ALABAMA A&M AND AUBURN UNIVERSITIES Light Horse Breed Types and Uses ANR-899 ight horses, also termed short, strong backs and medium- "hot-blooded" horses, Stock Type length legs. The stock horse’s neck Lgenerally weigh under A stock type horse is built for should come forward from its 1,500 pounds at maturity and ranch work. Stock horses usually shoulder (as opposed to upward) typically are used as riding have a muscular build with mas- so that its head is carried low. horses. Draft horses, also termed sive muscles in the shoulders, fore- The stock horse should move "cold-blooded" horses, generally arms, and hindquarters. They have with a relaxed, soft stride with weigh over 1,500 pounds and its feet close to the ground. Stock are used more as work horses horses can start, stop, and turn than as riding horses. Ponies are quickly, and they have a lot of smaller than horses, but are the speed for short-distance sprints. same genus and species as horses (Equus caballus). Riding horses are selected from many different breeds. Horses within a breed usually have a common origin and have traits that set them apart from other breeds of horses. Different riding horse breeds have been developed to perform different jobs under saddle. For example, some breeds usually are used as race horses, and other breeds are used as high-stepping show horses. Some breeds are noted for a particular coat color. Certain Stock type horse. breeds are known for their superiority in a particular activity. However, this does not prevent individuals from a breed noted for one activity from excelling in an unrelated activity. Most of the horses in a certain breed usually will have the build and tempera- ment to do a particularARCHIVE job. This means that most animals in a breed will follow a certain “type.” A horse’s type is determined by its build, or conformation, which in turn helps determine what kind of job the horse might perform well. One ear bridle. Western saddle. www.aces.edu Stock horses are noted for their pleasure. A taller, leaner horse calm, quiet dispositions. They that is more suitable for racing is Hunter Type are used as ranch horses, trail the second type. The racing type Sport horses typically are horses, pleasure horses, and show Quarter Horse has been devel- developed for activities such as horses for western events such as oped by adding Thoroughbred eventing, dressage, show jump- Western pleasure, roping, cutting, genes to the Quarter Horse breed. ing, competitive driving, and fox and reining. They are used for The Appaloosa breed hunting. Warmblood breeds and short distance racing and contests was developed by the Nez Thoroughbreds are commonly that require speed and agility, Perce Indians in the American used in these sports. such as barrel racing (racing Northwest. The body build and The sport horse or hunter around three barrels set in a clo- size of the Appaloosa is similar type horse is built to carry riders verleaf pattern). Stock horses are to the Quarter Horse, but the cross-country and over fences at a traditionally ridden with a western Appaloosa has a spotted coat gallop. They have a longer, leaner style (or stock seat) saddle and color. The spots may be dark body build, longer legs, and longer bridle. However, many people spots on a white coat, white spots necks than stock type horses. The are beginning to use stock type on a dark coat, or a dark coat hunter’s neck should come forward horses in sport horse activities with a white “blanket” over the and slightly upward from the with an English saddle (forward horse’s hips and back. In addi- shoulder so that its head is carried seat) today. Typical breeds of tion to the spotted color pattern, higher than that of a stock horse. stock horses are the American the Appaloosas have three other A hunter will not have the mas- Quarter Horse, the Appaloosa, distinct characteristics: sive muscling typically seen in a and the Paint. • The sclera of the eyes stock horse but should have long, The Quarter Horse breed should be circled with white like smooth muscling. was developed in colonial the human eye. The sport horse should move America in Virginia and the • The hooves should be with long, low, ground-covering Carolinas. The Quarter Horse was striped with black and white verti- strides. It should have stamina developed as a general purpose cal stripes. to gallop long distances and the horse that could be used for riding • The skin should be mottled athletic ability to jump fences and and farm work. However, the with irregular black and white shorten or lengthen its stride as breed name came from the horse’s spots, especially over the muzzle needed. Sport horses are usually ability to excel in short distance and genitals. ridden