Quarter Horse Breed Guide

Quarter Horse Facts
 

• Quarter horses usually stand between 14 and 16 hands high
• Quarter horses can come in a variation of colors
• Quarter horses temperaments are usually friendly and well-balanced
• They are well suited to the following disciplines: Western, rodeo, dressage and leisure Riding

The American Quarter horse is recognized as a fast and reliable horse and is the most popular breed in the United States to date. They can accelerate in speed very quickly and perform well in shorter distances. The English thoroughbred, however, is the fastest horse across longer distances. 

Quarter Horse Characteristics 

There are two body types when it comes to the Quarter horse. The stock type and the hunter or racer type. The stock type tends to be shorter and more compact and the hunter/racer type is usually taller, similar to a thoroughbred. 

Typically, the Quarter horse has a powerful, muscly body with a broad chest and strong hindquarters. The Quarter horse usually stands between 14 and 16 hands high. 

They can come in almost every color but the most common colored Quarter horse is sorrel. 

Here are the other colors you may find:

• Bay
• Black
• Brown
• Buckskin
• Palamino 
• Gray 
• Dun 
• Red Dun
• Blue Dun
• Red Roan 
• Blue Roan 
• Bay Roan
• Perlino
• Cremello
• White 
   

Disciplines Suitable for the American Quarter Horse

The powerful and compact body of the American Quarter Horse makes them suitable for various disciplines. They are able to carry out quick maneuvers which are required in reining, cutting, working cow horse, barrel racing, calf roping, and other western riding events. As well as the disciplines listed above, the American Quarter horse is also used in English disciplines such as driving, show jumping, dressage, hunting and so many other equestrian activities. 

American Quarter Horse Breed History

The American Quarter Horse is over 350 years old and was a breed first discovered in the 17th Century.

With the USA being colonised by both the English and the Spanish, both sets of settlers brought their native horses to new land. This meant a cross breed between the two breeds was formed.

The new breed was recognised for it's extremely athletic build and thoroughbred traits, making it an excellent peformance horse. People began to race these horses and found them especially strong over 400 meters or a quarter mile.

This is how they got their name 'The Quarter Horse'.