American Quarter Horse
A Look At America's Most Popular Breed
The American Quarter Horse truly is the most popular horse for owners in the United States. It is also part of one of the largest breed registries in the world. This versatile and docile horse breed is sought after by many due to its gentle nature. They are a part of just about every horse show discipline under the sun.
Also in the world of breed circuit showing, competing with your Quarter Horse at these shows has long been difficult for many riders. The All American Quarter Horse Congress is the largest single breed show in the world. No wonder getting a piece from a class at a breed show is worth more than most other shows.
Breed History
The breed was named due to its ability to run a short distance (1/4 mile) faster than any other horse. It is a breed that can date its roots back to the 1600's when they came about from crosses between English horses and those with Spanish ancestry. Thoroughbred blood would also be introduced later to the breed.This breed moved with settlers into the west and grew in popularity for ranch work. This horse breed had an instinctive sense for working with cattle.
In 1940, the American Quarter Horse Association was founded to preserve the breed. Today they continue to remain a very popular breed of horse and are gaining popularity in Europe.
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Characteristics
The Quarter Horse comes in about 16 different recognized colors with the most common being a sorrel. Other colors seen are bay, black, brown, buckskin, chestnut, dun, red dun, gray, grullo, palomino, red roan, blue roan, bay roan, perlino, and cremello.The smaller horses reach 14 hands high while the tallest are over 16 hands with some reaching 17+ hands. The taller horses are obviously the result of adding in more thoroughbred lines in breeding.
