Breeds Flashcards
A group of horses having a common origin and possessing certain well-fixed, distinctive traits
not common to other horses
Breed
What do breed associations do?
Record ancestry, protect and maintain purity, encourage improvement, promote the breed
What is the Breeding Problem?
everyone has an ideal animal, people are hard to please, lacking genetic diversity (carbon copy), fad breeding for profit, breeding for color
Hot, warm, or cold blood refers to?
temperament
are generally light bodied, high energy horses such as Thoroughbreds and Arabians (origins of ancestors = desert)
hot bloods
are generally heavier-bodied, mild-mannered draft-type horses such as Belgians, Percherons, and Clydesdales, often have fringed hair at ankles; around 2000 lbs and 16-18hh
cold bloods
explains the temperament of a horse when a hotblood is crossed with a coldblood, examples are Hanoverians and Lipizzans; elegant and athletic; 16-17hh
warm bloods
16 to 18.2 hands, 1400+ lbs, large, slow, heavy-bodied horses developed for farm work and showing; often have extra hair (feathering) around fetlocks
draft
medium-sized horses, 14 to 17.2 hands, 900-1400lbs, used for riding, driving & competitions, capable of more action and greater speed
light horse
small, sturdy horses up 14.2 hands high at the withers, 500-900lbs, distinct conformation on a reduced scale; sturdy, tolerant, good temperaments, hundreds of breeds, good first mounts for children and often used for driving
pony
originated in the desert, before recorded history; the oldest pure breed in the world (other than Przewalski); 14-15 hh and 800-1000lbs; black, bay, brown, chestnut, gray (no sorrel)
elegant but flighty, floating action; fine-boned, short back, high tail set; refined head with dished profile, large expressive eyes, large pliable nostrils
Arabian
developed in England (heavier English horses mated to Arabian & Turkish stallions); 15-17 hh, 900-1200lbs; refined intelligent head, well-sloped shoulders, deep girth, substantial bone, long clean muscle attachments; long ground-covering strides; fast, versatile; hotter temperament than many breeds; crossed with many other breeds to produce horses for specific purposes
Thoroughbred
developed in the U.S., thoroughbred stallion bred to pacing mares from Canada, long tradition of harness racing; 14-16 hh, 850-1100lbs; bay, brown, chestnut; powerfully built, similar to Thoroughbreds, less refinement, longer body, shorter legs, and long shoulders; sturdy, competitive
fastest trotting/pacing horses in the world, favored as buggy by the Amish, current standard to register 1 mile in 2:20 for 2 yr olds
Standardbred
developed in the U.S. from the Mustangs left behind by the Spanish explorers, crossed with English running horses in 1600’s; 14-16.2 hands, 900-1300lbs; any solid color; extremely fast at distances up to 1/4 mile; powerful, compact, calm; short wide head, alert small ears, thick muscling, close-coupled back, well-muscled hindquarters, short thick cannons, compact body with a broad chest; low set hocks for acceleration
Appendix Quarter Horses = part quarter horse + part thoroughbred
Quarter Horse
developed in Kentucky, a blend of pacing stock, Morgan, Thoroughbred, & Hackney; 15-17 hh, 900-1100lbs; usually chestnut, but other solid colors seen; tall & leggy, head carried high
long elegantly arches neck, sharp refined head, flat croup, sharp withers, sloped shoulders, high set tail, high-stepping action, flashy, exaggerated gait, 3-gaited and 5-gaited horses
American Saddlebred
developed in Tennessee in the 1800’s to provide comfortable transport at plantations, crossed with the Standardbred and Morgan horse; 15-16hh, 1100lbs; black, brown, chestnut; plain headed, strong, arched neck, broad chest, and strong hindquarters; very comfortable gaits, esp. the “running walk”, easy-going temperament
Tennessee Walker
developed in Puerto Rico from Spanish horses left behind by the Conquistadors in the 1500s; 14-15hh; any color; very different gaits, extremely smooth & natural
Unique four-beat lateral gait
Paso Fino
feral horses descended from stock left behind by Spanish explorers; 13.2-15 hh; variable conformation and color; sturdy build with excellent feet; hardy, rebellious
symbol of the American West, managed by the federal gov’t
Mustang
developed in the US - first documented native breed in American; breed is traced down from one horse named “Figure” who was owned by Justin Morgan in late 1700s; 14-15.2 hands, 850-1050lbs
Two styles: Old = stout and powerful, Modern = elegant and refined; compact deep body, well-muscled, slightly dished head w/ an expensive face, excellent feet, slightly arched neck, well-defined wither, short back, and short cannons; strong, solid, sensible, versatile
Morgan
original use = caravan horse; developed by crossing Shires, Clydesdales, Dales Pony, & Friesian, looks like a small draft horse; 13.2-15.2 hh, short coupled with round hindquarters, short well-formed neck, feathering on legs, long flowing mane and tail
intelligent, unflappable nature, affectionate toward people, used for english and western pleasure riding, carriage driving, equine therapy and equine-assisted education programs
Gypsy Vanner
horse of the Ozark Mountains, originated in Missouri, designed to make work a pleasure; uses = long-distance riding, ranch work, pleasure riding; 14-16hh; compact w/ a short but well-proportioned body; thick, full manes and tails, distinctive pair of braids woven right at the top of the bridle path
fox trot gait (walks in front, trots in back) diagonal ground-covering gait, made this breed the horse of choice for local doctors sheriffs and postmen, made rounds comfortable and stylish
Missouri Fox Trotter
