Originally from the United States, the Quarter Horse is one of the oldest horse breeds on the American continent. Very versatile, the Quarter Horse is mainly ridden in western riding, although it is also used in other disciplines in the United States. Appreciated for its gentle character, the Quarter Horse is a horse that suits both competitors and families.
Breed History
The Quarter Horse is the result of various crosses that began in the early 1600s. At that time, the settlers were looking for very fast horses, capable of winning the races they organized. The descendants of Spanish horses brought to the territory by the explorers were then crossed with horses of English origin, producing a horse that was called the “Celebrated American Quarter Running Horse”.
From the 18th century, horse racing over longer distances became very popular in Europe. A Virginia breeder then decided to cross one of his mares with the grandson of one of the founding stallions of the English Thoroughbred breed. the cross made pleases both for its robustness and for its speed and is used to conquer the American West. The Quarter Horse as we know it today was born from a last cross with the Mustangs of Mississippi.
Physical peculiarities
His head: The head of the Quarter Horse is small with a broad forehead, developed ganaches and a straight muzzle. The ears are small and the eyes are lively.
Its neckline: The neckline is thin and tied very high.
His body: The Quarter Horse is a small horse that is very compact. The back is short and the withers are not very pronounced. The chest is wide, just like the shoulder which is oblique. Its muscular body is distinguished in particular by a very developed and massive hindquarters.
Its members: The members of the Quarter horse are fine and short. The hooves are small.
His coat: All coats are admitted to the Stub-Book of the breed.
His hair: They are generally worn long.
His gaits: The gaits of the Quarter Horse are grazing and have little amplitude.
Use
The Quarter Horse is particularly used in western riding where it is ridden in most disciplines such as reining, barel racing or cutting. Agile and balanced, this horse is perfectly adapted to these equestrian disciplines where it is required to turn around, start and stop.
Endowed with an unfailing resistance, the Quarter Horse is also a very good hiking partner. Rustic and carrying, he is the horse to acquire to have fun outdoors. In the United States, it is still very present in the racing world. It is also used in all English disciplines.
Famous Quarter Horses
The Quarter Horse is one of the horse breeds that were used by cowboys. They are very present in western films. It is in particular a Quarter Horse which played “Cisco”, the horse of Kevin Costner in Dances with the wolves.
Breeding
The breed’s Stud-Book was created in 1941 in Texas. Managed by the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), it brings together nearly 5 million Quarter Horses around the world. His number makes him the most common horse in the world. Its breeding is also growing insofar as western riding and recreational riding are disciplines that are increasingly popular with riders.
In France, the Quarter Horse is bred throughout the territory, although it is more present in the center of the country and in the South-East. It is also farmed in more than 80 countries around the world, including Canada and Mexico.
