Breed Profile: The Trakehner

Light and tall for a warmblood, the Trakehner horse was developed and refined through the major events of European history. Origins of the breed trace, not surprisingly, to the Trakehnen region of Europe, a part of what was once East Prussia, known to the modern age as Lithuania.

As with many horses, war was a strong determinant of breed characteristics; the decline of heavy armor in the age of gunpowder and longer-range battles led to a lighter weight, more athletic horse. King Frederick William I of Prussia bred his horses for beauty, stamina, and soundness, and the breeding program he began was further refined after his death in 1787, leading to the characteristics found in the Trakehners of today.

As war gave way to more constructive competition, the Trakehner excelled. Sweeping victories in Olympic equestrian events throughout the early 20th century cemented the Trakehner's place as a treasured athlete, but the return of war in the 1940s nearly wiped out the breed. Not until World War II ended were the horses that survived the flight from Eastern Europe once again gathered together to re-establish breeding lines and rejuvenate the breed. In the 1950s, the Trakehner was introduced into Canada, then the U.S. in 1963.

Generally 16-17 hands and chestnut, bay, brown, black or grey, the Trakehner is a smooth-gaited, athletic horse that proves a capable, intelligent and elegant mount for the sport enthusiast and the casual rider.

Sources: Storey's Illustrated Guide to 96 Horse Breeds of America and The American Trakehner Association (www.americantrakehner.com). Public domain photo.

The Chincoteague Pony

by Gale Park Frederick

The Chincoteague ponies live on the islands of Chincoteague and Assateague off the coast of Virginia and Maryland. They are a race of small, hardy horses, compact and good natured. The legend is that these ponies swam ashore from a Spanish vessel that had capsized off the coast some time around the year 1600. Once on the islands, they became stunted under the harsh environment. To keep from starving they ate coarse saltmarsh cordgrass, American beachgrass, thorny greenbrier stems, bayberry twigs, seaweed, and even poison ivy. Because they drank salt water, they had an appearance of being fat or bloated. The horses bred down to the unique breed we know today as the Chincoteague Pony.

Today there are two groups of these ponies descended from the 17 original Arabian horses that survived the famous shipwreck. The Virginia Herd consists of approximately 130 head and is owned by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department. The ponies graze in the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, located on the Virginia portion of Assateague Island. The Maryland Herd consists of approximately 140 head and is owned by the Maryland Park Service.

Off the islands, the ponies are easy keepers, requiring little food compared to an adult horse. There is a saying, "A Chincoteague Pony can get fat on a cement slab."

There are approximately 980 privately owned Chincoteague Ponies scattered over the United States and Canada today. They are now recognized as a pure and rare breed.

Excerpted from http://www.pony-chincoteague.com/; reprinted with permission. Photo by DB King, licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0.

The Missouri Fox Trotting Horse

The Missouri Fox Trotting Horse is known best for the comfort it affords its rider. Loved as a trail horse, the majority of registered Missouri Fox Trotters are owned by people who use them for trail riding, competition, endurance, and pleasure riding. Acclaimed as a show horse, the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse is also recognized for its beauty and style in the show ring. Used by hunters and forest rangers for its endurance and surefootedness in rugged terrain, by ranchers for its versatility and intelligence, and on Hollywood movie sets for its gentle nature, the breed has quickly earned its reputation as a horse for all situations.

The Missouri Fox Trotting Horse has three natural gaits: an easygoing flat foot walk, the smooth and comfortable fox trot characteristic of its name, and a relaxed and free-flowing canter. No special shoeing or training is required for these horses to perform their gaits, and their good dispositions and willing attitudes are among their many desirable characteristics, making them one of the most versatile and loved of horse breeds within the equine registries.

