Agriscience 102
Applied Agricultural Science and Technology
8894
Class Notes Key
Breeds of Horses
TEKS: (c)(4)(C)
INTRODUCTION
Humans have had tremendous influence on the horse’s development since its domestication. The many
uses of the horse have brought about the great variety of types prevalent today. The selective mating of
large, heavily muscled horses to produce work animals; the development of refined, longer legged
horses for speed; and the development of various gaits for ease in riding or pulling have all been
influences of humans in development of the present-day horse.
CLASSES, BREEDS, AND TYPES OF HORSES
A breed of horses may be defined as a group of horses having a common origin or possessing certain
well-fixed, distinctive, uniformly transmitted characteristics that are not common to other horses. An
important factor to consider when attempting to choose a particular breed is that certain breeds are better
adapted for specific purposes. There are several breeds found throughout the world, but in this study, an
attempt will be made to identify the distinctive characteristics of common breeds of horses found
throughout the United States.
Many diverse and distinct types are recognized within the horse breed. Generally, depending on size,
build, and use, horses may be classified as light horses, ponies, warmbloods, or draft horses.
Classes of Horses
Light Horse Breeds include American Paint Horse
American Saddlebred Horse
Appaloosa
Arabian
Morgan
Palomino
Pinto
Quarter Horse
Standardbred
Tennessee Walking Horse
Thoroughbred
Light horses stand 14–2 to 17 hands high, weigh 900 to 1,400 pounds, and are used primarily for riding,
driving, or racing. Light horses generally are capable of more action and greater speed than draft horses.
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Breeds of Ponies include Pony of the Americas
Miniature Horse
Shetland Pony
Welsh Pony
Ponies stand under 14–2 hands high and weigh less than 900 pounds.
Breeds of Warmblood Horses include American Warmblood
Hanoverian
Holsteiner
Trakehner
Warmblood horses stand 15–1 to 17 hands high, weigh 1,200 to 1,600 pounds, and are used primarily as
sporting horses in competitions such as dressage, driving, hunting, jumping and three-day eventing. The
name warmblood originated from the fact that these horses are a combination of “hot blooded” horses
(Arabians and Thoroughbreds) crossed with “cold blooded” horses (draft horses). Unlike most breeds,
the vast majority of warmblood registries do not have closed studbooks.
Breeds of Draft Horses include Belgian
Clydesdale
Percheron
Shire
Draft horses stand 14–2 to 19 hands high, weigh more than 1,400 pounds, and are used primarily for
heavy work and exhibition purposes.
Types of Horses
Riding Horse – includes saddle (three-gaited, five-gaited), walking, stock, polo, hunters and
jumpers, and ponies.
Race Horse – includes running (Thoroughbred, Quarter, etc.) and harness (trotters and pacers).
Driving Horse – includes heavy harness, fine harness, roadsters, and ponies (heavy and light
harness).
Work Horse – includes draft, wagon, and exhibition.
Before discussing the different types of breeds, it must be understood that there are several color types
and patterns. Many of the colors are variations of another color and are difficult to describe verbally. So,
to better understand the color characteristics discussed in this topic, visit the American Quarter Horse
Association’s Web site at http://www.aqha.com.
HORSE BREED ORIGINS, DESCRIPTIONS, AND USES
Light Horse Breeds
American Paint Horse
Origin – United States.
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Color – White with any other color; must be a recognizable paint. The three distinct patterns are
overo, tobiano, and tovero.
Height – 14–1 to 16–2 hands.
A Paint Horse is eligible for registry if its sire and dam are registered with the American Paint Horse
Association, the American Quarter Horse Association, or the Jockey Club (Thoroughbred). Other
breed types may be registered with the Pinto Registry.
Uses – Stock horses, pleasure horses, show purposes, and racing.
American Saddlebred Horse
Origin – United States in Kentucky (state).
Color – Bay, brown, chestnut, gray, black, or golden.
Height – 15 to 16 hands.
Three-gaited horses show at the walk, trot, and canter. Five-gaited horses also show at the slow gait
as well as the rack.
Uses – Three and five-gaited horses (saddle), pleasure horses, stock horses, and fine harness horses.
