INTRODUCTION TO HORSE BREEDS By Ms Ryan TERMS

INTRODUCTION TO HORSE BREEDS By: Ms. Ryan

TERMS: Stallion: mature male horse Mare: mature female horse Foal: young, immature horse Colt: young, immature male horse Filly: young, immature female horse Gelding: castrated male horse

INTRODUCTION TO BREEDS People first bred horses based on desirable characteristics After a few generations, a breed was born Foundation sires: stallions that founded (started) registered breeds Palomino Horse Association of California � First color breed registration

CLASSIFICATION OF HORSES According to size, weight, and build � Light, draft, or pony By use � Riding, racing, driving, jumping, utility Warmblood, Coldblood, or ponies

HORSE CLASSIFICATION Depends on height and weight of the horse Hand: common measurement � Top of the withers to the ground � Equal to 4 inches � Example: 15 hands = 60 inches

LIGHT HORSES 12 to 17. 2 hands high 900 to 1, 400 pounds Used for riding, driving, showing, racing, or utility on a farm or ranch Capable of more action and greater speed than draft horses

DRAFT HORSES 14. 2 to 17. 2 hands high Weigh 1, 400 pounds or more Primarily used for heavy work or pulling loads When used for work, classified according to use as: � draft � Wagon � farm chucks � southerners

PONIES 14. 2 hands high or less Weigh 500 to 900 pounds Distinct conformation on a reduced scale Draft, heavy harness, or saddle type

WARMBLOOD Does not relate to horses with a certain temperature Overall temperament of light-to-medium horse breeds Fine boned, suitable for riding Some classify light horses as warmbloods Some classify any horse that is not definitely Thoroughbred, draft, or pony warmblood

COLDBLOOD Heavy, solid, strong horses Calm temperament Another way to describe Draft horses

RIDING HORSES Gaited horses (3 and 5 gait) Stock horses Equine sports Ponies for riding and driving

6 th per. 1/21 RACING HORSES Running racehorses Pacing/trotting racehorses Quarter racehorses Harness racehorse

1 st per. 1/21 DRIVING HORSES Heavy and fine harness Ponies roadsters

ALL-PURPOSE HORSES Horses and ponies used for family enjoyment Showing Ranch work Others Miniature horses and donkeys

MINIATURE HORSES Scaled-down versions of full-size horses � Not dwarfs Maximum height for registration is 34 inches Often kept as pets Some are exhibited Because of their size, only a small child can ride them Pull miniature wagons

AMERICAN BUCKSKIN Originated in U. S. Light breed 14 hands high 4 color patterns accepted Descendants of Norwedgian Dun & Spanish Sorraia

AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE Originated in U. S. Light breed 15. 2 to 16. 1 hands high Any solid color, mostly chestnut Oldest of American Breeds Most versatile in the world Largest equine registry in the world Natural cow-sense

AMERICAN SADDLEBRED Originated in U. S. Light breed 15 -16 hands high Black, bay, brown; white markings on face & legs Formerly Kentucky saddler, amiable Can perform several gaits Very showy

AMERICAN STANDARDBRED Originated in U. S. Light breed 14 -16 hands high Any solid color, mostly brown, bay, black, chestnut Developed as trotter/pacer Direct lines traced to one male, Messenger

ANDALUSIAN Originated in Spain Light horse 15 -16. 2 hands high Gray, born dark and become lighter over years Oldest and purest of all horses after Arabian Found in A. D. 710 Almost extinct in 1830 s � saved by monks Used by mounted bullfighters in Spain No Arab blood used in development

APPALOOSA Originated in Spain & United States Light breed 14 -15. 3 hands high White sclera, striped hooves, mottled skin and coat pattern Bred by Nez Perce Indians Third largest breed registry in the world Popular in U. S. & Australia

ARABIAN Originated in Arabia Light breed 14. 3 -16 hands high Bay, brown, chestnut, gray, black Large nostrils / large eyelashes adapted for desert conditions One less vertebra than any other breed Influenced foundation of all light breeds Can carry more weight over longer distance than a thoroughbred or quarter horse Dished face Oldest purebred � Dates back to 5, 000 B. C.