Developed from horses in the Missouri Ozarks, the breed is characterized by a gentle demeanor and its signature gait, the fluid, diagonal 4-beat fox trot. Bloodlines can be traced from the horses of early settlers coming to the Ozarks from neighboring states of Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee and Arkansas. Their horses were depended upon for their surefootedness in this mountainous region and their ability to do whatever was needed around the homestead, from plowing to hauling logs and working cattle, while at the same time being able to double as a stylish buggy horse or riding horse for the family. Whatever the need, this horse proved capable and adaptable, later becoming known as the Missouri Fox Trotter.

Information excerpted, with permission, from MFTHA.com. Photo courtesy Alanna Hovis.

The Dutch Warmblood: Even-Tempered Athleticism

Unlike many sport horse breeds, the Dutch Warmblood is bred with soundness, willingness and tractability foremost in the breeders' minds. Primarily descended from two earlier Dutch breeds, the Groningen and the Gerderlander, open crossings between those horses and Thoroughbreds, Arabians, Haflingers, and Trakehners—just to name a few—have resulted in a horse that excels in the sports to which it is dedicated, yet maintains the cool temperament of the draft horses from which it comes. To qualify for registry, horses must pass a keuring (judged competition) to ensure the qualities the breed treasures are upheld.

There are three main strains of Dutch Warmblood. Perhaps best known in North America is the riding horse type—known in Holland as Rijpaardtype—bred for mounted sports such as dressage and jumping. Success of this strain has been proven many times over in national and international competitions. More rare in the US and Canada, but just as successful worldwide, are the two driving types of Dutch Warmblood: the Tuigpaard (Dutch Harness Horse) and the Gelders.

At an average height of 16.1 hands with a deep chest and muscular body, the Dutch Warmblood is a natural for jumping ability, driving ability, strength and stamina. The perfect combination of "hot blooded" athleticism and "cold blooded" willingness make the Dutch Warmblood an ideal sport horse for anyone who wants to ride and show with an equine partner they can trust.

Information compiled by NWHS from www.nawpn.org, www.ansi.okstate.edu, and Storey's Illustrated Guide to 96 Horse Breeds of North America by Judith Dutson. Pictured: Karen Brain and VDL Odette, photo by Nikki, creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0.

America's Favorite Draft Horse - The Belgian Draft Horse

The Belgian, as the name implies, is native to Belgium, a little country blessed with fertile soil and abundant rainfall, providing its thrifty farmers with the excellent pastures, hay and grain necessary to develop a heavy, powerful breed of horse.

Belgium lies in that area of western Europe that gave rise to the large black horses referred to as the “Great Horses” by medieval writers. They are the horses that carried armored knights into battle. They provided the genetic material from which nearly all modern draft breeds are fashioned.

Many of the breed's first American imports were criticized for being too thick, low headed, straight shouldered, and round boned. But those early Belgians made friends because they were easy keepers and willing workers with amiable dispositions. The American farmer decided the breed's assets far outweighed its faults and set out to retain what was right and remedy what was wrong.

Today's Belgian is a big, powerful fellow that retains the drafty middle, deep, strong foot, heavy muscling and amiable disposition possessed by early Belgians. His qualities as an easy keeper, a good shipper, and a willing worker are intact. The changes made by American breeders have developed a horse with far more style, particularly in the head and neck, with more slope to both shoulder and pastern.

The draft horse at his best is a spectacular beast. Once booted out at some fairs for being behind the times, they are now welcomed back as crowd pleasers. Commercial firms are looking to the Belgian hitch as an advertising vehicle. Increasing numbers of people are finding their pleasure horse in the form of a team of Belgians. Their good disposition and willingness to work make them favorites on small, part-time farms. It is no wonder Belgians are by far the most numerous of all draft breeds in the U.S.

Information excerpted, with permission, from www.belgiancorp.com. Photo by Dwight Sipler, creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0

The Classical Lipizzan

The Lipizzan breed began in 1580 when Archduke Charles II established a stud farm in Lipizza (Lipica), using the best imported Spanish horses--Andalusians, Barbs and Berbers--bred to the local Karst horses. The Karst horses were white in color, small, slow to mature, and extremely tough. Most people have the false idea that Lipizzans inherited their high stepping gait from the Spanish horse. It was, however, the Karst horse who gave the Lipizzan this trait.

