Equine Breeds MP3 Final Senior Year Olivia Crespo American Quarter Horse Breed History The AQH was the first breed “native” to North America. Their bloodlines originated with Arab, Barb, and Turk breeds brought over from the east during settlement. Select stallions and mares were bred with these Eastern horses during the 1600’s. This breeding resulted in a compacted, strong, heavy built horse compatible for work in the field, as well as short distance racing and riding. American Quarter Horse Breed Characteristics The American Quarter Horse is a very compactly built horse, known most renowned for it’s broad, strong shoulders, barrel, and hindquarters. The head is typically stout and wide, as well as the width of their bodies. They can grow to be from 14.2 H to 16.2 H normally. To be officially an “AQH” horse, according to AQHA, there are only 13 colors acceptable, with limited markings below the knees and on the face. The colors are; red roan, blue roan, palomino, bay, gray, chestnut, buckskin, black, brown, dun, sorrel, grullo, and red dun. American Quarter Horse Breed Organizations The American Quarter Horse Association, AQHA, was established 56 years ago in 1940. This organization formed to ensure the praised qualities of the AQH would not perish in years to come, and that the esteemed cattle roundup and trail blazing horses would continue to prosper in the United States. American Quarter Horse Average Cost Depending on where you’re buying from, and for what discipline/purpose, Quarter Horses can range in price. The range, including any discipline or purpose, for the American Quarter Horse can be from $100 in an auction to $10 million for a performance horse. American Quarter Horse Common Use Quarter Horses are used for many different things: ● Cattle Herders ● Rodeo Horses ● Western Pleasure ● Hunters (Equitation) ● Pasture Pals ● Broodmares ● Stallions at stud American Quarter Horse Ideal Conformation When evaluating a Quarter Horse, the conformation is desirable to be symmetrical, as well as showing off the distinct muscle of the breed. The shoulder, back, and hip should all be equal in length. The neck is ideally the same length as the previous, while the top (crest) of neck should be twice as long. The face should be equal or shorter than the shoulder. For the limbs, an invisible line should be able to run medially down the leg, both from a cranial and lateral view, with the leg equally split on either side of the “plumb line”. The hoof angle should mirror that of the pastern angle, and should be around a 45 degree angle. American Quarter Horse Common Conformation Abnormalities Conformation faults in horses are various, and not many are specific to breeds. However, because of certain attributes in certain breeds, some faults may be slightly more common than others. For instance, a Quarter Horse may be more inclined to have a short back than other horses because of the desired build for their breed. AQH breeders desire the horses to be compact to show musculature more than other breeds, and this incentive to breeding can easily cause a horse to come out with a short back, causing major problems in motion, as well as in the horse’s health. American Quarter Horse Common Conformational Abnormalities A short back can lead to easily overreaching the hind feet to step on the front bulbs of the heal. This results in major lameness issues, and can cause a serious injury to the feet and/or lower leg. It also limits the gastrointestinal tract space and the lung field. Quarter Horses were originally bred to race a quarter mile, which means their lung field must be adequate to accommodate running. With a short back, the intestines and lungs are in limited space, making it hard to breath. American Quarter Horse Common Health Issues Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP) is a genetic disease in Quarter Horses that was first seen in heavily muscled halter horses. It is a dominant gene disorder, where foals only need to inherit one gene to exhibit the disease. The disease affects the electrical impulses in muscles and causes problems with muscular contractions. If severely affects, horses will develop muscle cramping, paralysis, collapsing, or sudden death. Paso Fino Breed History The Paso was introduced to North America around 500 years ago along with horses from North Africa, such as Andalusians and Spanish Barbs. The were bred for their stamina, smooth gait, and beauty, and served as the foundations stock for remount stations for the Conquistadors. The breed now flourishes in Puerto Rico and Columbia, as well as other Latin American countries (Cuba, Dominican Republic, etc.) Paso Fino Breed Characteristics The Paso is a medium breed, 13 - 15.3 H average. Because of