T here are over 50 horse breeds in the

world and in this article five of them will

will be described in detail. Among these horses

is the fastest breed of horse in the world, the

quickest breed, the oldest known breed, the

strongest horse relative to its size, and a

breed made famous by a beer brand.

Steeds? Breeds? What?

any of you have probably heard the old English term “steed” before. Quite simply is just means a horse, especially a spirited one, but what does the term

“breed” mean? Depending on what part of the world you are in the definition can vary, but for simplicity we will only concentrate on the United States. Before stud books (documents keeping track of specific horses per breed), a “breed” was classified by groups of animals inhabiting a particular area. Due to the environment and the relationship inevitable between the horses, they would have shared similarities in

terms of height, conformation (the way a horse looks), coat color and character. Today “breed” is the word applied to a group of horses selectively bred by people over a long period of time to ensure consistency in character, appearance and action. “Breed” horses must be the progeny of parents whose pedigrees (ancestry) are recorded in the stud book of that breed. Each horse has its own genetic identity, but biologically all horses are the same.

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BREEDS OF STEEDS-5 COMMON BREEDS OF HORSES IN TODAY’S WORLD!

In The Beginning

orses can be dated back as far as 50-60 million years ago. The horse belongs to an order known as Perissodactyla, or odd-toed ungulates. The Eophippus, or Dawn Horse was the first known of the species. They were only 14 inches in height at their shoulder and

weighed in at about 12 pounds! The Eophippus had four toes on the front legs and three toes on the hind. These toes became what are known today as the ergots and splint bones. The toes slowly receded over time because the animal started to become larger and the weight was being placed slowly on the central toe. This was also due

to changing environmental conditions, going from soft, marshy land to hard, more arid land, and the need for increased speed to escape predators. The first single-hoofed horse appeared about seven million years ago, this is quite different from what the horse looks like today!

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The Arabian is the oldest known domesticated horse in the world and Arabian stallions are the foundation of all other breeds of horses. Originally bred by Bedouin tribes for endurance, stamina, speed, courage and looks, the Arabian was used for long-distance races between tribes for whatever stakes may be placed on the race, usually money or prized horses. They are known for their high-strung, “hot”, spirited temperaments, which is what gives them the courage and looks that so many people are drawn to.

Europeans started to cross-breed to the Arabian because they wanted to improve their saddle horses. Currently the Arabian is used for disciplines like Western Pleasure, Endurance, Dressage, English, and trail. They are traditionally 14.2* to 15.2* hands tall and weigh in at about 800lbs to 1000lbs. An interesting fact about the Arabian is that some of them have one less vertebra in their back. Most horses have 18, while some

Arabs only have 17. If you’ve ever seen the movie The Black Stallion a black Arabian Stallion named Cass Ole from Texas played the part of the “The Black”!

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The ArabianThe Arabian

*One hand is equal to four inches-this is how a horse’s height is measured.

he Thoroughbred is the horse most commonly known for racing on the track. Thoroughbreds are once removed from the Darley Arabian and the Godolphin Arabian making them the

closest relative to the Arabian breed. In the 1700’s, European running- stock was crossed with Arabian Stallions to produce a fast and agile breed. Thoroughbreds are the fastest horses in the world reaching speeds up to 40 mph on the racetrack. They traditionally have a high-strung, complicated temperament making them a horse used primarily by experienced horse people. Today, horse racing contributes billions of dollars to the equine industry, but Thoroughbreds are also used for disciplines such as Dressage, Jumping, Three-day Eventing, and Hunter Under Saddle. Typically a Thoroughbred stands about 15 to 17 hands tall and weighs 900 to 1200lbs. A famous Thoroughbred named Secretariat was the first horse in 25 years to become a Triple Crown winner. Walt Disney is currently producing a biography on Secretariat so look for it to be out in theatres!

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The Quarter Horse is the most popular breed of horse in the world. They were derived from the Spanish, Barb, and Arabian bloodlines. These horses were originally bred by American colonists by crossing their horses imported from England to Chickasaw Indian Nation horses. In the 1800’s Quarter Horses were used in the

American west to herd cattle and carry cowboys across deserts. Their name came from their amazing ability to sprint ¼ of a mile faster than any other breed in the world.

Currently the Quarter horse is still used on ranches, but recreationally they excel at cow-horse events such as Cattle Sorting, Team-Penning and Cutting. They also are commonly used for Barrel Racing, Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle and Trail, making them the most versatile horse on the market today. Typically a Quarter Horse stands

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The ThoroughbredThe Thoroughbred

The Quarter The Quarter HorseHorse

about 14.2 to 16 hands tall and weighs anywhere from 800 to 1100lbs. One Quarter Horse of interest is Clayton, a 3-year-old in Texas. He is the clone of a world champion Barrel Racing gelding named Gils Bay Boy and he is sure to be seen in the Barrel Racing arena in the next few years.

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ou may have seen this breed of horse hauling a large wagon with a Dalmatian sitting coach. That's because the Clydesdale has been made famous by the beer company Anheuser-Busch, or Budweiser.

Clydesdales are considered a draft horse and are usually 16.2 to 18 hands tall and can weigh in at 1600 to 1800lbs. They were founded in Scotland in Lanarkshire which was originally called Clydesdale itself. They are the product of English Shires and Flanders horses being cross-bred. Traditionally they were used for plowing fields, pulling logs and any other laborious activity that needed doing. Clydesdales are known for their gentle dispositions and even temperaments. They may be very large but usually enjoy a pet here-and-there. Today they are used primarily for showing but they do still pull that Budweiser wagon with the Dalmatian sitting

coach!

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he Shetland pony is the oldest horse

known to Great Britain and it’s named after the islands for which it was found on; The Shetland Islands of Scotland. They are known to have very shaggy coats due to the environment on the islands. The Shetland is the strongest horse relative to its size, meaning that if they were the size of a regular horse they

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would be able to carry or pull more than

any other horse. Due to this the islanders used them for pulling carts to

drag peat to homes for fuel and seaweed for fertilizer. The Shetland was created through a cross of the Dole pony and the ponies found on the islands. They are currently used for show and driving carts. A desirable trait of the Shetland is its determination to avoid a command if it believes that something dangerous may happen, making them great for children if trained well

enough. A Shetland stands about 11 hands and weighs between 400lbs and 500lbs.

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The ClydesdaleThe Clydesdale

The Shetland The Shetland PonyPony

Shala Kean, Melissa Dahmen, and MacKenzie Broeren are Equine Science students at Colorado State University. This study focuses on—you guessed it—horses! Each girl looks to pursue a career within the equine industry after graduation.

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