Until 1916, the Lipizzan stud farm remained the private possession of the Habsburg monarchy. Up to this time, the expansion of the breed had been affected over the centuries by military conflicts. Whenever warfare threatened the Lipizza stud, the horses were moved away. During these moves, individual horses would occasionally be given or sold to other studs. From these horses came other small Lipizzan studs, usually within the boundaries of the Austrian empire.

Today, Lipizzans are found beyond the borders of what was once the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. With less than 4,000 purebred Lipizzans in the world, the breed is considered rare, and the number of foals born each year is correspondingly small. Extreme care is taken by those involved in the production of Lipizzan horses to ensure that the purity of the breed is preserved.

The Lipizzan has proven successful at all levels of competition dressage and driving, as well as continuing to be the ultimate mount for classical horsemanship. The breed has also proven to be suitable for other equestrian disciplines including pleasure riding. Owners and breeders are dedicated to the Lipizzan because they appreciate its rarity, cultural importance, romantic history, and traits of intelligence, classical beauty, and harmonious, athletic way of moving.

Information excerpted with permission from the United States Lipizzan Registry website. To learn more, visit www.uslr.org. Photo by Nick R.

What is a Hanoverian?

For generations, the Hanoverian horse has been recognized as one of the most prominent and successful breeds of riding horses in the world today. The breed originated in northern Germany in the state of Lower Saxony, the former kingdom of Hannover, where a flourishing horse-breeding industry has existed for 400 years. The State Stud was established at Celle in 1735, and the Hanoverian Studbook was officially begun in 1888. 

The breed retains the substantial bone, sturdiness and stamina of its heritage: nearly 300 years ago the Hanoverian was bred to serve as a robust carriage and military horse. Since the end of World War II, the breeding goal has been to exclusively produce a more versatile performance horse. The Hanoverian has natural impulsion and light and elastic gaits characterized by a ground-covering walk, a floating trot, and a soft, round, rhythmic canter.

 

Quality performance prospects are the result of the Hanoverian selection process. Each year the American Hanoverian Society (AHS) organizes a national inspection tour to register foals, inspect and performance test mares, and license stallions. The Mare Performance Test (MPT) scores a mare’s rideability, gaits and jumping talent. All stallion candidates must be presented for physical inspection. If scores on conformation, movement and jumping ability are sufficient, a temporary breeding license is granted. Stallions must then either complete the 100-Day Stallion Test, which evaluates their gaits, trainability and athletic ability in dressage, show jumping and cross country, or they must meet specified performance requirements. In order for a foal to be registered, both the sire and dam must be AHS approved. Breeding eligibility is verified annually.

Information and photo courtesy of the American Hanoverian Society, www.hanoverian.org.

Pictured: EMC Posh, owned and ridden by Elizabeth Fouch and bred by George Walker III, S.C.  Photo © 2007 Hoofclix

The Shagya-Araber

by Nancy R. Skakel

A 200-year old unique Arabian-based breed, the Shagya-Araber has origins in the old Hungarian Imperial Cavalry stud farms. Today, the breed is valued throughout the world for reliable athleticism, a steady, generous temperament, sound conformation, and prepotent genetics. Most of the modern European sport horse breeds have Shagyas in their foundations. As an outcross, the Shagya contributes stamina, hardiness, balance, nobility and a willing, dependable character. These same qualities have produced a breed that is a versatile sport horse, ideal for the amateur rider. 

Shagyas have especially proven themselves in distance competitions. The 2006 World Champion Endurance winner was a Shagya named Hungares. The 2008 US National Reserve CTR Champion is Wineglass Dominus, another Shagya. Shagyas are also successful in open competitions in dressage, driving and eventing, in both the US and Europe. Shagyas continue to contribute to sport horse breeding programs in Ireland, Germany, Holland, Denmark, and throughout Europe and the US.

