Quarter Horses
14.3hh - 16hh
Any solid color
The oldest of the American breeds, the Quarter Horse was first developed in the early 17th century. Although the American Quarter Horse Association wasn't founded until 1940, the "Famous and Celebrated Colonial Quarter Pather" developed from stock left by Spanish explorers. A mix of Andalusian, Barb and Arabian, the settlers crossed these horses with the early Thoroughbreds in 1611 and the Quarter Horse was born.
Hardy, they demanded little food and were versatile as carriage, work and saddle horses. But the little horses were prized most for their ability to sprint over quarter mile races that cut through scrub or down village streets, hence the name. Later, Thoroughbred racing on longer, oval tracks became popular. With the decline of quarter mile racing, the Quarter horse moved west where it's balance and agility made it the perfect cow pony. They also became the foundation for the American Saddlebred.
Today the registry is now the largest in the world with more than two million horses. It remains a compact horse with enormously muscled hindquarters that propel it to a flat out gallop virtually from a stand still. They are athletic and fearless working with cattle, gifted with an innate "cow sense" that makes them able to anticipate the movements of the steer. The Quarter Horse's speed and agility make it excellent at barrel racing and rodeo horse. Their even temperament makes them a natural all around pleasure horse.
