Equine Breeds

Ms. Whitford

Light Horses

• At least 14.2 hands tall at the withers

• 900 - 1400 pounds• Most common type of

horse in the United States

Appaloosa

• Well known for speed

• Used by the Nez Perce Indians as war horses

• Originated from Spanish horses left behind by explorers

Unique color pattern of spots (predominantly over the hip)

Arabian

• Originated in Arabia• Oldest and purest

breed• Known for strength

and stamina• High tail setting• Short back

Morgan

• Developed in the United States

• America’s first breed of light horse

• Descended from one horse, Justin Morgan

Mustang

• Developed by Mother Nature in the Western United States

• Near extinction in 1970

• Available through the Adopt-A-Horse program from the US Government

American Quarter Horse

• Developed in the United States as a race horse

• Named for their fast times in the 1/4 mile

• Known for speed, strength & intelligence

• Most popular horse breed in the world

American Saddlebred

• Developed in the United States

• Ridden by many famous riders– Paul Revere

– Daniel Boone

– Ulysses S. Grant

– Stonewall Jackson

– Robert E. Lee

Paint Originates in the United

States Stock type horse Color patterns are called

Tobiano and Overo

Standardbred

• Fastest harness horse in the world

• Name comes from the fact that the horses must meet a “specific” standard.

• Bay, brown or black in color

Tennessee Walking Horse

• Originated in Tennessee

• Possess a unique running walk gait

• Very easy to ride

Thoroughbred

• Originated in England• Designed to sustain

speed over distances while carrying weight

• Largest of the light breeds

• Fastest in the world due to their long legs, muscles, and stride

Draft Horse Breeds

Belgian

• Originated in Belgium

• American Belgian Association is headquartered in Wabash, IN

• Widest, deepest, most compact of the draft horses

• Extremely quiet and docile

Clydesdale

• Developed in Scotland• Commonly bay in

color• Known for four white

socks with hairy fetlocks

• Made famous in US beer commercials

Percheron• Originated in France• 1,700-2,200 lbs• Most popular draft

breed in the early 1900s

Shire

• Developed in England• Largest of all modern

horse breeds• Once used to carry

knights into battle• Mostly black with

white legs

Breeds of Light Horses Quiz

1. Palomino 2. Appaloosa

3. Morgan 4. Quarter Horse

Breeds of Light Horses Quiz

5. Thoroughbred 6. Mustang

7. Arabian 8. Paint