Shagyas show their Arabian heritage in general appearance and nobility. However, their increased frame, bigger bone, strong topline and coupling, deep and smooth bodies, and longer, more sloping croup easily identify them as distinct from Arabians. Because of the highly selective history within the breed standard, these characteristics are strongly represented even in partbred Shagyas. Foals from purebred Arabians bred to registered Shagyas may be eligible for Shagya registration, although the International Shagya Society stipulates that a horse must have a minimum of seven Shagya ancestors out of the sixteen ancestors in the fourth generation, with all other ancestors being Shagya or purebred Arabian.

For more information please visit the American Shagya-Arabian Verband web site at www.shagyaregistry.com.  Pictured: Sarvar PFF, owned and bred by Nancy R. Skakel. Photo courtesy Nancy Skakel.

The Mediterranean Miniature Donkey

The term "miniature donkey" is sometimes used to refer to donkeys of any breed that happen to be small, but a true member of the Mediterranean Miniature Donkey breed traces its ancestry to Sicily and Sardinia, and before that, the North African coast. Miniature donkeys average 32"-34" in height, with a 36" maximum for the breed standard and a recommended 30" minimum for health reasons. They come in many colors, ranging from grey dun to sorrel to white or spotted, many with the characteristic cross on the back and shoulders that is seen in larger donkeys.

Mediterranean Miniature Donkeys should always be kept with a companion animal, preferably another mini. Their herd instincts are strong, and loneliness can lead to undesirable behaviors such as excessive braying, temperament issues, and health issues. Like full-sized donkeys, mature minis can be trained to carry packs or pull small carts, with allowances made for their size. Unlike their larger cousins, however, they do not make good herd protectors because their small size is not ideal for fending off predators. 

If you want to share in the wonder of equine ownership but don't have the space for horses, or if you want a lovable, intelligent, friendly companion for yourself, your kids, and your other animals, then the loving, adorable Miniature  Mediterranean Donkey may be just the animal for you.

References: National Miniature Donkey Association and the American Donkey and Mule Society. Photos provided by JF Ranch, www.jfranch.net.

Pony of the Americas: Doing it All

The Pony of the Americas breed was established in 1954 in Iowa and has grown from Black Hand, POA #1, its founding stallion, to a registry of over 50,000 and spread beyond the Americas and into Europe.

The breed standard requirements are 44 to 56 inches in height, the head should be small and dished as the Arab, the body muscled as the Quarter Horse, and the coloring must be Appaloosa visible at 40 feet. Crossings of Arab, Appaloosa, Welsh and Quarter Horse have established that “little horse” look of the POA. In both blanket and leopard patterns, the spots may be darker in the middle with a lighter ring surrounding the spot. This look is called a halo.

The national POA organization has grown to include state clubs, state shows, regional shows and sales, and a world class International Show as well as Eastern and Western Classic shows. POAs can earn Register of Merit awards for halter, performance and gaming. A POA earning all three receives the highest of all awards, the Supreme Champion designation.

The POA is bred to be a gentle, loving mount, and children often exhibit even stallions in the breed. The POA is bred to do it all and do it all day long. The same pony and rider will often compete in halter, showmanship, English flat, over fences, western pleasure, reining, trail, cart and gaming classes all in the same show; the following weekend they'll be hitting the woods for leisurely trail rides. POAs are suitable for youth and adult riders and classes are available for both. POAs truly are the “do it all” breed for someone wanting a smaller mount that can both show well in the ring and be a trail riding best friend. 

Information and photos courtesy Washington State Pony of the Americas Club. For more information, visit www.poac.org. 

Standardbred: A True American Breed

The origins of the Standardbred trace back to Messenger, an English Thoroughbred foaled in 1780 and later exported to the United States. Messenger was the great-grandsire of Hambletonian 10, to whom every Standardbred can trace its heritage. Standardbreds are a relatively new--but true American--breed.

