Quarter Horses
A complete guide to American Quarter Horses
Quarter Horses derive their names from the fact that they can outdistance virtually all other horse breeds in sprint races of a quarter-mile or less. American Quarter Horses can run extremely fast, with some animals breaking the 55 mph threshold.
History
Quarter Horses originated in the United States from crossbreeding between English thoroughbreds and horses native to the Americas. As interest in horseracing grew in North America, breeders selectively refined the Quarter Horse bloodline to produce animals capable of reaching extremely fast sprint speeds.
Uses
Beyond their usefulness as ranch workers, Quarter Horses excel at sprinting. They are also popular rodeo and equestrian horses, though breeds like the Tennessee Walking Horse are considered superior for pleasure riding.
Appearance
Body Size: This breed usually reaches a height of 14 to 16 hands high (hh; a “hand” being a unit of equine measurement equivalent to approximately 4 inches) and a weight of approximately 1,200 pounds. Breeders aim to produce animals with muscular bodies, broad chests, short heads and rounded hindquarters.
Color and Patterns: While sorrel, a reddish shade of brown, is this breed’s most common coat color, chestnut Quarter Horses are also popular and easily found. Other recognized coat colors include white, cream, buckskin, gray and a range of roan shades. Black Quarter Horses are also common.
Caring for a Quarter Horse
Feeding: Show horses and racehorses have special dietary requirements which should be discussed with a veterinarian or a horse feed specialist. Work horses and animals kept for pleasure riding will generally be happy with two meals of roughage per day, or regular grazing. A salt or mineral horse supplement is also essential.
Grooming: Horses should have their hooves inspected daily for signs of injury or infection. Shoes should be replaced every six to eight weeks. Brushing and other fine grooming tasks should be performed as needed, unless the horse is a show animal, in which case brushing, coat grooming and mane care should be done on a daily basis.
Health Problems: Much has been written about skin diseases hereditary to Quarter Horses, including collagen deficiencies that cause the horse’s skin to literally fall apart, but this breed also suffers from other, potentially more serious genetic conditions. Muscle twitching, paralysis and enzyme deficiencies all occur with significant regularity.
Life Expectancy: Healthy American Quarter Horses should live for at least 20 to 25 years.
Finding Quarter Horses for Sale
It’s important to understand the distinction between two variants of this breed. Appendix Quarter Horses are first-generation crossbreeds, combining the bloodlines of a registered thoroughbred and a registered American Quarter Horse.
Some purists believe that this practice dilutes the purity of the breed, and prefer foundation Quarter Horses. Animals of this variant are bred from registered Quarter Horses only. Pure foundation Quarter Horses do not have any thoroughbred blood.
