Horse Introduction:
Assingment # 1 Vocabulary: (Must be completed on the handout and filed into your notebook)
Directions: Using a reliable online dictionary source, define the following terms as they relate to horses.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/
Stallion:
Mare:
Brood Mare:
Gelding:
Filly:
Colt:
Foal:
Hand:
Withers:
Activity 2: Horse Classification
Directions: Read the following passage about horse classification and answer the questions below.
In addition to breed, horses can be classified several different ways. For example, horses can be grouped as
light, draft or pony, according to size, weight and build. Within these groupings, horses can be further divided
by use -- for example, by riding, racing, driving, jumping or utility. They can also be classified as warmblood or
coldblood.
Horse classifications depend on the height and weight of the horse. The common measurement of horse height
is the hand. The height of a horse is measured from the top of the withers (the highest part of the back at the
base of the neck) to the ground. A hand is equal to 4 inches. So a horse that is 15 hands is 60 inches at the
withers. A horse that is 15.2 (15 hands 2 inches) is 62 inches tall from the top of the withers to the ground.
Light horses:
Light horses are 12 to 17.2 hands high and weigh 900 to 1,400 pounds. They are used primarily for riding,
driving, showing, racing or utility use on a farm or ranch. Light horses are capable of more action and greater
speed than draft horses. Some examples of light horse breeds include Albino, American Buckskin, American
Saddlebred, Arabian, Morgan, Paint, Palomino, Peruvian Paso and Tennessee Walking Horse.
Draft horses:Draft horses are 14.2 to 18 or more hands high at the withers and weigh 1,400 pounds or more.
They are primarily used for heavy work or pulling loads. Historically when draft horses were bought and sold
for work, they were classified according to their use as draft, wagon, farm chucks or southerners. Some
examples of draft horses include Clydesdale, Friesan, Percheron, Shire and Suffolk.
Ponies:Ponies stand 14.2 hands high at the withers or less, and weigh 500 to 900 pounds. Ponies possess a
distinct conformation on a reduced scale. They are draft, heavy harness or saddle type. Some common ponies
include Connemara, Dartmoor, Hackney, Pony of the Americas, Shetland and Welsh.
Warmblood:Warmblood does not relate to horses with a certain blood temperature. It refers to the overall
temperament of mostly light horse breeds. Warmblood horses are fine-boned and suitable for riding. In some
countries the warmblood is distinguished as a horse having a strain of Arab breeding. Some groupings classify
all light horses as warmbloods. Some other groupings classify all breeds that are not definitely Thoroughbred,
draft or pony as warmbloods. Warmbloods typically include Hanoverians, Holsteins and Trakehners.
Coldblood:Coldblood horses are heavy, solid, strong horses with a calm temperament. This term is probably
best thought of as another way of describing draft horses.
Minature Horses:Miniature horses are scaled-down versions of full-size horses and are not dwarfs. Miniatures
are not a breed, but can be registered with the American Miniature Horse Registry. The maximum height for
registration is 38 inches at the withers. Miniatures are often kept as pets. Some are exhibited as driving horses in
single pleasure and roadster driving classes. Also, some people exhibit miniature horses in multiple hitches
pulling miniature wagons, stagecoaches and carriages. Only small children can ride them.
Assingment # 2 Horse Classification and Type Questions: (Must be completed on the handout and filed
into your notebook)
1) Explain the major differences between a light horse, a pony, and a draft horse.
2) A horse which is 56 inches tall and 800 lbs would be classified as what type of horse?
3) A horse which is 60 inches tall an 1500 lbs would be classified as what type of horse?
4) A horse which is 62 inches tall and 900 lbs would be classified was what type of horse?
5) How many hands is 56 inches?
6) How many hands is 60 inches?
7) How many hands is 56 inches?
Colors, Markings, and Breeds:
Assingment 3: Who’s that famous horse? (Assignments three and four must be completed in a
powerpoint and submitted in the “student files” folder labeled Agri-Science and Technology and then
your period. Example: AST Period 4 Horse Assignment. The file name should only include your first
and last name. )
1) Select a famous horse (example: Secretariet, Mr. Ed, Black Beauty)
2) Identify the breed of this famous horse, use the internet to search this, but don’t trust the first thing you
find, do thorough research.
3) Create a “for sale” poster for this famous horse. Create this on a powerpoint slide.
a. Be sure to include:
i. True Breed Characteristics of this horse/breed
ii. This horses color and markings
iii. Why buy this horse? What does it excel at, what has made it famous?
iv. The website below provides information that should be beneficial in researching the
breeds.
v. http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-breeds/
vi. Feel free to add additional information to your poster, such as price, times to call, etc. Be
creative!
4) You should be prepared to present your famous horse to the class as well as the breed.
Assignment # 4 There are so many colors, markings, and combinations!! (Assignments three and four
must be completed in a powerpoint and submitted in the “student files” folder labeled Agri-Science and
Technology and then your period. Example: AST Period 4 Horse Assignment. The file name should
only include your first and last name. )
In addition to various breeds, horses come in many different colors and have many different markings. On the
school webpage, open up the powerpoint labeled markings and colors to review and learn the most common
colors and markings of horses. If you need additional resources for the assignment below, use the color chart
also provided on the school website.
Directions:
1) Compile a total of 10 horse pictures. I would recommend putting these into PowerPoint format. You
can use google images to find horses to identify.
2) Each horse image should be a different color pattern/marking combination.
Example:
Color= Palamino
Face Markings= Stripe
Color= Bay
Face Marking= Star and Snip
Leg Markings= 2 White Rear Ankles