| The jury is still out on whether the American Quarter | | | | profile of the Quarter Horse is usually straight. The |
| Horse is the first breed to be produced on American | | | | neck of the Quarter Horse is well-muscled, |
| soil. Regardless, if it wasn't the first horse to be bred | | | | well-formed, and a bit arched. Well-defined withers are |
| here it was certainly one of the first, and its history | | | | set prominently into a short, straight back. The croup is |
| traces back to before the earliest days of the | | | | usually strong, muscular, and rounded, and drops subtly |
| American colonies, back to the official royal breeding | | | | to the haunches. The wide, deep chest and long, |
| farms established here by the Spanish. | | | | muscular, and well-sloped shoulders are other |
| Today, according to the American Quarter Horse | | | | characteristics of the Quarter Horse. The legs of the |
| Association (AQHA), there are more than 4,000,000 | | | | Quarter Horse are usually solid and well-formed, with |
| Quarter Horses registered worldwide, and | | | | very muscular thighs, gaskins, and forearms. The joints |
| approximately 150,000 Quarter Horse foals registered | | | | are broad and clean. Quarter Horse feet are usually |
| each year. | | | | strong and sturdy, though they can sometimes be |
| The Quarter Horse has a rich and varied pedigree, | | | | smaller than body size warrants. |
| including Spanish Barbs, Colonial mid-Atlantic | | | | The most common color for Quarter Horses is sorrel, |
| Quarter-Pathers, English Thoroughbreds, Andalusians, | | | | which makes up about one-third of all registered |
| Mustangs, and Rhode Island Racing Stock, to name | | | | horses. The AQHA also recognizes bay, black, brown, |
| just a few. | | | | chestnut, dun, red dun, grulla, buckskin, palomino, gray, |
| While the Quarter Horse was established before the | | | | red roan, blue roa, bay roan, cremello, and perlino. |
| English Thoroughbred could have a significant influence | | | | White markings on the face and lower legs are not |
| on early breeding, the greatest influence on early | | | | only permitted, they are quite common. AQHA does |
| Quarter Horses was Sir Archy, a distance horse to | | | | not allow white above the knee or hock, and white |
| whom many of the greatest 19th and 20th century | | | | body patches are also not allowed. |
| Quarter Horses can trace their lineage. | | | | The fact that Quarter Horses started out as |
| While Quarter Horses were initially used to race in | | | | short-distance race horses on the East Coast, moved |
| shorter style races on the eastern seaboard, the | | | | to the West to specialize in ranch work, and now |
| longer, four-mile heats that came into fashion in the | | | | excel in every discipline imaginable is testament to the |
| 1850s pushed the Quarter Horse to the sidelines while | | | | breed's amazing versatility. While the breed is still best |
| leggier horses such as the Thoroughbred prevailed. | | | | suited for ranch work, short distance racing, cutting, |
| The Quarter Horse may have all but died out if settlers | | | | and reining, you can find Quarter Horses in the hunter |
| moving West hadn't capitalized on the strength, | | | | jumper, dressage, park saddle, pleasure, and trail |
| quickness, and athleticism that made them naturals for | | | | disciplines. Quarter Horses also have wonderful, willing, |
| pulling wagons and plows, managing livestock, and | | | | and calm temperaments and are good for riders of all |
| doing ranch work. As cattle ranching became in | | | | ages and abilities. |
| indispensable industry in the United States, so did the | | | | For more great information on equine breeds and their |
| Quarter Horse. | | | | traits. Visit our vast network from the links in our |
| Quarter Horse range in height from 14.2 hands to 17 | | | | resource box below. We have a wonderful equine |
| hands, and typically weigh 1,000 to 1,500 pounds. The | | | | community and the largest equine network. |
| Quarter Horse is known for its short, fine head with | | | | We truly hope you will stop by and say hello. |
| small, alert ears and alert eyes set wide apart. The | | | | |