Horse Breeds

Does breed make a difference? It all depends on what you want to do with your horse. We’ll list a few breeds here and give a brief description of their general traits. This will help to narrow your selection. You must remember that in any breed you will have very docile and gentle creatures at one of the spectrum, and you’ll find fiery, irascible, and cantankerous animals at the other end. Remember, horses have a personality just as you and I do!

Appaloosa - If you want a gentle, even-tempered horse, this descendent from the Nez Perce Indians of the Pacific Northwest could be a good choice. They have great endurance and are prized for jumping and long-distance riding events. They are also known for being good reliable family horses and are especially gentle with children.
Arabians – This breed of horse is considered to be the most ancient of all horse breeds known to us today. They are bred to perpetuate their beauty and elegance as well as their fiery disposition. They are strong and have great endurance. Because of their personalities, Arabians are not a good choice for a novice horse owner, requiring instead a very experienced and savvy rider. This personality type is fairly exclusive to the United States. The Arabians in the Middle East are much more gentle and even-tempered.
Clydesdales - If you’ve been alive during the past 25 years, you’ve certainly seen Budweiser’s most recognized mascots beautifully groomed, proudly tossing their heads and tales, and clomping by with their enormous white shaggy fetlocks. These distinguished horses originated in the Clyde Valley of Scotland. August A. Busch, Jr. gave his father a hitch of Clydesdales to celebrate the repeal of Prohibition and the renewed industry of beer brewing in 1933. Since that time, the proud Clydesdale has been the mascot of Anheuser Busch.
Golden American Saddlebred Horses – This horse is exceptionally trainable and adapts to a number of applications. Their personality varies greatly, so great care must be taken when choosing this breed for your purposes. They were first bred by American settlers in the late 18th century. They were prized for being able to travel great distances over the Appalachian trails at high speeds with great endurance.
Lipizzaner - When I was a young girl, I dreamed of having one of these beautiful white horses. I had read stories of the specially bred white horses performing for European Royalty. These horses can be traced back to approximately 1560 when the very athletic Spanish horses were interbred with the proud Arabians when Spain was occupied by the Moors. In the 1800s the Lipizzaner had a number of non-white horses, but as white was preferred by royalty, non-white Lipizzans are rare. While the Lippizan is born a darker color of black, brown, or grey, most of the horses turn white at some point after the age of six. Very rarely will you find an adult Lippizan that retains its original dark color.
Morgans – The Morgan horse is a great choice for both novice and experienced riders. They were bred from Justin Morgan (originally named “Figure”) who was born in Massachusetts in 1780. Justin Morgan was unremarkable as a colt, but became the father of an entire breed of horse. They can be used as a carriage horse, as a show horse, and can be ridden Western or English style. Versatility is considered one of their highest qualities.
Mustang – These are the wild horses found in the Western U.S. The name, “mustang” comes from the Spanish word mesteño, which means wild, or stray. These horses originated from the Spanish conquistadors, but they eventually interbred with a number of breeds of horse. Mustangs changed how the Native Americans lived and moved about their lands. The Bureau of Land Management has been instrumental in managing the waxing and waning populations of the Mustang. Starting in 1973, the Adopt-a-Horse program was started where an individual could purchase one of these wild horses for $125.00 (with specific qualifications that must be met for the duration of the animal’s life). Mustangs are highly prized by many people in the West and Southwest U.S. as they are exceptional riding animals and natural selection has allowed the best qualities of the breed to flourish.
Paints – This horse is another American original. The name comes from the characteristic color pattern of white splotches over a background of darker colors. The Paint Horse is traced back to Spanish explorers, and like the Mustang, often roamed wild on the Great Plains with the American Bison. This horse is versatile and highly intelligent, often used as a riding horse, show horse, and stock horse. Be aware that the Paint is distinguished from the similar looking
Pinto, which may have a similar coloring, but can be of any breed. The Paint is now a specific breed.
Quarter Horses – While the origination of this horse is somewhat in question, this is one more horse that is considered to be an American breed. One belief is that the horse originated from those held by the Chicksaw Indians, the other belief is that English settlers in the Virginias and Carolinas were responsible for the development of this strong, capable, and very even-tempered horse. This horse can be ideal for the beginning rider as this horse is very forgiving and quite relaxed. The most important to remember is that because of their accepting nature, they can be sick or injured without giving indications, leading the owner to causing additional damage if they do not pay close attention to their horse.
Tennessee Walking Horse – The Tennessee Walking Horse is an American breed developed in the 1800s by cotton and tobacco farmers to provide transportation to plantation owners. This breed is gentle and very even tempered. They have a very smooth gait that suits new young riders, as well as older riders who are concerned about the aches and pains they experience after a long ride. Many owners of the Tennessee Walker believe that the qualities of the joy of companionship, easy ride, and dependability provide a level of satisfaction that far outweighs the cost of owning such a magnificent a horse.
Grade Horse – The Grade Horse is considered to be a mixed breed horse, but don’t overlook this as a distinct possibility. Much like a canine mutt, the grade horse can be an excellent choice for a first time horse buyer, especially if you look for one that likely has a lot of quarter horse in them which helps to shape their personality appropriately. This horse is not one you would necessarily show, but can give you a good firsttime horse experience without the
expense of purchasing a registered thoroughbred.

For more information on one of the numerous breeds we haven’t mentioned here, go to this website and select the breed of horse that you are interested in and get more information about. http://139.78.104.1/breeds/horses/