The name "Standardbred" originated because the early trotters were required to reach a certain standard for the mile distance in order to be registered as part of the new breed. The mile is still the standard distance covered in nearly every harness race.

While Thoroughbred racing has long been known as the sport of kings, the dependable, athletic Standardbred brought racing to the common man, first between neighbors on community roads, and later at state-of-the-art racetracks.

In many respects, the Standardbred resembles the Thoroughbred. However, it is often more muscled, longer in body, and does not stand as tall, averaging between 15 and 16 hands. The head is bigger and may even sport a Roman nose. This breed appears in varying colors, although bay, brown and black are predominant. Standardbreds weigh between 800 and 1,000 pounds and are known for their docile personalities and willing temperaments.

Standardbred Racing
Standardbred racing is contested on two gaits: the trot and the pace. Pacers move in a lateral gait, which means they move both legs on the same side forward in unison. Trotters move in a diagonal gait. For example, their left front and right rear legs move forward simultaneously, and then the right front and left rear legs follow together.

Any trotter or pacer who breaks into a canter or gallop during a race must be pulled back to its correct gait and lose ground to its competitors or be disqualified from the race.

Information and photo provided by the US Trotting Association, www.ustrotting.com.

Clydesdale: The Gentle Giant

The Clydesdale is a breed of heavy draft horse developed in the early nineteenth century by farmers in the Lanarkshire (previously Clydesdale) district of Scotland. It was bred to meet not only the agricultural needs of the local farmers, but also the demands of commerce for the coalfields of Lanarkshire and for all the types of heavy haulage on the streets of Glasgow. Due to its fine reputation, use of the breed soon spread throughout the whole of Scotland and northern England.

Heavy horses were originally developed for use in warfare to carry armor-clad knights into battle. Scottish farmers later began using some of the larger English and Flemish stallions on the smaller local mares. They eventually produced a powerful horse with a long stride and a sizable hoof, perfect for working in the soft soils of the rough Scottish farmland.

The versatility of the breed is evidenced by the increasing number of equine activities for which it is used. Popular with carriage services, the Clydesdale is well suited for the job and always attracts public admiration. Under saddle, the Clydesdale excels in many pursuits including dressage, hunter jumper, as a trail horse, and for therapeutic riding.

The Clydesdale has a very distinctive look when compared with other draft breeds. The combination of vivid body colors, bright white faces, and long white "feathered" legs with a high-stepping gait and a head held high leave no question that you are looking at a Clydesdale. The most common body color is bay, followed by black, brown, and chestnut. The roan trait (solid body color with white hairs throughout the coat) may be found in all the colors.

For anyone desiring a stylish and active yet tractable, intelligent and serviceable draft animal for work, show, or simple pleasure, the Clydesdale merits his or her most serious consideration.

Information and photo provided by the Clydesdale Breeders of the U.S.A. For more information visit www.clydesusa.com.

Morab – A Gift of Heritage

The Morab horse carries the treasured blood of the old and new worlds. Both Morgan and Arabian horses contributed to the magnificent look and style that would be produced from this bloodline.

To appreciate the Morab's inherited qualities and justify the cross, one needs to examine the outstanding conformation and traits of its ancestors. Arabian and Morgan heads are considered among the most beautiful in the horse world, but this distinction serves them functionally as well. The ears are small, alert, curved inward, and set wide on the poll; this allows for quick mobility to pick up sounds around them. The eyes are large, dark, expressive, and set wide apart. Horses see separately with each eye, so the size and placement of the eye is crucial to quick and accurate perception. The beauty of the refined and "dished" face is also functional, allowing for increased visual field (downward) as well as increased air intake.

The old saying "no hoof--no horse" leads to one of the most important and functional traits inherent in Morabs. Arabian horses are historically fleet of foot, racing across the desert for great distances. The Morab inherits the Arabian's broad, hard, round hoof, which is low at the heel. From the Morgan, Morabs also inherit a wonderful formation of leg bone. The Morgan breed as a whole is known for a minimum of foot and leg troubles.

