Horse Breeds of North America: The Pocket Guide to 96 Essential Breeds
208
Horse Breeds of North America: The Pocket Guide to 96 Essential Breeds
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Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781580176507 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Storey Publishing, LLC |
| Publication date: | 08/30/2006 |
| Pages: | 208 |
| Sales rank: | 432,184 |
| Product dimensions: | 4.20(w) x 5.90(h) x 0.70(d) |
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CHAPTER 1
Abaco Barb
The ancestors of these colorful horses may have swum ashore from Spanish shipwrecks, or they may have arrived in the Bahamas with Loyalists fleeing the American Revolution. The last mare of this herd died in 2015.
HEIGHT: 13 hands
DESCRIPTION: Typical Spanish traits; head long between eye and muzzle, with large nostrils and heavy bone above the eye. Of the last twelve living horses, most were pintos and the rest were bay or strawberry roan.
SPECIAL QUALITIES: Some individuals rack or pace
BEST SUITED FOR: Surviving without human intervention
Place of Origin
Great Abaco, Bahamas, sometime during the 16th century
Akhal-Teke
The color of the Akhal-Teke ranges from palomino to light bay and roan, always with a golden metallic gleam to the coat. It was among the world's first hot-blooded breeds, developed by nomadic tribes in Asia.
HEIGHT: 15–16 hands
DESCRIPTION: Lean build with a long, thin neck; sloping croup, long pasterns, pronounced withers, sparse mane and tail, and lustrous coat. Many colors including bays, chestnuts, dun, palomino, grullo, cremello, perlino, and black.
SPECIAL QUALITIES: Metallic sheen to coat; soft, gliding gaits; extraordinary endurance
BEST SUITED FOR: Endurance and dressage
Place of Origin
Turkmenian desert east of the Caspian Sea
RARE
American Cream Draft
The American Cream Draft is one of only a few draft breeds that were developed entirely in the United States. Many of these horses are used for pleasure driving and riding, and at least one shows in dressage.
HEIGHT: Mature mares, 15–16 hands; mature males, 16–16.3 hands
DESCRIPTION: Refined head with large eyes, small ears, and flat profile; long, full mane and tail; wide chest, deep heart girth, and solid, strong legs set wide apart. Always cream-colored — light, medium, or dark; pink skin; white mane and tail; amber or hazel eyes.
SPECIAL QUALITIES: Unusual striking cream color
BEST SUITED FOR: Commercial carriage driving, parade hitches, farm work, riding, and pleasure driving
Place of Origin
Iowa
RARE • GAITED
American Curly Horse
When viewed in the right light, the Curly coat has a wavy pattern similar to that of rippling water. Not only do Curlies have a curly mane, tail, and coat, but many even have curls in their ears.
HEIGHT: 14.3–15.2 hands
DESCRIPTION: A sturdy horse with wide-set eyes, a muscular neck, extremely hard, round hooves. All common colors.
SPECIAL QUALITIES: Unique curly coat and mane; smooth lateral gaits; unusually hardy
BEST SUITED FOR: Ranch work, trail riding, endurance, and all pleasure sports
Place of Origin
Unknown; first recorded in Nevada
American Indian Horse
These horses transformed entire indigenous cultures into swift nomadic hunters and fearsome mounted warriors. Used as warhorses, racehorses, stock horses, and beasts of burden, they truly changed the face of a nation.
HEIGHT: 13–16 hands
DESCRIPTION: The American Indian Horse is the name now given to all Indian horses. Typically small and tough, with great endurance, individual populations vary according to tribal preferences. All colors known to the horse.
SPECIAL QUALITIES: Tough and durable; features vary according to tribal and family lines
BEST SUITED FOR: Endurance
Place of Origin
Throughout North America
American Paint Horse
Colored horses came to the Americas with Cortés and have been extremely popular ever since. American Paint Horses are now found throughout the world. They excel in all working and pleasure disciplines.
