Horse classification and types

Horse Classification

• Light horses range from 12 to 17.2 hands and weighs 900 to 1,400 pounds
• Light horses are used for riding, driving, showing, racing and utility on farms or ranches
• Light horses are capable of more action and greater speeds than draft horses
• Draft horses range from 14.2 to 17.2 hands and over 1,400 pounds
• Draft horses are used to pull heavy loads and work
• Ponies are 14.2 hands or less and weigh 500 to 900 pounds
• Pony types include draft, heavy harness, and saddle types
• Miniature horses have a maximum height of 34 inches at the withers
• Miniature horses are often kept as pets and can be used as driving horses, and come in most colors
• Hybrids are crosses between a horse and an ass or zebra

Horse Types

• Warm blood refers to the temperament of light-to-medium horse breeds
• Warm blood are breeds that are a cross between hotbloods and other horses
• Warm bloods are fine-boned, suitable for riding, and include horses with Arab blood
• Warm bloods are breeds are not thoroughbred, draft, or pony
• Hot blood describes Arabian, Barb, and Thoroughbred horses
• Cold blood refers to heavy, solid, strong horses with a calm temperament
• Cold blood is a generic name for heavy European horse breeds descended from the Forest Horse
• Draft horses are considered cold bloods

Uses of Light Horses

• Light horses are used for racing, riding, showing, driving, and all-purpose activities
• Light horses are used as a Harness horse and for gaited horse shows
• Light horses are used in rodeos for barrel racing, saddle bronc, and roping
• Light horses are used for driving and as pets

Akhal Teke

• The Akhal Teke breed has been bred for more than 3,000 years in Turkmenistan
• Akhal Teke conformation includes short silky manes or none at all, with a short tail
• Akhal Teke breed has a narrow chest, long back, and flat ribs
• Akhal Teke legs are long and slender, revealing the tendons
• Akhal Teke colors include gold with metallic sheen, bay, cream, and chestnut
• Akhal Teke height is 15 to 15.2 hands
• There are said to be less than 2,000 purebred Akhal Tekes in the world

Alter-Real

• Real is the word for "royal" in Portuguese
• This breed is the royal breed of Alter
• The Alter Real began in the late 18th century as carriage horses
• The Alter Real bloodlines have a heavy Andalusian influence
• The Alter Real originated in Portugal
• Alter Real colors are mostly bay or brown, chestnut, and gray
• Alter Reals typically falls are between 15-15.2 and/or 15.1-16.1 hands
• Alter Reals are strong and powerfully built
• Alter Reals have an impressive high-stepping action and are high strung
• The Alter Real does well in dressage

American Buckskin

• The American Buckskin originated in the United States
• Most Buckskins are of Spanish, European pony or America's Norfolk Trotter origin
• American Buckskin height is 14 hands
• American Buckskins accept four color patterns including Grulla and Dun
• American Buckskin is a color-based breed

American Quarter Horse

• The American Quarter Horse originated in the United States
• American Quarter Horses are hardy and medium-boned, with finely chiseled heads featuring wide foreheads and flat profiles
• American Quarter Horse legs are sturdy without being coarse
• American Quarter Horse shoulders and haunches are heavy and muscular
• American Quarter Horse height is 15.2-16.1 hands
• The most common American Quarter Horse color is chestnut, but any solid color is possible
• The American Quarter Horse is the oldest American breed
• The American Quarter Horse is the most versatile breed in the world and has a natural cattle sense
• American Quarter Horses are the most common breed in the United States

American Saddlebred

• The American Saddlebred originated in the United States.
• Ancestors of the American Saddlebred: Narragansett Pacer, Canadian Pacer, Morgan, and Thoroughbred.
• American Saddlebreds are known as show horses
• American Saddlebreds are shown in saddle seat in both three-gaited and five-gaited classes
• American Saddlebreds range from 14 - 16 hands in height
• American Saddlebreds come in black, bay, and brown with white markings on face and legs
• American Saddlebreds can perform several gaits and are very showy

American Standardbred

• The American Standard bred originated in the United States
• American Standardbreds are known for their ability to race in harness at a trot or pace instead of under saddle at a gallop
• American Standardbreds are slightly heavier than a Thoroughbred
• American Standardbreds solid legs and powerful shoulders and hindquarters enable the breed to trot or pace at racing speed
• American Standardbred range from 14 - 16 hands in height
• American Standardbred any solid color, most commonly brown, bay, black ore chestnut
• The American Standardbred was Developed as a trotter/pacer