The Morab offers the equine world a versatile athlete for a child or adult to pursue equestrian dreams: dressage, eventing, jumping, endurance, gymkhana, driving, cutting, reining, stock, equitation, park, parade, trail, and pure pleasure. Morabs truly carry treasured blood -- the “Best of the Old and the New World!”

Article excerpted with permission from the Purebred Morab Horse Association (PMHA) www.puremorab.com. Photo courtesy PMHA.

The Easygoing Tennessee Walking Horse

A light horse breed founded in middle Tennessee, the Tennessee Walking Horse is a composite of Narragansett and Canadian Pacer, Standardbred, Thoroughbred, Morgan and American Saddlebred stock. Originally bred as a utility horse, this breed is an ideal mount for riders of all ages and levels of experience. The breed easily adapts to English or Western gear, and its calm, docile temperament combined with naturally smooth and easy gaits ensure the popularity of the Tennessee Walking Horse as the “world’s greatest show, trail, and pleasure horse.”

Tennessee Walking Horses generally range from 14.3 to 17 hands, weigh 900 to 1200 pounds and possess a definitive head with small, well placed ears. The horse has a long sloping shoulder, a long sloping hip, a fairly short back, and short strong coupling. The bottom line is longer than the top line, allowing for a long stride. The Tennessee Walking Horse performs three distinct gaits: the flat foot walk, running walk, and canter, with the running walk being an inherited, natural gait unique to this breed.

The running walk is an extra-smooth, gliding gait that is basically the same as the flat walk with a noticeable increase in speed. Proper form should never be sacrificed for excessive speed in a good running walk. As the speed increases, the horse oversteps the front track with the back by a distance of six to eighteen inches. The more "stride" the horse has, the better "walker" it is considered to be. It is this motion that gives the rider a feeling of gliding through the air as if propelled by some powerful but smooth-running machine.

Considering the breed’s easy ride, the companionship, and its dependability, Tennessee Walking Horse owners find that the satisfaction they receive far outweighs the price of ownership.

Information and photos courtesy of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association. For more information, visit www.twhbea.com.

The Colorful Paint Horse

In 1519 the Spanish explorer Hernando Cortes sailed to the New World to find his fame and fortune. Along with his entourage of conquistadors, he brought horses to help his men search the vast land for riches. According to historian Diaz del Castillo, who traveled with the expedition, one of the horses was described as a "pinto" with "white stockings on his forefeet." Another was described as a "dark roan horse" with "white patches." These were the first known recorded descriptions of Paint Horses in the New World.

Each Paint Horse has a particular combination of white and any color of the equine spectrum: black, bay, brown, chestnut, dun, grullo, sorrel, palomino, buckskin, grey or roan. Markings can be any shape or size and located virtually anywhere on the horse's body. Although Paints come in a variety of colors and markings, there are only three specific coat patterns: overo, tobiano and tovero. To be eligible for the regular registry, the horse must also exhibit a minimum amount of white hair over unpigmented (pink) skin.

These colors, markings and patterns, combined with stock-type conformation, athletic ability and agreeable disposition, make the American Paint Horse an investment in quality.

Information excerpted with permission from the American Paint Horse Association's website, www.apha.com. The APHA is the second-largest breed registry in the United States, based on the number of horses registered annually. Pictured: Zippos Sensation, photo provided by APHA.

The Appaloosa

The rich and fascinating history of the Appaloosa breed is as unique as its colorful spotted coat patterns.

The Spanish introduced horses to Mexico in the 1500s. Following the Pueblo Revolt, horses rapidly spread throughout North America, reaching the Northwest around 1700. The Nez Perce tribe became excellent horsemen and breeders, creating large herds renowned for their strength, intelligence and beauty. It is unknown how many of the Nez Perce’s horses were spotted, but a possible estimate is ten percent. Settlers coming into the area began to refer to these spotted horses as “A Palouse Horse,” a reference to the Palouse river, which runs through Northern Idaho. Over time, the name evolved into “Palousey,” “Appalousey,” and finally “Appaloosa.”