Appaloosa
Origin – United States in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. They descended from horses originating
in Central Asia, and in North America were first bred by the Nez Perce Indians.
Color – Variations and combinations of colors and spots.
Four distinguishable characteristics are used to identify the Appaloosa: coat pattern, mottled skin,
white sclera, and striped hooves.
Height – 14 to 15–2 hands.
Uses – Stock horses, pleasure horses, race horses, parade horses, hunters and jumpers.
Arabian
Origin – Saudi Arabia.
Color – Bay, gray, and chestnut are predominant; with occasional white or black. White marks on
the head and legs are common.
Height – 14–2 to 15–2 hands.
The dished face of the Arabian is one of its most distinguishing characteristics.
Uses – Saddle horses, show horses, stock horses, pleasure horses, racing, endurance races and
competitive trail rides.
Morgan
Origin – United States in Vermont (state).
Color – Predominantly bay, brown, and chestnut, there are also black, palomino, buckskin, and some
grays.
Height – 14–2 to 16 hands.
Noted for stamina, docility, beauty, courage, and longevity.
Uses – Saddle horses, stock horses, and harness horses.
Palomino
Origin – United States, from animals of Spanish descent.
Color – Golden in color with a light-colored mane and tail and no more than 15 % dark or chestnut
hair in either mane or tail.
Height – 14–2 to 16 hands.
The type desired in the Palomino will depend entirely on the use for which the horse is intended.
Uses – Parade, stock, pleasure, saddle, and fine harness horses.
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Pinto
Origin – United States, descendants from horses brought in by Spanish conquistadors.
Color – White with any other color. There are two distinct patterns of pintos; they are tobiano and
overo.
The Pinto Horse is a color breed rather than a type breed. The Pinto Registry is unlike the American
Paint Horse Association in that it accepts several different types of breeds.
Uses – Hunters, polo mounts, racing, saddle horses, and stock horses.
Quarter Horse
Origin – United States, primarily in the southwestern states of Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico,
Colorado, and Kansas.
Color – Gray, black, bay, sorrel, chestnut, brown, buckskin, palomino, dun, grullo, red dun, blue
roan, and red roan.
Height – 15 to 16 hands.
They are well muscled and powerfully built. Some people consider the quarter horse the most
versatile of all breeds.
The first breed of horse native to the United States.
Uses – Stock horses, racing, pleasure horses, hunters and jumpers.
Standardbred
Origin – United States.
Color – Bay, brown, and black are the predominant colors with some being chestnut, gray, roan, and
dun.
Height – 15 to 16 hands.
The breed was developed primarily for harness racing; a pleasing conformation and an abundance of
style and quality are important requirements.
Uses – Harness racing, trotting or pacing, and show horses.
Tennessee Walking Horse
Origin – United States in Tennessee (state).
Color – Sorrel, chestnut, roan, black, white, golden, gray, bay, and brown.
Height – 14–3 to 17 hands.
This breed has three easy-riding gaits. They are the flat-foot walk, the running walk, and the canter.
All of these gaits are natural, inherited characteristics.
Uses – Pleasure horses, plantation walking horses, and show horses.
Thoroughbred
Origin – England, developed as a running horse.
Color – Bay, brown, chestnut, sorrel, black, and gray; white markings on the face and legs are
common.
Height – 15 to 16–2 hands.
Conformation emphasizes factors contributing to racing and sports.
Uses – Race horses, saddle horses, hunters and jumpers, and polo mounts.
Breeds of Ponies
Miniature Horse
Origin – England.
Color – Any color or marking pattern as well as any eye color is acceptable.
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Height – No more than 34 inches.
Uses – Pets and show.
Miniatures were first used to pull ore carts in the coal mines of England and Northern Europe.
Pony of the Americas
Origin – United States in Mason City, Iowa.
Color – Very similar to the Appaloosa; several color patterns are acceptable.
Height – 46 to 54 inches.
The breed standard calls for a conformation between that of the Quarter horse and the Arabian.
Uses – Primarily used by juniors who have outgrown Shetland ponies but are not ready for a horse.
Shetland Pony
Origin – Shetland Isles.