HEIGHT: 14.2–16.2 hands
DESCRIPTION: Solid stockhorse conformation; striking color patterns. Major patterns are tobiano (regular spots, white extending across back; often four white stockings and blaze or star on face, multicolored tail) and overo (irregular, splashy white markings not extending across back; at least one leg colored; often a bald or bonnet face; tail of one color).
SPECIAL QUALITIES: Versatility, athleticism, gentle temperament
BEST SUITED FOR: Western competition, ranch work, trail riding, and all working and pleasure disciplines
Place of Origin
The American West
American Quarter Horse
Originally developed on the East Coast to run races over short distances, the Quarter Horse found its place in the development of the West as an outstanding ranch horse with innate "cow sense."
HEIGHT: 14.2–17 hands
DESCRIPTION: Short, fine head with straight profile; small, alert ears and lively eyes set well apart; solid, muscular body. Many colors appear, but sorrel is the most common.
SPECIAL QUALITIES: Exceptional athleticism and versatility; extreme speed for short distances; most highly developed "cow sense" of any breed
BEST SUITED FOR: Ranch work; short-distance racing, cutting, reining, and other competition
Place of Origin
North America; originated along the eastern seaboard and became a breed on the ranches of the American West
American Quarter Pony
Known for their calm disposition, quickness, and agility, Quarter Ponies are popular mounts for Western competitions such as bulldogging, roping, and team penning. They make excellent trail and family mounts as well.
HEIGHT: 11.2–14.2 hands
DESCRIPTION: Small, chiseled head with bold eyes often showing white sclera; long, arched neck and moderately high withers; long, sloping shoulders and deep heart girth. All solid colors and pinto.
SPECIAL QUALITIES: Extremely athletic, heavily muscled, stock-type animals
BEST SUITED FOR: Western competition and ranch work
Place of Origin
The first Quarter Pony Association started in Iowa, but the breed has long been found across the United States.
GAITED
American Saddlebred
These beautiful horses, with their graceful bearing, are spirited yet gentle and easily trainable. They carry themselves elegantly and are a pleasure to ride and to watch at all times.
HEIGHT: 15–17 hands
DESCRIPTION: Finely chiseled heads with small, alert ears and large eyes; long, arched neck; wide-chested with short strong back and powerful hindquarters. All colors.
SPECIAL QUALITIES: Elegance and beauty; can have two extra gaits, the slow gait and the rack
BEST SUITED FOR: Showing (riding and driving); trail and pleasure riding
Place of Origin
Eastern United States, especially Kentucky
GAITED
American Walking Pony
These ponies' natural gaits are the walk, pleasure walk, merry walk, trot, and canter. Some also perform the slow gait and the rack, making them seven- gaited. They combine Welsh Pony and Tennessee Walker bloodlines.
HEIGHT: 13.2–14.2 hands
DESCRIPTION: Small, chiseled head with bold eyes showing white sclera; long, arched neck and moderately high withers; long, sloping shoulders and deep heart girth. All solid colors and pinto.
SPECIAL QUALITIES: A gaited pony breed of great beauty, versatility, and athleticism; some individuals can perform seven gaits
BEST SUITED FOR: Pleasure, driving, jumping, and trail riding
Place of Origin
Georgia
Andalusian
Not only does the Andalusian have stunning visual appeal, but it also has a gentle, willing disposition. Along with the Lusitano, a close relative, this breed has long been considered one of the finest in the world.
HEIGHT: 15–16 hands
DESCRIPTION: Straight or slightly convex profile on head of great elegance and character; highly arched neck; solid build; rounded croup with low-set tail. Solid colors only, most commonly bay, gray, and black.
SPECIAL QUALITIES: Exceptionally even temperament, elegance, agility, power, "cow sense"
BEST SUITED FOR: Dressage, all general riding purposes, ranch and cattle work, and mounted bullfighting
Place of Origin
Spain; came to New World with Columbus
Appaloosa
During the nineteenth century the Ni Mee Poo (Nez Percé) Indians bred these spectacular horses, which quickly became famous for their speed, surefootedness, and tremendous endurance.
