Equine Breeds
Mr. Caffee
Northeastern Agricultural Education
Light Horses
• At least 14.2 hands tall
at the withers
• 900 - 1400 pounds
• Most common type of
horse in the United
States
Appaloosa
• Well known for speed
• Used by the Nez
Pence Indians as war
horses
• Originated from
Spanish horses left
behind by explorers
Arabian
• Originated from
Bedouin desert
• Known for strength
and stamina
• Small muzzle
• High tail setting
• Short back
Lipazzan
• Developed in Spain
• Born brown or black
in color
• Changes to white or
gray at about 6-10
years of age
• Famous as dressage
performers
Morgan
• Developed in the
United States
• America’s first breed
of light horse
• Descended from one
horse, Justin Morgan
Mustang
• Developed by Mother
Nature in the Western
United States
• Near extinction in
1970
• Available through the
Adopt-A-Horse
program from the US
Government
American Quarter Horse
• Developed in the
United States as a race
horse
• Named for their fast
times in the 1/4 mile
• Known for speed,
strength & intelligence
• Most popular horse
breed in the world
Saddlebred
• Developed in the
United States
• Ridden by many
famous riders
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Paul Revere
Daniel Boone
Ulysses S. Grant
Stonewall Jackson
Robert E. Lee
Standardbred
• Fastest harness horse
in the world
• Name comes from the
fact that the horses
must meet a “specific”
standard.
• Bay, brown or black in
color
Tennessee Walking Horse
• Originated in
Tennessee
• Possess a unique
running walk gait
• Very easy to ride
• Preferred horse of
traveling preachers
Thoroughbred
• Designed to sustain
speed over distances
while carrying weight
• Average 16 hands in
height
• Revolutionized the
racing industry
Draft Horse Breeds
American Cream Draft
• Originated from the
mare “Old Granny” in
Iowa in 1911
• Rich cream color with
white mane & tail
• Pink skin
• Amber colored eyes
• Average 1600-1800
lbs.
Belgian
• Originated in Belgium
• American Belgian
Association is
headquartered in
Wabash, IN
Clydesdale
• Developed in Scotland
• Commonly bay in
color
• Known for four white
socks with hairy
fetlocks
• Made famous in US
beer commercials
Friesian
• Native to the
Netherlands
• Prior to WWI there
were only 3 sires still
alive
• Known for long tail &
mane
• Very calm breed
• Unclear origin
• The oldest equine
breed
• Most popular draft
breed in the early
1900s
Percheron
Shire
• Developed in England
• Most common draft
breed in England
• Once used to carry
knights into battle
• Mostly black with
white legs