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Quarter Horse
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Quarter Horse Description |
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The Quarter
Horse is the most popular breed in America. Its single
most valuable characteristic is that of being the most
willing, easygoing, even-tempered of all the breeds.
Whatever it is asked to do, it will give its all. American
colonists crossed the more refined English stock with
the Chickaswas, which is of Spanish stock and still
in existence today. The original American Quarter Horses
were hardy, fast and docile little horses that worked
hard during the week and provided competitors with a
speedy mount on short straight-aways on holidays. Later,
with the developement of the Thoroughbred, it was discovered
that no animal could run the quarter of a mile like
the little colonial horse. The Quarter Horse was soon
pushed out of the limelight by the popularity of the
Thoroughbred, but by the early 1800's, the demand for
a rugged and willing horse to help conquer the newly
explored West put the Quarter Horse to work. They were
saddled for cross-country treks and hitched to covered
wagons. It was also discovered about this time by cowboys
that the Quarter Horse retained the legacy of its Spanish
ancestor for working cattle. Today, it is the largest
breed registry in the world. There are two types of
Quarter Horses; the Standard Quarters, which are stocky,
compact, heavily muscled, necessary for cattle work,
powerful hindquarters, a short back , well muscled neck
and a broad, deep chest. Its head is also stil short
and refined with tiny ears and wide set eyes. The Running
Quarter Horses resemble their Thoroughbred ancestors
in conformation, more of a greyhound look, but still
with powerful hindquarters, a trademark of the breed.
The Quarter horses come in 13 different colors including
bay, chestnut, brown, black, dun, red dun, buckskin,
palomino, blue roan, red roan, gray, grullo, and sorrel,
which is the most popular. The average Quarter Horse
usually lives 20 years, though some may live as long
as 35 years with proper care. |
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