HEIGHT: 14.2–16.2 hands
DESCRIPTION: Although the color is the most obvious feature of Appaloosas, their strength and versatility are prized by horsemen. One of the most common Appaloosa patterns is the blanket (shown).
SPECIAL QUALITIES: Bold coat-color patterns; striped hooves; mottled skin on nose, lips, and genitals
BEST SUITED FOR: Ranch work, trail riding, Western sports, jumping, and middle-distance racing
Place of Origin
Western Washington state and eastern Idaho
Arabian
Among the most beautiful of all horses, the Arabian is also one of the oldest recognizable types in the world. It is the most widespread breed on earth and the most influential, having been used to improve almost every other breed.
HEIGHT: 14–15.3 hands
DESCRIPTION: Dished profile, large expressive eyes, wide forehead, small muzzle; arched neck, high tail carriage. Bay, gray, black, chestnut, or roan, always with black skin.
SPECIAL QUALITIES: Great beauty, tremendous endurance, high tail carriage, and unflagging spirit
BEST SUITED FOR: Endurance, pleasure riding, and showing
Place of Origin
Middle East, especially Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Jordan
Azteca
A relatively new breed, the Azteca combines the finest qualities of its foundation breeds, the Andalusian, the Quarter Horse, and the Mexican Criollo: physical beauty combined with athletic ability and an ideal temperament.
HEIGHT: Male horses 15–16.1 hands, mares 14.3–16 hands
DESCRIPTION: Lean and elegant head, arched neck, small ears and intelligent eyes. All solid colors.
SPECIAL QUALITIES: Spirit, intelligence, agility, power, strength, elegance, and style
BEST SUITED FOR: Dressage, bullfighting, reining, cutting, team penning, roping, polo, and pleasure riding
Place of Origin
Mexico
Belgian
Like all heavy horses, this breed descended from the Great Flemish Horse, which lived in northern Europe more than 2,000 years ago. The Belgian is said to have the quietest disposition of any of the draft breeds.
HEIGHT: 16–18 hands
DESCRIPTION: Can weigh up to 2,200 pounds; straight or slightly concave profile and small ears; deep body with broad, short back and massive croup; strong, lean legs with some feathering at fetlock; show types have longer legs than working types; large feet. Usually chestnut or sorrel with white mane and tail, four white stockings, and a blaze.
SPECIAL QUALITIES: Power and grace; high-stepping action; gentle temperament; easy keepers
BEST SUITED FOR: Draft and farm work; parade hitch
Place of Origin
Belgium
RARE
Brabant
The powerful Brabant, the European version of the Belgian, is the heaviest of all the draft breeds. Although massive, these horses are easy keepers with a quiet, willing disposition, ideal for the small-scale farmer.
HEIGHT: 15.2–17 hands
DESCRIPTION: A large, neat head; short, heavily muscled neck; powerful, deep body supported by substantial legs; can weigh as much as 3,000 pounds. Most often red bay and bay roan, but blue and strawberry roans and solid dark bay are also found.
SPECIAL QUALITIES: Massively built; thicker-bodied and "draftier" than American Belgians; gentle disposition
BEST SUITED FOR: Farm work
Place of Origin
Belgium
Buckskin
A light tan coat, black mane and tail, and black legs make a stunning combination on this buckskin. Most do not have a dorsal stripe. Seeming to symbolize the Old West, buckskin is a color, not a true breed.
COAT COLOR: Usually tan, but may range from cream to deep bronze
MANE AND TAIL: Black
SKIN: Dark
MARKINGS: Legs black from knees and hocks to ground; rarely, a dorsal stripe
RELATED COLORS: Dun
Color Close-up
Duns resemble buckskins but their hairs have dark pigment along one side. This gives the coat color a characteristic smuttiness, where other horses would have a sheen. In addition, duns often have darker points: a dorsal stripe, shoulder stripes, and zebra leg-stripes. The gene controlling these markings, called the dun factor, is often found in wild horses.
