| The American Quarter Horse is an American breed of | | | | choice of the early cowboys, being used for cattle |
| horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name | | | | round-up due to their speed and agile maneuverability |
| comes from its ability to outdistance other breeds of | | | | and quickly became the horses that cowboys counted |
| horses in races of a quarter mile or less. It is by far the | | | | on for their daily duties. As ranches grew in size and |
| most popular breed and currently boasts a population | | | | importance, the Quarter Horse became a fixture in the |
| of about 3.2 million. | | | | west. |
| Beginner Horseback Riding Lessons - History of the | | | | The American Quarter Horse was also used for sprint |
| American Quarter Horse | | | | races. As a result, more Thoroughbred blood was |
| In the 1700s, colonists on the eastern seaboard of the | | | | added back into the developing American Quarter |
| United States began to cross imported English | | | | Horse breed, as well as the addition of Arabian, |
| Thoroughbred horses with assorted "native" horses | | | | Morgan and even Standard bred bloodlines. |
| such as the Chickasaw horse (a breed developed by | | | | The American Quarter Horse is best-known today as |
| Native American people from horses descended from | | | | a show horse, race horse, reining and cutting horse, |
| Spain, developed from Iberian, Arabian and Barb stock | | | | rodeo competitor, ranch horse, and all-around family |
| brought to the United States by the Conquistadors). | | | | horse. Quarter horses dominate rodeo events such as |
| What they got was a small, sturdy horse that was | | | | barrel racing, calf roping and team roping. Other stock |
| quick and nimble and showed signs of superior | | | | horse events such as cutting and reining are open to |
| intelligence and a willingness to work. | | | | all breeds but also dominated by American Quarter |
| Settlers in the colonies entertained themselves by | | | | Horse. These horses are not only well-suited for |
| match racing their horses. Since the main streets of | | | | western riding and cattle work; they have also been |
| their small towns were usually the only straight stretch | | | | trained to compete in dressage and can be good |
| of flat ground available, so this was where the races | | | | jumpers. They are also used for recreational trail riding |
| were held. The main streets were short, often a | | | | and in mounted police units. Their even temperament |
| quarter mile or less; the settlers bred horses who were | | | | makes them a great animal for new riders learning |
| sprinters; they could start fast and sustain a burst of | | | | about horses. |
| speed for a short distance. These horses were so | | | | The modern Quarter Horse has a small, short, refined |
| adept at sprinting they became known as the | | | | head with a straight profile, and a strong, well-muscled |
| "Celebrated Quarter of a Mile Race Horses." | | | | body, featuring a broad chest and powerful, rounded |
| The settlers of the west bred their horses to the | | | | hindquarters. They usually stand between 14 and 16 |
| Spanish mares of the area, which were already | | | | hands high. |
| known as tough, hardy, independent range horses | | | | There are two main body types: the stock type and |
| unequaled for cow-sense and endurance. The crosses | | | | the hunter or racing type. The stock horse type is |
| produced horses that were compact and heavily | | | | shorter, more compact, stocky and well muscled, yet |
| muscled. | | | | agile. The racing and hunter type Quarter Horses are |
| As the quarter horse breed continued to gain | | | | somewhat taller and smoother muscled than the stock |
| popularity, its gentle nature led it to be used as a riding | | | | type, more closely resembling the Thoroughbred. Their |
| horse and due to its strength was soon performing | | | | coloring varies from bay, black and brown and includes |
| other work on many of the early farms. The breed | | | | chestnut, palomino, buckskin and grey. |
| seemed to have a natural instinct for working around | | | | If you are taking Beginner Horseback Riding Lessons, I |
| cattle as well. When the settlers began surging west in | | | | hope the information above has benefited you. |
| the 1800's, the quarter horse breed was the horse of | | | | |