The American Quarter Horse
photo credit: evelynbelgium
The American Quarter horse is pssibly the most popular breed kept today.
Named for it’s athletic ability over a short distance i.e. a quarter mile the quarter horse is the drag car of the equestrian world. In fact it was possibly bred as a short racer in the 17th century. Competing against imported thoroughbreds the local quarter miler mares often won.
This speed combined with a good measure of stamina and an impressive manoueverability also meant the quarter horse leant itself to the demands of ranchers and stockmen who needed a quick mount with a good turning ability when rounding up the cattle.
The quarter horse is a beautiful creature with a deep chest and a muscular build. The strong hindquarters help this animal to turn on a dime (almost) and accelerate like dung off a shovel.
Another factor in deciding if you would like to own an American Quarter Horse should be the lovely, affable nature of these guys and that’s why it is commonly called “Americas Horse”