In the mid-1800s, settlers flooded onto the Nez Perce reservation, and conflicts soon ensued. The Nez Perce War of 1877 resulted in their herds being dispersed. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, interest in the breed gradually began to grow as Appaloosas began appearing in roundups and rodeos.

The Appaloosa’s flashy coat patterns caught the eye of the public, and in 1937 an article in Western Horseman entitled “The Appaloosa, or Palouse Horse” revealed a widespread interest in the breed.

On March 25, 1975 Idaho governor Cecil Andrus signed a bill naming the Appaloosa as the state horse. This is a deserving honor for a horse that has been an integral part of Idaho history.

Today, the beautiful spotted horse is one of the most beloved American horse breeds and can be found throughout the world, excelling in disciplines including western pleasure, games, working cow horse and dressage. Appaloosas are prized for their easygoing dispositions and their reliability as family horses.

Information and photo provided by the Appaloosa Horse Club, www.appaloosa.com.

The American Quarter Horse

If you have ever seen a horse in one of rodeo's timed events, been along for work on a ranch, or watched a Western on the big or small screen, nine times out of ten you have witnessed an American Quarter Horse.

The breeding and racing of American Quarter Horses began in what is now Virginia and the Carolinas. According to Alexander Mackay-Smith in The Colonial Quarter Race Horse (Whittet & Shepperson, 1983), the first known record of a Quarter Horse race was for an event run in Westmoreland County, Virginia, on July 19, 1672 – and was covered not for the sporting or even breeding aspects, but because it wound up in a lawsuit due to the losing horse's owner's initial refusal to pay up on his wager.

The American Quarter Horse was and is the first breed of domestic horse native to North America. The first studbook for any breed published on this continent was compiled by Patrick Nisbett Edgar in 1833, listing 63 American Quarter Horse stallions and mares and their pedigrees. Each was designated C.A.Q.R.H. (Celebrated American Quarter Running Horse), F.A.Q.R.H. (Famous American Quarter Running Horse) or C.A.Q.R.M. (Celebrated American Quarter Running Mare). Geldings, evidently, got no respect. The Quarter Horses were so named because of their speed in quarter-mile races and treasured for their cow sense on the open range.

Today, American Quarter Horses compete in many events that started on the ranch. They excel in cutting, working cow horse, reining and roping events, and are known as the world’s most versatile horses. For more information visit the American Quarter Horse Association, established as the breed's registry in 1940, at http://www.aqha.com/.

Information and photos courtesy of the American Quarter Horse Association, reprinted with permission.

The Thoroughbred

The Thoroughbred is a breed of horse whose ancestry traces back more than 300 years to three foundation stallions: the Darley Arabian, the Godolphin Arabian, and the Byerly Turk. Named for their respective owners -- Thomas Darley, Lord Godolphin, and Captain Robert Byerly -- these stallions were imported into England from the Mediterranean Middle East around the turn of the 17th century and bred to the stronger but less precocious native mares. The result was an animal that could carry weight with sustained speed over extended distances.

On average, the Thoroughbred stands a little over 16 hands to the withers and weighs approximately 1,000 pounds. The Thoroughbred's conformation enables it to reach speeds up to 40 miles per hour. At that rate, the Thoroughbred covers nearly 60 feet per second.

The Thoroughbred's rear legs act much like springs as they bend and straighten during running. This tremendous "spring power" helps thrust the Thoroughbred forward as its front legs provide "pull." The head and long neck also help to make running smooth and rhythmic. The neck moves in synchrony with the forelegs, aiding the Thoroughbred in its forward motion and extending the "arc of flight" -- the time the Thoroughbred literally is airborne.

