BREEDS OF HORSES

Terms to Know Domesticated – Tamed for use by man Feathering – Fringe of hair around the horse’s foot just above the hoof Hands – The height of a horse, taken from the top of the withers to the ground. 1 hand=4 inches

More Terms to Know Overo – White extends up from the belly & legs towards the back Tobiano – White extends downward over the horse’s back

Horse Terms Foal: Young horse of either sex up to one year of age Filly: Female less than three years of age Colt: Male less than three years of age Mare: Mature female, four or older Stallion: Mature male, four or older Gelding: Castrated male

CLASSIFICATIONS Light Horse Breeds Breeds of Ponies Breeds of Draft Horses

Light Horse Breeds American Paint Horse American Saddlebred Horse Appaloosa Arabian Morgan Palomino Pinto Quarter Horse Standardbred Tennessee Walking Horse Thouroughbred

Light Horse Characteristics 14 to 17 hands Weigh 900 to 1,400 pounds Primary use is for riding, driving or racing Generally more capable of more action and greater speed

American Paint Horse

American Paint characteristics Origin: United States Color: White with any other color; may be overo and tobiano Height: 14 to 16 hands Weight: 750 to 1,300 pounds Uses: Stock, pleasure, show purposes, racing

American Saddlebred

American Saddlebred characteristics Origin: Fayette County, Kentucky Color: Bay, brown, chestnut, gray, black or golden Height: 15 to 16 hands Weight: 1,000 to 1,200 pounds Uses: Saddle, pleasure, stock and fine harness

Appaloosa

Appaloosa characteristics Origin: Idaho, Oregon, & Washington Color: Variations & combinations of colors and spots; eye encircled with white, mottled skin; hooves black & white striped Height: 14 to 15 hands Weight: 900 to 1,200 pounds Uses: Stock, pleasure, race and parade

Arabian

Arabian characteristics Origin: Arabia Color: Bay, gray, chestnut; white on head & legs is common Height: 14 to 15 hands Weight: 850 to 1,100 pounds Dished face is most distinguishing characteristic Uses: Saddle, show, stock, pleasure, racing

Morgan

Morgan characteristics Origin: Vermont Color: Bay, brown, black, chestnut; white markings less common Height: 14 to 15 hands Weight: 1,000 to 1,200 pounds Known for easy manageability and remarkable endurance Uses: Saddle, stock, harness, jumpers

Palomino

Palomino characteristics Origin: United States Color: Golden with white, silver or ivory mane & tail Height: 14 to 16 hands Weight: 900 to 1,300 pounds Uses: Parade, pleasure, stock, saddle

Pinto

Pinto characteristics Origin: United States, from horses brought in by Spanish conquistadors Color: Half color (bay, brown, chestnut) with white spots from 2 to 12 inches across Height: 14 to 16 hands Weight: 750 to 1,300 pounds Uses: Hunters, polo mounts, racing, saddle, stock

Pinto characteristics cont’d Type not color determines if a horse is identified as a paint or pinto. The Pinto registry accepts several breed types, while the Paint registry accepts only Quarter or Thoroughbred conformation.

Quarter Horse

Quarter Horse characteristics Origin: Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado & Kansas Color: Chestnut, sorrel, bay, dun, palomino, black, brown & roan Height: 14 to 16 hands Weight: 1,050 to 1,300 pounds Well-muscled & powerfully built; considered most versatile Uses: Stock, racing, pleasure

Standardbred

Standardbred characteristics Origin: United States Color: Bay, brown, chestnut, black, gray, roan and dun Height: 15 to 16 hands Weight: 900 to 1,300 pounds Developed primarily for harness racing Uses: Harness racing, trotting or pacing, show

Tennessee Walking Horse

Tennessee Walking Horse characteristics Origin: Tennessee Color: Sorrel, chestnut, roan, black, white, golden, gray, bay and brown Height: 14 to 15 hands Weight: 1,000 to 1,200 pounds The running walk is distinctive to the breed Uses: Pleasure, plantation walking, show

Thoroughbred

Thoroughbred characteristics Origin: England, developed as a running horse Color: Bay, brown, chestnut, sorrel, black, gray; white on the face & legs is common Height: 15 to 17 hands Weight: 900 to 1,400 pounds Conformation emphasizes factors contributing to racing & sports Uses: Race horses, saddle, stock, hunters and jumpers, polo mounts

Breeds of Ponies Hackney Pony of the Americas Shetland Pony Welsh Pony

Hackney

Hackney characteristics Origin: England Color: Chestnut, bay, brown; white markings are desirable Height: 12 to 16 hands (those under 14 are referred to as ponies) Weight: 800 to 1,200 pounds Uses: Valued chiefly for show purposes, heavy harness or carriage horses

Pony of the Americas

Pony of the Americas characteristics Origin: Mason City, Iowa Color: Similar to Appaloosa Height: 46” to 54” Weight: 400 to 800 pounds Breed standard calls for conformation between Quarter Horse and Arabian Uses: Western type using pony for youth

Shetland Pony

Shetland Pony characteristics Origin: Shetland Isles Color: Black, dark brown, bay, chestnut, mouse & spotted Height: 43” & under; 43” to 46” Weight: 300 to 500 pounds Develops long shaggy outer coat during winter months and has a full mane & tail Uses: Child’s mount, harness, racing, roadster

Welsh Pony

Welsh Pony characteristics Origin: Wales Color: Black, gray, bay, roan, cream, chestnut Height: “A” division – 12 hands & under; “B” division – 12 hands & over Weight: “A” division – less than 500 pounds; “B” division – 500 to 900 pounds Uses: Child’s mount, harness racing, pleasure, parade, hunting

Draft Breeds Belgian Clydesdale Percheron Suffolk

Belgian

Belgian characteristics Origin: Belgium Color: Bay, chestnut, roan Size: Wide, deep, low set bodies Weight: Male – 1,900 to 2,200 pounds; Female – 1,850 to 2,100 pounds Very docile & quiet Uses: Exhibition purposes, special attractions, farm work

Clydesdale

Clydesdale characteristics Origin: Scotland Color: Bay and brown with white markings Height: 16 to 17 hands Weight: Male – 1,700 to 1,900 pounds; Female – 1,500 to 1,700 pounds Superior style and action Heavy feathering of feet Uses: Exhibition purposes, special attractions, farm work

Percheron

Percheron characteristics Origin: France Color: Black or gray Height: 16-1 to 16-3 hands Weight: Male – 1,800 to 2,000 pounds; Female – 1,700 to 1,850 pounds Extremely docile Uses: Exhibition purposes, special attractions, farm work

Suffolk

Suffolk characteristics Origin: England Color: Chestnut, varying from light to dark; no white Height: 15-2 to 16-2 hands Weight: Male – 1,600 to 1,800 pounds; Female – 1,450 to 1,600 pounds Excellent deposition Uses: Exhibition purposes, special attractions, farm work