There are different horse breeds worldwide, and you will come across many during your horse riding ritual. Also, you never know if you will get to ride one! So, to be ready for such situations, it’s a must to at least have knowledge about them. Likewise, here we will inform you about the most popular horse breed, “American Quarter Horse.”
See Also: American Saddlebred Horse Breed
Why is American Quarter Horse so popular?
As the name suggests, American Quarter Horse is a native of the American horse breed. Not only in the country, but they are the largest breed that is available throughout the world. Also, the term “quarter” suggests that they have the ability to excel in a quarter-mile race in comparison with other breeds. Accordingly, there are more than 3 million American Quarter horses that were registered back in 2015. Now, they can be even more in number as the breeding continues.
The popularity of American Quarter Horse is the reason that they excel in many aspects. Not to mention, they are among the fastest-running horses across the globe. Some of the popular features that place American Quarter Horses a little higher in rank than other companions include –
- Sprinting at a short distance
- Runs at high speed
- Outrun other breeds in a quarter-mile race
Earlier, when there was not so much information about the breeds, even then, people used to pick these horses for their impactful performance. Later, approximately in the 1600s, there were modern advancements to the American Quarter Horse breed. More so, these horses are marked to run at a speed of 44mph, i.e., 70 kilometers per hour. Hence, they are also considered by riders as racehorses.
Characteristics of American Quarter Horses
The reason American Quarter Horses are the largest registered horse breed throughout the world is due to their unmatchable characteristics. Yes, no doubt there are many horse breeds that are highly favorable, but the specifications that an American Quarter horse possesses are nowhere to be found.
Some of them know the characteristics of these horses include –
- Short & refined head
- Straight profile
- Well-muscled & strong body
- Broad chest
- Powerful & round hindquarters
- Stand at 56 to 66 inches tall and above
These are some of the standard characteristics of a Quarter horse; there can be even better ones out there as well.
Certainly, there are two body types of the Quarter horse breed, which are as follows –
- Stock Type: These are genuinely shorter, compact, and well-built but also agile.
- Hunter/Racing Type: Now, these ones are preferably taller with much smoother muscle build-up.
While talking about the color of these horses, they are absolutely available in all shades. However, the most common color would be brownish-red. Also, in the past, this class of horse breed was nowhere to be found in spot color, which is now to be seen. To learn more about the top-notch class of horses, it’s better you seek information from equestrian experts.
Read Also: How to Choose the Perfect Horse for Riding Discipline?
Where do American Quarter Horses perform?
As stated above, American Quarter Horses are good runners and fast sprinters. Thus, they are highly in demand for various horseback riding activities. Likely, they are well known for racing competitions and also other performances like – rodeo, show events and even working as ranch horses.
If you are familiar with different styles of horse breeds, you’ll know they all are useful for different activities. Similarly, the compact body structure of Quarter horses makes them well-suited for the following activities –
- Reining
- Cutting
- Barrel racing
- Calf roping
Apart from these, American Quarter Horses are favorable for working cow horses, cattle ranching, and other western riding activities. In addition, many riders prefer the Quarter Horse breed for various English riding disciplines. They may include – hunting, dressage riding, show jumping, and other similar activities.
Bottom Line
Unlike many other horse breeds, American Quarter horses are costlier if you are looking to buy them. However, you can always ride them as they are fun for choosing any form of horseback riding activity. Also, since you are looking to ride a horse, buying a saddle and other safety equipment is essential. Furthermore, you may look through our website and purchase them as required.
Related Resources:
https://horsesaddleshop.org/guide-to-dressage-riding/
https://horsesaddleshop.org/common-health-issues-in-horses/
https://horsesaddleshop.org/injuries-to-avoid-in-horseback-riding/
https://horsesaddleshop.org/health-safety-horseback-riding/
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