There are over one hundred true breeds of horses (see Wikipedia - List of Horse Breeds) in the world. There are many supposed " breeds " that are not really breeds; rather they are colors. A good example of this is the Pinto horse which is a multi-colored horse that can be of any breed as long as it conforms to one of the four color patterns allowed by the Pinto Horse Association.
The subject of this web page is breeds, however, so here are a few of the most common breeds:
The result of selective breeding by the Nez Perce Indians, the spotted horses of the Northwest were named after the Palouse River which runs through the area. The U S Cavalry slaughtered most of the breed after chasing the tribe into the Bear Paw mountains of Montana. In 1938, a group of concerned horse people began a registry in order to save the breed. It now has the third largest registry in the world.
Its most distinguishing feature is its spotted coat. Known for their quiet temperment, they are versatile, doing well in trail and long distance.
The Arabian horse originated on the Arabian Peninsula about 4500 years ago, making it one of the oldest horse breeds. An easily recognizable breed with their distinctive refined, wedge-shaped heads and high tail carriage, Arabians are among the ten most popular breeds in the world.
In the 1980s, Arabians became a popular status symbol and were marketed like fine art. Some individuals used them as tax shelters until the Tax Reform Act of 1986 closed the loophole. The prices of top Arabian studs collapsed from the $2.55 million for NH Love Potion in 1984 to such a degree that many breeders were forced into bankruptcy and many purebred horses were sent to the slaughterhouse. By 2003, 67% of purebred Arabians were owned for recreational purposes.
The Morgan horse is compact and muscular with a refined build. It has a clean-cut head, and a well arched neck. All Morgans can trace their lineage back to a stallion named Figure, born in 1789 in West Springfield, Mass. This sire was at one time owned by a man named Justin Morgan, which is why the horse later came to be identified as 'the Justin Morgan horse'. Although they come in a variety of colors, the most common are bay, black and chestnut.
The breed's trotting ability made it a favorite for the harness racing in the 1840s. During the Civil War, Morgans were also used as Cavalry mounts. This includes the horses of Sheridan (Rienzi) and Stonewall Jackson (Little Sorrel).
The Morgan horse was named the official state animal of Vermont in 1961 and the official state horse of Massachussetts in 1970.
The Percheron is a breed of draft horses that originated in the Perche province of France. Usually gray or black, clean-limbed, powerful and docile, this breed is known for its agility and intelligence. Originally bred as war horses, over time they began to be used to pull stage coaches and later for agriculture and hauling heavy goods.
One of the most famous horse teams in the US is the Heinze hitch of Percherons who have appeared in the Tournament of Roses Parade. A Percheron mare from Australia holds the unofficial world pulling record of 3410 pounds.
The Quarter Horse, a stocky broad-chested breed with well-muscled hindquarters and a compact body was originally known as a short distance racehorse - best speed at a quarter mile. By the time America was being settled, quarter horses had been bred so that they had "cow sense, " which made them good for managing cattle on the open plains.
Quarter Horses are popular in rodeos and gymkhanas or any other equine sport that has a need for a short burst of speed and the ability to turn sharply and quickly. It is a popular family breed due to its good disposition and intelligence.
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