BELGIAN Originated in Belgium Draft horse Up to 17 hands high Mostly roan with black points, chestnut, sometimes bay, brown, dun, or gray Descendant of medieval great horses One of the most powerful horse breeds

CLYDESDALE Originated in Scotland Draft horse 16. 2 -18 hands high Bay, brown, black, roan Much white on face, legs, & sometimes body Popular in big hitches Regularly exported from Britain to wherever horses are needed for over 100 years.

FRIESIAN Originated in Holland Draft breed 15 hands high Black Used by knights of old Have heavily feathered legs Breed lightened for carriage and sport horse Tail and mane may touch the ground

MORGAN Originated in U. S. Light breed 14 -15. 2 hands high Bay, brown, black, chestnut One common foundation sire � Justin Morgan of Mass. Works well under harness / saddle

MUSTANG Originated in U. S. Light breed 14 -15 hands high All colors Original cow pony Feral horses of American west Small but tough Native Americans used extensively

6 th per. 1/22 PAINT HORSE Originated in U. S. Light breed Height varies Black and white (or shades of brown) in bold patches all over body All painted horses must be sired by a registered paint, quarter horse, or Thoroughbred

PALOMINO Originated in U. S. Light breed 14. 2 -15. 3 hands high Gold coat White mane and tail � No markings Not possible to breed true to color First color registry

PASO FINO Originated in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico, South America Light breed 14. 3 hands high All colors Shows the natural lateral 4 -beat gaits

PERCHERON Originated in France Draft horse 15. 2 -17 hands high Gray, black Most popular cart horse in the world Slight Arab features in face Used in the Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice system

PINTO Originated in Spain and U. S. Light breed Color varies Black and white in bold patches all over the body Associated with Native Americans

PONY OF THE AMERICAS Originated in U. S. Pony breed 11. 2 -13 hands high Appaloosa color pattern Cross between Appaloosa and Shetland One of the newest breeds Very good for young riders

SHETLAND Originated in England Pony breed 11. 2 hands high maximum Color varies Popular with children and as pets Very hardy, gentle

TENNESSEE WALKING HORSE Originated in the U. S. Light breed 15 -16 hands high All solid colors Well known for two unique gaits � Flat walk and running walk Bred for comfortable ride Good for beginners

THOROUGHBRED Originated in England Light breed 14. 2 -17 hands high Any solid color � White markings allowed Bred mainly for racing Must be handled carefully

1 st per. 1/22 WELSH PONY Originated in Wales Pony breed 13. 2 hands high maximum Any solid color Very hard Very good trotting ability Good jumper Influenced trotters all over the world

RARE BREEDS: CRITICAL Fewer than 200 registered animals in the U. S. Less than 2, 000 globally American Cream Caspian Cleveland Bay Exmoor Florida Cracker Suffolk

RARE BREEDS: THREATENED Fewer than 1, 000 registered in U. S. Less than 5, 000 globally Akhal-Teke Canadian Dales Pony/Fell Pony Dartmoor Hackney Horse Lipizzaner Colonial Spanish

RARE BREEDS: RECOVERING Once listed as critical or threatened, now considered recovering Individuals or organizations try to save a rare or critical breed Belgian Friesian Percheron

FERAL HORSES (MUSTANGS) Once domesticated and have become wild Not sure how, when, or where first horses escaped from Spaniards in America 1700 -1800 s � May have been 2 to 5 million Currently: horses in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, & Wyoming Public lands protected by the government � Some horses have been feral for generations

DONKEYS Mammoth (American standard) jack � Largest breed � Blend of several breeds, imported from southern Europe Large standard donkey (Spanish donkey) Standard donkey (burro) Miniature Medditerranean donkey

MULES Cross between a donkey and a horse Also a hinny Mule: offspring of a male donkey (jack) and a female horse (mare) Like the horse in size and body shape � Shorter, thicker head, long ears, and braying voice of the donkey