1. Equine Lecture
Evolution, History, Breeds, and Body Parts (External, Digestion, and Markings)

2. Evolution
Evolved from North America’s “Dawn Horse” which was the size of a fox.
50 million years ago
Adaptations allowed an ancient ancestor to survive by grazing on grasses, fleeing from predators with longer legs, and increased flexibility of limbs.
----- Meeting Notes (10/31/11 08:26) -----

3. Ancient Lines From the Pliohippus evolved three lines.
Equus caballus (modern horse, tarpan, and Asiatic wild horses)
Asses (African, Asiatic, and Kiang)
Zebras (Grevy’s, Burchell’s, Mountain, and extinct Quagga)

4. History
Domesticated B.C. in herds for milk, meat, and skins.
Eventually, used to ride and then to transport goods.
Later glorified in art, politics, a way of life, and war.
With the lessening of the need for horses, came the use for sports and recreation.

7. 1 “hand”= 4 inches

8. Light Horse Breeds

9. Arabian
Small to medium sized, “dished” small head, skin is dark, many different colors
First breed to be domesticated by humans
Weighs between 850-1,100 pounds, height of hands
Used for pleasure riding, ranch work, and parades

10. American Saddlebred
Usually one solid color, frequently have white markings.
Developed during colonial times to get a horse that can give long, fast rides.
Weighs 1,000-2,000 pounds, height of hands.
Used for showing in saddle & fine harness classes & riding bridle paths

11. Morgan
Known for versatility, stylish action, stamina and ease of handling.
Good show horse, noted for thick neck & crest
Weighs about 1,000 pounds height of hands
Pleasure & driving horses, & as working ranch horses

12. Quarter Horse
Bred for “cow sense” as it works with cattle horse & short 1/4 mile races
Heavily muscled in rear, gentle disposition
Used for racing, cutting, show & stock.
Weighs 1,100-1,300 height of 14-15

13. American Paint Horse
Descendent of plain Indians’ horses, must be of Quarter Horse bloodline.
To be registered as paint must meet minimum color requirements
More stockier & heavily muscled than other light breeds

14. Pinto Horse
A colored horse of any breed, but not of quarter horse bloodline.

15. Tennessee Walker Bred for a running walk, gait smooth ride.
Comes in all colors, weighs 1,000-1,200 pounds height of hands
Used for pleasure riding and show

16. Thoroughbred Developed in England
Tall, long legged horse, lean usually brown or black with white markings on legs
Used for racing and cross breeding to produce “warm breeds”

17. Standardbred
Looks similar to thoroughbred but more beefy & bulky. A “warm breed” from the thoroughbred.
Either trot or pace, weighs from 600-1,150 pounds
Used for harness racing in the east, pleasure, and show.

18. Ponies (Any breed of horse less than 14.2 hands)
Shetland
Welsh
Comes from Shetland islands off the coast of Scotland
Height of hands
Also registered under Shetland- Miniature horse
Used for children to ride on at carnivals
From Wales
Bigger pony than Shetland, but smaller than light horse breeds
Used for small children and sometimes with a harness
Pictured: Section A Welsh Mountain Pony