with English style saddles. races that were about ¼ mile in Hunters and jumpers are ridden length. The horse was further The color pattern of the with forward (hunt) seat saddles developed in the Southwest into a Appaloosa does not breed true; and dressage horses with dressage dependable stock horse and it is that is, foals born to Appaloosa saddles. known for its “cow sense” or abil- parents do not always have ity to work with cattle. Today the an Appaloosa color pattern. The Thoroughbred breed Quarter Horse is the most popular Appaloosas are known for their was developed in England as breed in America based on the endurance and surefootedness. a race horse for intermediate number of horses registered. The Paint Horse breed distances. It was developed by The Quarter Horse usually has a also has a spotted coat color. It crossing native English horses short, broad head with large jaws differs from the Appaloosa in with Arabians. Most Thorough- and small ears. It is a muscular that the paint color pattern (also breds can trace their ancestry to horse, usually standing 14.3 to called pinto) has large spots that three or four Arabian stallions 16 hands tall (one hand equals 4 often run together where the imported to England in the inches; a 14.3 hand horse would Appaloosa spots are smaller and late 1600s and early 1700s. The be 14 hands and 3 inches) at the separate. The Paint Horse breed breed name, Thoroughbred, is withers (top of the shoulders) and was formed to register horses often confused with the term ARCHIVE“purebred.” Purebred refers to any weighing 1,000 to 1,250 pounds. of Quarter Horse breeding with Because Quarter Horse racing has the paint color pattern, so the animal whose ancestors are all become increasingly popular, the body build and size of these two from the same breed. With horses, breed has developed two distinct breeds are very similar. Like the Thoroughbred refers to a specific types of horses in recent years. Appaloosa color pattern, the paint breed. Thoroughbreds are usually The short, stocky typical Quarter color pattern does not breed true. between 15 and 16.3 hands high Horse is used for ranch work and and weigh 1,000 to 1,400 pounds. They are noted for their speed, athletic ability, and desire to win. 2 Alabama Cooperative Extension System Their temperaments generally blood breeds were developed by the horse’s shoulder, rather than for- are considered more nervous crossing native lightweight draft ward, resulting in a high head car- than those of stock type horses. horses with Thoroughbreds and riage. Their legs are long compared Thoroughbreds have been used Arabians. Warmblood breeds are to the depth of their bodies. to increase the speed, athletic named according to their area of A saddle horse should have ability, and refinement of many origin; for example, Hanovians a lively way of moving with its breeds of horses in the world and were developed in the Hanover feet lifted high off the ground have been used in the develop- region of Germany and Dutch with each step. The saddle horse ment of many other breeds, such Warmbloods were developed in should be comfortable and pleas- as the American Quarter Horse, the Netherlands. Typically, warm- ant to ride. It should give the the American Saddlebred, the bloods will be bigger and sturdier appearance of being a spirited Standardbred, and the Morgan. than Thoroughbreds and will have horse that is easily controlled by The term “warmblood” gen- more tractable temperaments. the rider. Usually saddle horses erally refers to breeds developed are ridden in an English style in Europe to provide horses capa- Saddle Type saddle, called a park saddle or ble of competing in international flat saddle. For showing, this The saddle type horse is built for jumping, dressage, eventing, and saddle is modified so the rider is pleasure riding and showing. Saddle competitive driving. Most warm- seated farther toward the horse’s horses tend to be more refined with hindquarters. The show version of lighter bones and muscling than the saddle is called a cut-back or either the stock type or hunter type a Lane Fox show saddle. Typical horses. Saddle horses have long breeds of saddle horses are the necks that come straight up from American Saddlebred, Morgan, and Arabian. Tennessee Walking Horses and Racking Horses also fit into the saddle horse type, even though their body builds are heavier and their gaits are differ- ent from the other saddle horse breeds. The American Saddlebred was developed in the Virginias, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Missouri as an easy-riding, gen- eral purpose plantation horse. Thoroughbred, Morgan, Arabian, and trotting and pacing horses were used to develop the breed.