Color – Any color, solid or mixed.
Height – Two class sizes are recognized by the breed registry: (under 43 inches), (43 to 46 inches).
Develops long shaggy outer coat during winter months and has a full mane and tail.
One of the oldest breeds in existence.
Uses – Used mainly by children for riding, but also used for harness, racing, and roadster.
Welsh Pony
Origin – Wales.
Color – Usually gray, roan, black, brown, bay or chestnut; cream, white, and dun colors may be
found.
Height – Two divisions are acceptable in the American Welsh Stud Book: "A" Division – Cannot
exceed 12–2 hands. "B" Division – Over 12–2 but not more than 14–2 hands.
Weight – Usually less than 500 pounds for the "A" type, and 500 to 900 pounds for the "B" type.
Uses – Used mainly by children for riding, but also used for harness racing, trail riding, and parades.
Warmblood Breeds
American Warmblood
Origin – United States, from our own sporting horses.
Color – Any color, preferably solid with few white markings.
Height – 16 to 17 hands.
Unlike many other breed registries, the American Warmblood consists of horses with varying breed
backgrounds that qualify to be registered with the American Warmblood Registry either by
pedigree or through their individual performance and conformation.
Uses – Dressage, driving, jumping and three-day eventing.
Hanoverian
Origin – Lower Saxony in Northern Germany.
Color – Should be a solid color, e.g. bay, chestnut, gray; excessive white is not desired.
Height – 16 to 17 hands.
Known as a noble horse with a cooperative temperament, elastic gaits and for outstanding ability in
international equestrian disciplines.
Uses – Dressage, driving, jumping and three-day eventing.
Holsteiner
Origin – Province of Schleswig-Holstein in Northern Germany.
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Color – Bay with a preference for no or few white markings.
Height – 16 to 17 hands.
This breed is known for its relaxed and willing temperament with good character and an eagerness
for work. It is also noted for carrying its head in a beautiful arch and for its excellent jumping
ability.
Uses – Dressage, driving, jumping and three-day eventing.
Trakehner
Origin – Trakehner, East Prussia.
Color – Should be a solid color, e.g. bay, chestnut, sorrel or gray without excessive white markings
Height – 15–3 to 16–3 hands.
This breed was originally developed as a new type of cavalry mount for the Prussian army. It is
noted for having a “floating trot” and excellent balance, which allows it to excel in dressage.
First introduced to North America in 1957 with the importation of 4 stallions and 12 mares.
Uses – Dressage, hunting, jumping and three-day eventing.
Draft Breeds
Belgian
Origin – Belgium.
Color – Chestnut and sorrel are the dominant colors of the breed, but roans and bays are occasionally
seen.
Size – Known for its draftiness, and for being the widest, deepest, most compact, massive, and
lowest set draft breed.
Height: 15–2 to 17 hands (stallion).
Very docile, quiet, and gentle.
The most numerous draft breed.
Uses – Exhibition purposes, special attractions, and farm work.
Clydesdale
Origin – Scotland.
Color – The most common color is bay. However, black, brown, chestnut, and roan are occasionally
seen. Four white socks and a well-defined blaze or bald face is preferred.
Size – Medium draft breed.
Height – 16–2 to 18 hands (stallion).
Superior style and action.
Heavy feathering of feet.
Uses – Exhibition purposes, special attractions, farm work.
Percheron
Origin – France.
Color – Black or gray, but bay, brown, chestnut, and roan are occasionally seen.
Size – Intermediate, between the Clydesdale and Belgian.
Height: 16–2 to 17–3 hands (stallion).
Extremely docile.
Noted for its clean-cut head.
Uses – Exhibition purposes, special attractions, and farm work. Percherons are sometimes mated
with thoroughbreds to produce hunters and jumpers.
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Shire
Origin – England.
Color – Black, brown, gray, or chestnut/sorrel. Excessive white markings and roaning are
undesirable.
Size – Large, matched in weight only by the Belgian.
Height: 16–2 to 17–1 hands (stallion).
Used as war horses in the 15th and 16th and centuries.
Uses – Exhibition purposes, special attractions, and farm work.
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