Blessed with agility, grace, speed, stamina, and courage, Thoroughbreds are ideally suited for any number of disciplines beyond the racetrack. Thoroughbreds compete at the highest levels of international competition in eventing, show jumping and dressage, and make outstanding hunters, steeplechasers, barrel racers, and polo mounts. They are also used by mounted police patrols and recreational riders who appreciate their intelligence and versatility.

Information reprinted with permission from The Jockey Club website, www.jockeyclub.com. Photo by Softeis.

The Nez Perce

by Karen Fisher

The Nez Perce horse is a relatively new breed with an old and interesting history. Originally, the Nez Perce, or Nimiipuu, people of Idaho were renowned for selectively breeding horses of outstanding courage, intelligence, and endurance. These horses (the Ma'amin) proved themselves in 1877 during the famous "Flight of the Nez Perce," outrunning the U.S. Cavalry for months to a final showdown at the Canadian border. After this event, the breed was largely lost to deliberate slaughter and assimilation.

The modern Appaloosa, heavily crossed with Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds, is a beautiful and versatile animal but lacks the thrift, endurance and “hardness” so important in the Ma'amin. In the 1990's, as part of a wider cultural renaissance, tribe members began to search for a way to breed some remaining Old Herd and Foundation Appaloosas back to the Ma'amin type. Their research took them to an ancient desert war horse, the Akhal-Teke. Kept pure for over 2,000 years, this breed is believed to be the predecessor of the "Turkoman" Arabs from which the Ma'amin--a breed still world-renowned for its lean grace and remarkable endurance--as well as many of today’s hot-bloods most probably derived.

The result of this breeding is a beautiful, kind, and durable animal. Averaging 15 to 16 hands, the Nez Perce horse is typically lean, long, light, and flat-muscled, with hard clean legs, a sparse mane and tail, and a fine short coat, often with a stunning metallic sheen—a notable characteristic of the Akhal-Teke. Movement is long, efficient, and floating. Coloring can combine Appaloosa traits (blankets, spots, roaning, striped hooves, mottled skin, white sclera) with an Akhal-Teke look (a “hooded” eye and metallic bay or golden coloring). Not “hot” or flighty, Nez Perce horses are typically deliberate, fearless, and exceptionally intelligent with a tendency to bond strongly to one person. They are willing and able to travel at high speeds all day over challenging terrain and excel as trail and endurance horses, yet their grace, flexibility, and versatility allow them to compete easily in jumping, dressage, and pleasure events.

With only about 500 Nez Perce horses currently in existence, the registry is active and growing, but the breed still takes some searching. Most are in the Nez Perce homeland near Lewiston, Idaho, with a few others in Washington and Oregon. Visit http://www.nezpercehorse.com/, http://www.nezperceappaloosas.com/, or http://www.dreamerhorsefarm.com/ to see more examples of this fine breed.

Photo by Ronda Broncheau Striebeck

The Versatile Connemara

Born out of poverty, the Connemara Pony evolved from an unusual blend of natural selection and human need. The history is obscure, yet the Connemara Pony is considered Ireland's only native breed. Legend has it that when the Spanish Armada sank off the Connemara coast in the 16th century, the horses swam to shore and bred with the native ponies running wild in the mountains. They learned to live on the tough vegetation and survive the hardships of their habitat, as a misplaced step could send a pony crashing to its death.

Local farmers could only afford one good pony, often captured off the mountain and tamed. This had to be a mare who could give them a foal each year to sell for subsistence through the long, dark winter. She would pull a plow, a cart, and work from dawn to dusk under extremely harsh conditions. Stallions would travel the primitive roads between villages, covering many mares and many miles in one day.

The largest of the pony breeds, Connemaras range in height from 13 to 15 hands, with 14 to 14.2 hands as the average, making it a suitable mount for both children and adults. Easy keepers, they do not require a rich diet to stay healthy and fit. Connemaras are the image of strength, kindness and trust. Their inner peace will calm you as they charm their way into your heart.

This breed profile was excerpted, with permission, from the American Connemara Pony Society web site at www.acps.org.