Horse Breeds Review

American Saddlebred

• Comments:– Performs several gaits– Very “showy”– 1st breed established in

America

Brahman•Oval shaped hump over the shoulders and long, floppy ears

•Dewalp (loose skin on throat) falls in large loose folds

•Bull weight: 1600-2200 lbs•Cow weight: 1000-1400 lbs

•Possess exceptional stamina and longevity

•Good, protective mothers

•Originated in USA and Brazil

Thoroughbred

• Other Info:– Bred for racing– Must be handled carefully

Texas Longhorn•Signature long horns are at least 40 inches between the tips.

•Long legs and flamboyant color pattern, the most common of which is pictured.

•Bull weight: 1300-2500 lbs•Cow weight: 700-1600 lbs

•Most commonly used in rodeos and film sets

•Making a comeback in ranches due to naturally lean meat, easy calving, longevity, and survival instincts. Picture retrieved from:

http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/

Hereford•Characteristic white face that is even passed on to crossbreeds

•Purebreds have a rich, red coat with white brisket, underside, and feet

•Bull weight: 1900-2900 lbs•Cow weight: 990-1800 lbs

•Originally triple purpose: draft, milk, and beef

•Great grazing cattle and seen in herds rearing beef cattle due to motherly characteristics.

Charolais

Shorthorn

Jersey•Very dainty and often thought to be malnourished because they are so bony.

•Bull weight: 1100-1800 lbs•Cow weight: 800-1200 lbs

•Milk rich in butterfat, calcium, and protein, making them a favorite with cheesemakers

•Yield more milk per unit of body weight than other breeds

•Have a long, productive life and are adapted to the hottest of climates

Brahman

Simmental

Limousin

Belgian• Origin:– Belgium

• Classification:– Draft

• Height:– Up to 17hh

• Color:– Chestnut, sometimes bay, brown, gray

American Quarter Horse

• Comments:– Oldest American breed– Most versatile breed– Largest equine registry

Texas Longhorn

Charolais •Large, long bodies with a white to cream coat

•Short to medium horns and large eyes

•Poor mothering ability

•Bull weight: 2000-2650 lbs•Cow weight: 1250-2000 lbs

•Main use is to breed a larger more muscular offspring

•“Color mark” offspring meaning their white coat dilutes the darker color (black to creamy soot)

Angus•Naturally polled (no horns) with a solid black coat and blocky, muscular build

•Bull weight: 1800-2650 lbs•Cow weight: 1100-1540 lbs

•World’s most famous breed for high quality beef

•Bulls used to put more meat onto crossbred offspring, resulting in fewer calving problems

Miniature

Paint• Origin: – United States

• Classification: – Light

• Height: – Variable

• Color: – Black and white in bold patches all over body

Morgan

• Other Info:– Works well under harness or saddle– Common foundation sire – Justin Morgan of

Massachusetts

Guernsey•Patched golden and white coat

•Bull weight: 1300-1800 lbs•Cow weight: 990-1100 lbs

•Strictly dairy cows

•Milk has a high beta carotene content, and is rich in butterfat and protein

•Nicknamed “Golden Guernsey”

Belgian

Jersey

Morgan

• Other Info:– Works well under harness or saddle– Common foundation sire – Justin Morgan of

Massachusetts

Clydesdale• Origin:

– Scotland

• Classification:– Draft

• Height:– 16.2-18 hh

• Color:– Bay, brown, black, roan– Look for white on face and legs; sometimes on body

Holstein•Very common black and white spotted coat

•Also a red and white variety

•Highest milk yielder in the world

•Bull weight: avg. 2200 lbs•Cow weight: avg. 1500 lbs

•Issues concerning high-pressure milking operations has lead breeders to rethink their goals

Ayrshire

American Saddlebred• Origin:

– United States

• Classification:– Light

• Height:– 15 – 16 hh

• Color:– Black, bay, brown– White markings on face and legs

Donkey

Shorthorn•Coat colors are roan, red, red and white, or roan and white

•Bull weight: 1760 lbs•Cow weight: 1100 lbs

•Main use for bulls is to crossbreed beef calves and cows are great sucklers to herds

•Breed known both as a beef breed and a dairy breed

Hinny

Appaloosa

• Origin:– Spain & U.S.

• Classification:– Light

• Height:– 14-15.3 hh

• Color:– Striped hooves– Mottle skin (usually has dark areas)

Angus

Morgan• Origin: – United States

• Classification: – Light

• Height: – 14-15.2hh

• Color: – Bay, brown, black, chesnut

Ayrshire•White silky coat with patches of red, mahogany, or brown; can be mostly white as pictured.

•Bull weight: 1,850 lbs•Cow weight: 1,000-1,300 lbs

•Commercial dairy cow with good butterfat yields

•Less bony than a Jersey or Holstein

•Famous for long, deep, “tidy” udder

American Quarter Horse• Origin:

– United States

• Classification:– Light

• Height:– 15.2 – 16.1 hh

• Color:– Mostly chestnut– Any solid color

Belgian

• Other Info:– One of most powerful of horse breeds– Thought to be descendant of the medieval great

horses– Most draft horses have Belgian lineage

Brown Swiss

Arabian• Origin:– Arabia

• Classification:– Light

• Height:– 14.3-16hh

• Color:– Bay, brown, chestnut, gray, black

Haflinger

Simmental•Like Herefords, Simmental cattle have a white face that is passed to all offspring

•Yellow-leather coat color, however American Simmentals are mainly black or dark red

•Bull weight: 2200-3000 lbs•Cow weight: 1100-1900 lbs

•Originally triple purpose, however American Simmentals are mainly a beef breed

•In Australia, Simmentals crossbred to improve cow milking ability

Holstein

Guernsey

Tennessee Walking Horse

• Other Info:– Known for the flat walk and the running

walk– Comfortable ride– Good for beginners

Thoroughbred

• Origin:– England

• Classification:– Light

• Height:– 14.2-17hh

• Color:– Any solid colors– Can have white markings

Limousin•Commonly a sandy-red color, however the Black Limousin pictured is popular in North America.

•Bull weight: 1900-2400 lbs•Cow weight: 1100-1300 lbs

•Limousin oxen were known for speed and strength in early times, however have been a beef breed since the late 1800’s.

•Limousin suckler cows are said to age gracefully.Picture retrieved from:

http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/

Clydesdale

• Other Info:– Popular in big hitches– Regularly exported from Britain for over 100 years

Brown Swiss •Brown to gray-brown, often with lighter color along back

•Bull weight: 1800-2500 lbs•Cow weight: 1100-1700 lbs

•Nostrils are similar to the Jersey, but they are larger cows overall

•Favorite with cheesemakers

•Second in milk production only to Holstein

Miniature horse

• Origin: – unsure

• Classification:– Miniature Horse

• Height:– Max 34” at withers

• Color:• any

Appaloosa

• Other Info:– 3rd largest breed registry in the world– Popular in U.S. & Australia

Paint

• Other Info:– Sire must be a registered paint, quarter horse, or

Thoroughbred– Overo and tobiano are major color patterns

Mule

arabian

• Other Info:– Large nostrils and long eye lashes adapted

to desert– Influence in foundation of all light breeds– Oldest purebred (5000 BC)– Has one less vertebra than other breeds

Hereford

Tennessee Walking horse• Origin:– United States

• Classification:– Light

• Height:– 15-16hh

• Color:– All solid colors