|
A quarter horse is a full-sized horse known
for its heavily-muscled physique, even disposition, athletic
ability, and versatility.
The breed gets its name for it's record-breaking speed in
the quarter-mile run. Heavily muscled and compact, these
horses can run a short distance over a straightaway faster
than any other horse! The quarter-mile is still the most
popular distance for racing the American Quarter Horse. The
best Quarter Horses can run the 440 yards in just 21 seconds
or less!
They tend to be rather small horses, standing at around 15
hands, but they have a variety of uses. The Quarter Horse is
the most commonly used horse for ranchers and rodeos. They
are good at herding stock and excellent at barrel racing and
cattle roping. They are also used in show jumping. The
horse's calm disposition makes it a great recreational horse
for children too. The horse officially became the American
Quarter Horse in 1940 when a registry was formed to preserve
this special breed.
If you have ever watched a Western on the big screen or
television, chances are you have seen an American Quarter
Horse in action. The breed evolved when the bloodlines of
horses brought to the New World were mixed. The stock
originated from Arab, Turk and Barb breeds.
Selected stallions and mares were crossed with horses
brought to Colonial America from England and Ireland in the
early 1600s. This combination resulted in a compact, heavily
muscled horse that evolved to fill the colonist's passion
for short-distance racing.
These powerful animals could run a short distances faster
than any other horse. The first American Quarter Horse race
was held at Enrico County, Virginia in 1674. One-to-one
match races were run down village streets, country lanes and
level pastures. By 1690, large purses, heavy betting,
disagreements and fights were a common occurrence around
races. It is reported that grand plantations may have
changed hands on the outcome of these sprints.
As pioneers moved west, so did the American Quarter Horse.
During the 1800s, vast cattle ranches began to stretch
across the plains. Known both for its ability to outmaneuver
cattle and its calm disposition, the American Quarter Horse
was ideally suited for the challenge of the West.
Today, heavy muscling and sprinter's speed remain
characteristic traits. In modern America they compete in
every discipline imaginable from traditional rodeo events
such as roping and barrel racing to the refined English
classes of dressage and show jumping has made the American
Quarter Horse the one of the most versatile breeds in the
world.
Although competition options are nearly unlimited, the
number one interest of American Quarter Horse owners remains
riding for recreation and this is especially true here in
Europe.
Breed Characteristics
Since the creation of the American Quarter Horse Association
in 1940, breeders have been perfecting the bloodlines of the
American Quarter Horse to produce a high quality, versatile
animal. The pedigree American Quarter Horse must have only
limited white markings on the face and below the knees. If
you see white anywhere else in spots or patches, you're not
looking at an true American Quarter Horse.
The AQHA. recognises just 13 colour types. The most
prominent sorrel (reddish brown), with the others being bay,
black, brown, buckskin, chestnut, dun, red dun, gray, grullo,
palomino, red roan and blue roan. The official gray colour
is what most people call white, but it's interesting to note
that there are no "white" American Quarter Horses.
Beyond their appearance, a registered American Quarter Horse
foal is the product of a numbered American Quarter Horse dam
and a numbered American Quarter Horse sire. AQHA also offers
an appendix registry for foals with one numbered American
Quarter Horse parent and one Thoroughbred parent registered
with The Jockey Club.
Other identifiable characteristics of the breed are heavy
muscling, sprinter's speed, versatility, keen cow sense and
a gentle nature. From the past where the American Quarter
Horse origins can be traced to ranching and racing, to the
present where American Quarter Horses excel in a variety of
events, the American Quarter Horse gives an individual many
outlets for enjoyment, thus making it the world's most
popular breed. |