their specific breeding, they have a gait (a way of moving that other horses can’t accomplish). There are three speeds of this gait: classic fino, paso largo, and paso corto. Paso Fino Breed Organizations There is an organization, the Paso Fino Horse Association, devoted to nothing but Pasos. They are organized to protect and maintain the integrity of the breed, and the natural characteristics and heritage of the Paso. This organization is international, including North and Latin America, and each horse must be DNA tested and verified by the association before it can be included as a member of their large family. Paso Fino Average Cost There is a very wide range of price, as with all horses, that depends on the intended use, what the use of it was before, and the bloodlines of the horse, as well as who is selling it. For Pasos, they can range from free to upwards of $100,000. For international shoe horses however, they can even potentially reach into the millions. Paso Fino Common Use Pasos are typically used as pleasure riding horses, and when seen in a show, they compete against other Pasos to show off their gaited strides and overall show presence to the judges. Paso Fino Ideal Conformation Conformation is everything for these horses. Their necks are desirably medium length, allowing for a high head carriage, while the shoulders have a very long, downward slope from the withers. Their heads are typically smaller with wider set eyes, and their backs are wanted to be shorter than their ventral abdomens. Their hindquarters are desired to be sloping as well, with round and defined semis. Their legs are liked to be straight and strong while their feet are typically small. (Bull Neck) Paso Fino Common Conformation Abnormalities Because of the way Pasos are built, they may have a higher tendency to become base wide, club footed, and bull necked, to name a few. Base wide is where the base of their front legs is wider their the knees, causing the legs to slightly bow out from the humorous down. Club footed is when the horse is born with their hoof too small. The toe is very short and it can be painful to walk because of the confinement on the coffin bone. This can also lead to many lameness issues. Bull necked is where the horse’s neck is short and very thick, and they look as though they have no neck. It is extremely hard for a horse to present itself in the show ring with a bull neck, and it also puts stress on the neck muscles. Paso Fino Common Health Issues The Paso is not known to have any breed specific health issues. However, being as they are horses, they are still prone to species related health issues. Thoroughbred Breed History Along with the Quarter Horse, the Thoroughbred “foundation sires” were Arabs, Turks, and Barbs. They bred with larger English mares in the 18th century to produced the renown breed. The Thoroughbred moved across the seas to North America in 1730, where it grew over centuries to become the fastest, most prominent breed in America. Thoroughbred Breed Characteristics Because the Arabian had smaller, lighter bones, when they bred to larger, heavier English horses, the product was a horse that was both light on their feet, fast, and muscular. They also have two characteristics that make them unearthly good at racing. 1. Their necks move in sync with their front legs, propelling them forward faster. 2. Their hind legs have the capability to become completely vertical, allowing them to take an average 20 foot stride while galloping. Thoroughbred Breed Organizations There are two organizations, both associated with racing though the breed is capable of many other disciplines. 1. Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders of America (TOBA) - Founded in 1961, TOBA is a national trade organization for thoroughbreds and their owners. 2. The Jockey Club - Founded in 1894, The Jockey Club has pursued their mission of improving the breed and its racing. Horses can always be part of The Jockey Club, even if they no longer race, to gain special points in horse shows. Thoroughbred Average Cost As with the other breeds, Thoroughbreds have a range of price depending on many factors. For a general range, encompassing all disciplines and places of purchase, the price is anywhere from free to 70 Million Dollars. Fusaichi Pegasus is the most expensive horse to ever live. He is a Thoroughbred now used for breeding. He sold for 70 million dollars, and his stud fee was $150,000 at the end of 2000. It is now $7,500. Thoroughbred Common Use Thoroughbreds are most commonly used for racing, but can be used in many other sports, usually associated with english. One such sport that TB’s are very prevalent in because of their high speeds, agility, and stamina, is Eventing.