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
originated in Kentucky; 14.2-16hh; wide chest, compact frame, arched neck; most are a rich dark color with flaxen mane and tail; sure-footed and sensible; has a natural ambling 4-beat gait (very fast walk); uses = pleasure, trail, competitive, endurance riding
Rocky Mountain Horse
not a distinct breed; genes are comprised of many breeds; 14.2-15.1hh; born with a coat of tight curls everywhere, even in the ears; coat settles down as the horse matures; overall look = stout and round; hardy breed and able to withstand harsh climates; sure-footed and nimble, level-headed temperament, most have a running walk gait
native americans considered them sacred and called them buffalo ponies
hypoallergenic
Baskir Curly
golden or cream, with lighter (flaxen or white) mane and tail
palomino
irregular splashes of white over colored body; many patterns; pinto is not a registered breed
paint
blanket of spots or spotted all over; Nez Perce = first Indoan tribe to practice selective horse breeding; sure-footed, strong endurance, excellent hunting horse; 8 color patterns & 13 base colors; App Horse Club has 3 requirements: striped hooves, mottled skin, eye encircled with white; sparse mane and tail
appaloosa
one of the best carriage horses in the world; almost always black, known for having a ton of hair
Friesian
rigorous selection process to keep breed “good”
Dutch Warmblood
in times of warfare, horses were taught to do some extreme athletic maneuvers that involved coming off the ground; “flying horses”; grey horse
Lipizzaner
one of the most popular warmbloods
Hanoverian
Germany’s oldest warmblood, foundation breed for the Hanoverian
Holsteiner
law that stallions had to be gov’t tested and approved
Oldenburg
originated in Scotland; 17.1-18hh; usually bay or bay roan, with wide white blaze and high white on legs; high, flashy action at the trot, compared to the other draft breeds; strong, intelligent head, long well arched neck, high sloping withers, clean flat limbs, big round feet and fine feathers on legs; docile nature and elegance; popularized by Budweiser advertising
Clydesdale
developed in France; 15.2-17hh; usually black or grey; influence of Arabian horse, bred in repeatedly, can be seen in the head, which is finer and more elegant than the other draft breeds; well proportioned, deep broad chest, powerful forearms and excellent feet; elegant and free moving paces; popular carriage or parade horse
Percheron
developed in Belgium; 16-18 hh, usually a light chestnut with flaxen mane and tail, sorrel, and roans; easy keepers and willing workers; bog powerful shoulders, huge feet, clean flat bones legs, heavy muscling and sloping shoulders; level-headed work horses; still extensively used for farming by the Amish; most numerous breed in US
Belgian
developed in England, traces back to the English Great Horse of the Middle Ages; over 17hh, heaviest and largest of the draft horses; bay, brown, chestnut, gray, with heavy white feathering on legs; lean head, roman nosed, deep chest, strong muscular back, clean flat bone, docile expression, fine feathers on legs
Shire
originated in eastern England; 15-16hh; chestnut, with minimal feathering and minimal white markings, breed recognizes 7 shades of color; shorter and stockier, proportionally, than the other draft breeds, broad chest, thick shoulders, heavy body set on short legs; stamina, health, longevity, docility; popular agriculture horse
Suffolk Punch
originated in Scotland, harsh weather conditions, worked as “pit ponies” in the coal mines; up to 10hh; any color; sturdy and tough; profuse mane and tail; great kids’ ponies
Shetland
developed in England; 12-14hh; any solid color; elegant, high-stepping action; relatively light-bodied
Hackney Pony
originated in Wales; 11-13 hands; any color other than pinto; heavier bodied than Hackney; fine, pretty head; excellent temperament
Welsh
developed in the U.S. in the 1950s from Appaloosa-Shetland crosses; 11-14hh; spotted coat; good temperaments; popular and versatile kids’ ponies
Pony of the America (POA)
originated in Ireland; 11-14hh; gray, bay; wonderful temperament; excellent jumping ability; great kids’ competition pony
Connemara
ancient Norwegian breed used by the Vikings for war mounts; 13-14 hh; dun colored, with dark dorsal stripe; upright cream-colored mane with black center stripe; similar two toned tail
Norwegian Fjord
developed in Iceland from Celtic Pony stock, but no outside blood for 800 years; originally used for farm work, racing, and transportation; early 20th century, were used as pit ponies; extremely hard, strong and sound; quiet to handle, inquisitive, friendly, yet independent; excels as a child’s pony and trail mount; 12-13hh (is really a small horse rather than a pony)
Tolt gait = pace
Icelandic
Truly a man-made breed, began in the 17th century when oddities and unusual animals were popular among the nobles; foundation breed is the Shetland pony; 34’’ = maximum height; NOT a pony, proportioned just like a horse, basically a scaled-down version of their full-sized counterparts (Arabians, Quarter Horse, Paints, and draft breeds)
used as seeing-eye horses for blind; good companions for people who cannot house or afford a standard-sized horse
Miniature Horse
female donkey
jenny or jennet
male donkey
jack
how do you get a mule?
mare + jack
how do you get a hinny?
stallion + jenny
wild donkey
burro
how many chromosomes does a horse have?
64
how many chromosomes does a donkey have?
62
how many chromosomes does a mule have?
63
