Kinds of Horses - Our First Web Page - Jacquelyn Geyer & Amberleigh Million

ARABIAN

Arabians are one of the oldest breeds in the world. They originated in the deserts of the Middle East many centuries ago. Mares were preferred as riding horses since they are gentler than stallions. They are a very strong and fast horse. They are famous for their beautiful heads.

QUARTER HORSE

The pioneers were the first to breed this type of horse. They named it the Quarter Horse because it could run a good quarter-mile distance faster than other horses. It also proved to be good for riding, ranch work and racing. The Quarter Horse is popular today because of all those abilities!! I own a Quarter Horse and I really enjoy him. I use mine for trail riding and he is very nice and gentle. I would say they are one of my favorite breeds!!!!

LIPIZZANS

Lippizzans were developed in Austria about 400 years ago. They are trained to do difficult exercises and dance moves to music. When they are born they are a very dark color. As they grow older they gradually get lighter and lighter until finally at about 10 years of age they are snow white.

THOROUGHBREDS

The Thoroughbred is found all over the world. The Thoroughbred is used for racing. Thoroughbreds were developed in Great Britain. Racing was very popular there. The Thoroughbred is the fastest running horse. They can run up to the speed of 40mph for a short distance. The Thoroughbred is a very strong powerful horse. They were raised to race or breed so that their kind would be around for many centuries to come. Thoroughbred are unusually different because you can ride one shortly after it becomes one year old! Many Thoroughbreds reach a height of 16 hands high. Thoroughbreds are used for other things. Thoroughbreds are good jumpers, while many others are used as Polo Ponies. Of course many are used for just plain pleasure.

SHETLAND PONY

The Shetland Pony comes from the Shetland Island. Over a hundred years ago the Shetland's were used in the coal mines for pulling the little carts. The Shetland Pony only measures 11.2 hands high. There are two different types of Shetland Ponies. The American Shetland Pony is much like the original island pony, with a stocky build and broad back. The other is 9.2 hands high and can only be ridden by children. When people brought the American Shetland to America, there was no use for these little horses. People started breeding them so that they would have longer necks and longer legs!!! The result of this breeding practice was a skinny horse with a long neck and long legs that could be used for pleasure.

DRAFT HORSE

The Draft Horse is a very strong and large horse. It is used for pulling very heavy loads on farms and other places. The Draft Horse was used along time ago before tractors were used. If you go to a farm that still uses horses then you will probably see a Draft horse there! Clydesdales are a type of draft horse. They came from Scotland. They are very pretty;y horses. They have long feathered white legs. Many times Clydesdales are used to pull wagons in parades. Last year during football season in the United States there was a commercial on TV that showed a line of Clydesdale horses playing football. It was really funny. I had a chance to ride a Clydesdale once. I must tell you it was the highest I had ever been off the ground. Wow!

AMERICAN SADDLE HORSE

The American Saddle Horse is probably the most popular riding horse today. It has a very smooth way of walking and running. The breed was developed by crossing Arabians, Thoroughbreds, and Morgans. It was bred in pioneer times when people wanted comfortable horses to ride. Plantation owners wanted horse they could ride all day long when looking over their fields. Morgan are a very gentle and willing to learn horse. Because of this they can be trained to do almost any job.

WESTERN MUSTANG

The Western Mustang is a tough little horse of the western United States. The mustangs are the descendants of the horses brought to America by the Spanish almost 400 years ago. These are the horses that the Indians caught and trained. Like a Quarter Horse it was and is used for the rounding up of livestock. The Pony Express also used these horses because they could run a very long time over very rough territory. There are still wild mustangs in the United States today. Once a year the Federal Government holds a round up of horses in the west and then they are offered for adoption by people all over the country.

MORABS

The Morab is a cross between the Morgan and the Arabian. The breed developed in the early 1800's. However it was not named until the 1920's. These horses have characteristics of both the Morgan and Arabian. They are a quite horse and easily trained. However they are slow to mature and should never be introduced to riding or heavy training before they reach four years old. They are not considered fully grown until their seventh birthday.

MORGAN HORSES

In the late 1700's a very special horse named Figure was owned by Justin Morgan. Figure could pull more weight than even bigger horses. Justin Morgan rented his horse to local loggers and farmers. His horse became very famous. When Justin Morgan died his horse had many owners. His hard work for people made him valuable. He was able to pass his traits to his offspring. He is the only horse to have an entire breed named after him.