The American Quarter Horse earned Its name came from its ability to outdistance other breeds of horses in races of a quarter mile or less.
In the 1600s colonists cross bred their English Thoroughbred’s to “native” horses ( The Chickasaw, Ibreian, Arab and Barb Stock ) The resulting horse was small, hardy and quck and was used as a working horse and as a race horse.
The Quarter Horse is the most popular horse in the USA today and has the largest breed registry in the world.
Due to their kind and gentle nature but extreme athletic abilities, the Quarter Horse is the most multi purpose horse, there is almost nothing they cant do…..
The Quarter Horse is know as both a race horse and for its ability to perform in Rodeos’s, Shows, Reining, cutting, barrel racing, gymkhana ( Tent Pegging ) and western riding events. They are also shown in English disciplines ( dressage and jumping ), driving, they are also great trail riding and all round family horses.
The Quarter Horse has been exported worldwide and with the internationalization fo the discipline of reining and its acceptance as one fo the official seven events of the Wold Equestrian Games, there is a growing interest in the Quarter Horse.
Appendix Quarter Horse
Since Quarter Horse/Thoroughbred crosses continue to enter the official registry of the American Quarter Horse breed, this creates a continual gene flow from the Thoroughbred breed into the American Quarter Horse breed, which has altered many of the characteristics that typified the breed in the early years of its formation. Some breeders, who argue that the continued infusion of Thoroughbred bloodlines is beginning to compromise the integrity of the breed standard, and there for favor the earlier style.
Modern Quarter Horse
The modern Quarter Horse has a small, short, refined head with a straight profile, and a strong, well-muscled body, featuring a broad chest and powerful, rounded hindquarters. They usually stand between 14 and 16 hands high, although some Halter-type and English hunter-type horses may grow as tall as 17 hands.
There are two main body types: the stock type and the hunter or racing type. The stock horse type is shorter, more compact, stocky and well muscled, yet agile. The racing and hunter type Quarter Horses are somewhat taller and smoother muscled than the stock type, more closely resembling the Thoroughbred.
Reining and cutting horses are smaller in stature, with quick, agile movements and very powerful hindquarters. Western pleasure show horses are often slightly taller, with slower movements,smoother gaits, and a somewhat more level topline – though still featuring the powerful hindquarters characteristic of the Quarter Horse.
Horses shown in-hand in Halter competition are larger yet, with a very heavily muscled appearance, while retaining small heads with wide jowls and refined muzzles. They are typically 15.2 to 16 hands and weighs in at over 1200 pounds.
Racing and hunter type
A quarter horse competing in an open hunter show Quarter Horse race horses are bred to sprint short distances ranging from 220 to 870 yards. Thus, they have long legs and are leaner than their stock type counterparts, but are still characterized by muscular hindquarters and powerful legs. Quarter horses race primarily against other Quarter horses, and their sprinting ability has earned them the nickname, “the world’s fastest athlete.” The show hunter type is slimmer, even more closely resembling a Thoroughbred, usually reflecting a higher percentage of appendix breeding. They are shown in hunter/jumper classes at both breed shows and rated horse show competition
Quarter Horses come in nearly every colour. In South Africa the Quarter Horse is allowed to cross breed with the Appaloosa and Pinto to breed a Appendix Foal. The foals born from these crosses are allowed to be registered through Stud Book with the different Societys.