miniature wagons

A MERICAN B UCKSKIN Originated in U.S. Light breed 14 hands high 4 color patterns accepted Descendants of Norwedgian Dun & Spanish Sorraia

A MERICAN Q UARTER H ORSE Originated in U.S. Light breed 15.2 to 16.1 hands high Any solid color, mostly chestnut Oldest of American Breeds Most versatile in the world Largest equine registry in the world Natural cow-sense

A MERICAN S ADDLEBRED Originated in U.S. Light breed hands high Black, bay, brown; white markings on face & legs Formerly Kentucky saddler, amiable Can perform several gaits Very showy

A MERICAN S TANDARDBRED Originated in U.S. Light breed hands high Any solid color, mostly brown, bay, black, chestnut Developed as trotter/pacer Direct lines traced to one male, Messenger

A NDALUSIAN Originated in Spain Light horse hands high Gray, born dark and become lighter over years Oldest and purest of all horses after Arabian Found in A.D. 710 Almost extinct in 1830s saved by monks Used by mounted bullfighters in Spain No Arab blood used in development

A PPALOOSA Originated in Spain & United States Light breed hands high White sclera, striped hooves, mottled skin and coat pattern Bred by Nez Perce Indians Third largest breed registry in the world Popular in U.S. & Australia

A RABIAN Originated in Arabia Light breed hands high Bay, brown, chestnut, gray, black Large nostrils / large eyelashes adapted for desert conditions One less vertebra than any other breed Influenced foundation of all light breeds Can carry more weight over longer distance than a thoroughbred or quarter horse Dished face Oldest purebred Dates back to 5,000 B.C.

B ELGIAN Originated in Belgium Draft horse Up to 17 hands high Mostly roan with black points, chestnut, sometimes bay, brown, dun, or gray Descendant of medieval great horses One of the most powerful horse breeds

C LYDESDALE Originated in Scotland Draft horse hands high Bay, brown, black, roan Much white on face, legs, & sometimes body Popular in big hitches Regularly exported from Britain to wherever horses are needed for over 100 years.

F RIESIAN Originated in Holland Draft breed 15 hands high Black Used by knights of old Have heavily feathered legs Breed lightened for carriage and sport horse Tail and mane may touch the ground

M ORGAN Originated in U.S. Light breed hands high Bay, brown, black, chestnut One common foundation sire Justin Morgan of Mass. Works well under harness / saddle

M USTANG Originated in U.S. Light breed hands high All colors Original cow pony Feral horses of American west Small but tough Native Americans used extensively

P AINT H ORSE Originated in U.S. Light breed Height varies Black and white (or shades of brown) in bold patches all over body All painted horses must be sired by a registered paint, quarter horse, or Thoroughbred 6 th per. 1/22

P ALOMINO Originated in U.S. Light breed hands high Gold coat White mane and tail No markings Not possible to breed true to color First color registry

P ASO F INO Originated in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico, South America Light breed 14.3 hands high All colors Shows the natural lateral 4-beat gaits

P ERCHERON Originated in France Draft horse hands high Gray, black Most popular cart horse in the world Slight Arab features in face Used in the Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice system

P INTO Originated in Spain and U.S. Light breed Color varies Black and white in bold patches all over the body Associated with Native Americans

P ONY OF THE A MERICAS Originated in U.S. Pony breed hands high Appaloosa color pattern Cross between Appaloosa and Shetland One of the newest breeds Very good for young riders

S HETLAND Originated in England Pony breed 11.2 hands high maximum Color varies Popular with children and as pets Very hardy, gentle

T ENNESSEE W ALKING H ORSE Originated in the U.S. Light breed hands high All solid colors Well known for two unique gaits Flat walk and running walk Bred for comfortable ride Good for beginners

T HOROUGHBRED Originated in England Light breed hands high Any solid color White markings allowed Bred mainly for racing Must be handled carefully

W ELSH P ONY Originated in Wales Pony breed 13.2 hands high maximum Any solid color Very hard Very good trotting ability Good jumper Influenced trotters all over the world 1 st per. 1/22

R ARE B REEDS : C RITICAL Fewer than 200 registered animals in the U.S. Less than 2,000 globally American Cream Caspian Cleveland Bay Exmoor Florida Cracker Suffolk

R ARE B REEDS : T HREATENED Fewer than 1,000 registered in U.S. Less than 5,000 globally Akhal-Teke Canadian Dales Pony/Fell Pony Dartmoor Hackney Horse Lipizzaner Colonial Spanish

R ARE B REEDS : R ECOVERING Once listed as critical or threatened, now considered recovering Individuals or organizations try to save a rare or critical breed Belgian Friesian Percheron

F ERAL H ORSES ( MUSTANGS ) Once domesticated and have become wild Not sure how, when, or where first horses escaped from Spaniards in America s May have been 2 to 5 million Currently: horses in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, & Wyoming Public lands protected by the government Some horses have been feral for generations

D ONKEYS Mammoth (American standard) jack Largest breed Blend of several breeds, imported from southern Europe Large standard donkey (Spanish donkey) Standard donkey (burro) Miniature Medditerranean donkey

M ULES Cross between a donkey and a horse Also a hinny Mule: offspring of a male donkey (jack) and a female horse (mare) Like the horse in size and body shape Shorter, thicker head, long ears, and braying voice of the donkey