Canadian Horse
Tracing its ancestry to the royal horses of French King Louis XIV, this breed has a long, illustrious history. It has contributed much to the development of Canada, as well as to many other breeds of horses.
HEIGHT: 14.3–16.2 hands
DESCRIPTION: Solidly built with strong, arched neck, long body; short head, wide between the eyes, with fine muzzle; long, wavy mane and high-set tail. Usually black or very dark brown.
SPECIAL QUALITIES: Hardy, sound, easy keeper
BEST SUITED FOR: Riding, jumping, and driving
Place of Origin
Quebec
Canadian Sport Horse
Specifically developed to excel at the Olympic sports of show jumping, dressage, and eventing, this breed has big, fluid movement both on the flat and over jumps. Thoroughbred blood is evident in this stallion.
HEIGHT: 16 hands and taller
DESCRIPTION: Well-balanced conformation; large, quiet eyes; straight movement and impulsion. Can be bay, brown, black, chestnut, gray, pinto, cremello, or palomino.
SPECIAL QUALITIES: An evolving breed of large, solid horses that are structurally correct and have fluid movement, excellent jumping talent, and a natural ability to work with their human partners
BEST SUITED FOR: Jumping, dressage, eventing, foxhunting, and driving
Place of Origin
Canada, especially Ontario
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "Horse Breeds of North America"
by .
Copyright © 2006 Judith Harris Dutson.
Excerpted by permission of Storey Publishing.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Introduction,
Abaco Barb,
Akhal-Teke,
American Cream Draft,
American Curly Horse,
American Indian Horse,
American Paint Horse,
American Quarter Horse,
American Quarter Pony,
American Saddlebred,
American Walking Pony,
Andalusian,
Appaloosa,
Arabian,
Azteca,
Belgian,
Brabant,
Buckskin,
Canadian Horse,
Canadian Sport Horse,
Caspian,
Cerbat,
Chincoteague Pony,
Cleveland Bay,
Clydesdale,
Colorado Rangerbred,
Connemara Pony,
Dales Pony,
Dartmoor Pony,
Donkeys,
Dutch Warmblood,
Exmoor Pony,
Fell Pony,
Florida Cracker,
Friesian,
Galiceno,
Gotland Pony,
Gypsy Vanner,
Hackney Horse,
Hackney Pony,
Haflinger,
Hanoverian,
Holsteiner,
Hungarian Horse,
Icelandic Horse,
Irish Draught,
Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse,
Kerry Bog Pony,
Kiger Mustang,
Lac La Croix Indian Pony,
Lipizzan,
Lusitano,
Mangalarga Marchador,
Marwari,
McCurdy Plantation Horse,
Miniature Horse,
Missouri Fox Trotter,
Morab,
Morgan,
Moyle,
Mules and Hinnies,
Mustang,
National Show Horse,
Newfoundland Pony,
Nokota,
North American Spotted Draft Horse,
Norwegian Fjord,
Oldenburg,
Palomino,
Paso Fino,
Percheron,
Peruvian Paso,
Pinto,
Pony of the Americas (POA),
Pryor Mountain Mustang,
Racking Horse,
Rocky Mountain Horse,
Sable Island Horse,
Selle Français,
Shackleford Banker Pony,
Shagya Arabian,
Shetland Pony,
Shire,
Single-Footing Horse,
Spanish Barb,
Spanish Colonial/Spanish Mustang,
Spanish Jennet,
Standardbred,
Suffolk Punch,
Sulphur Horse,
Tennessee Walking Horse,
Thoroughbred,
Tiger Horse,
Trakehner,
Welara Pony,
Welsh Ponies and Cobs,
Westfalen/Westphalian,
Wilbur-Cruce Mission Horse,
What Different Breeds Do Best,
Average Horse Height in Hands,
Breed Association Websites,
Parts of a Horse,
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