Andalusian

• The Andalusian is known as the Pure Spanish Horse or PRE (Pura Raza Española)
• The Andalusian is a horse breed from the Iberian Peninsula where its ancestors have lived for thousands of years
• The Andalusian is recognized as the oldest purest breed after the Arabian
• The Andalusian almost became extinct in the 1830s and saved by monks
• Traditionally Andalusian were used by mounted bullfighters in Spain
• No Arab blood has been used in the development of Andalusians
• Andalusians originated in Spain
• Andalusians height 15-16.2 hands
• Andalusians colors are gray, white, black
• Andalusians are born dark and becoming lighter over the years

Appaloosa

• The Appaloosa originated in the United States and Spain
• The height of an Appaloosa is 14-15.3 hands
• Appaloosas have a white sclera around the eyes (5)
• Appaloosas have striped hooves and mottled skin
• Appaloosas have a distinct coat pattern
• Appaloosas were bred by Indians
• Appaloosas are currently popular in the United States and Australia

Arabian

• Arabian is one of the most recognizable horse breeds
• The Arabian is one of the oldest breeds, with archaeological evidence of horses in the Middle East dating back 4,500 years
• The Arabian type originated in Arabia
• Arabians range from 14.3 to 16 hands in height
• Arabian color varies through bay, brown, chestnut, gray, black
• Adaptations of the Arabian include, large nostrils, long eyelashes
• One less vertebra than any other breed
• Foundation breed
• Arabians can carry more weight over longer distances than a thoroughbred or quarter horse
• Arabians have a dished face

Barb

• Barbs originated from North Africa
• Barb height ranges 14-15 hands
• Barb Color includes, dark brown, bay, chestnut, black, gray
• Barb is a Foundation horse
• They used to strengthen other breeds
• The Barb is Considered to be forerunner of the Thoroughbred

Bashkir Curly

• The Bashkir Curly originated from Russia
• The Bashkir Curly averages 13.2 hands in height
• The Bashkir Curly has all colors
• The Bashkir Curly has a long curly coat of hair
• The Bashkir Curly has the ability to produce milk
• The Bashkir Curly is cold hardy

Chickasaw

• The Chickasaw originated in the United States
• The Chickasaw is 13.2 – 14.7 hands
• Color of the Chickasaw include, bay, black, chestnut, gray, roan, sorrel, or palomino
• The Chickasaw was developed by Native Americans of Tennessee, North Carolina, and Oklahoma
• Traditionally the Chickasaw was used as cow ponies

Cleveland Bay

• The Cleveland Bay originated from England
• A Cleveland Bay’s height is typically 16 - 16.2 hands
• Cleveland Bay’s are bay, mahogany with black points, mane, and tail
• The Cleveland Bay’s hooves appear blue
• The Cleveland Bay is a versatile and hardy breed

Lipizzaner

• The Lipizzaner originated in Austria
• Ranges in Height between is 15-16 hands
• Is mostly gray in color
• Is one of the Famous Spanish horses
• Has great athletic ability

Missouri Fox Trotter

• The Missouri Fox Trotter originated in the United States
• The Missouri Fox Trotter ranges in height from 14-17 hands
• The Missouri Fox Trotter shows any color, usually sorrel
• The Missouri Fox Trotter have a natural ability for specialized gaits
• The Missouri Fox Trotter provides a comfortable ride

Morab

• The Morab originated in the United States
• The Morab ranges in height of 14–15.2 hands
• Morab colors include bay, brown, black, or chestnut
• The Morab has One common foundation
• The Morab sire Justin Morgan of Massachusetts
• The Morab works well under harness or saddle

Morgan

• The Morgan horse originated in the United States
• Morgans are the First family of American Horses
• Morgan horses range in height from 14-2 to 16 hands
• Morgan horse commonly appear as Bay, brown, black, or chestnut; white
• Markings are not uncommon
• Known for stamina, docility, beauty, courage, and longevity

Mustang

• The Mustang originated in the United States
• The Mustang typically stands at 14-15 hands
• Mustangs come in a variety of colors
• Original cow pony
• Feral horses of the American West
• Small but tough
• Used by Native Americans

Paint

• The Paint originated in the United States
• Paint height varies
• Paint has a color-based breed
• Paint is another color and white in bold patches all over the body
• Paint horses must be sired by either registered paint, quarter horse, or thoroughbred

Thoroughbred

• The Thoroughbred originated in England
• Thoroughbreds range in height of 14.2 – 17 hands
• Thoroughbreds are most commonly solid in color, with white markings
• The Thoroughbred has been explicitly bred for racing and must be handled carefully because it is the most sensitive breed of horse

Connemara

• The Connemara originated from Ireland
• The Connemara height ranges from 13 – 14.2 hands
• Connemara colors are black, gray, brown, and dun
• The Connemara is a hardy and is Sure-footed

Dales

• The Dales originated in England
• The Dales maximum height is 14.2 hands
• The dales are mostly black
• The Dales are very hardy and good for kids
• The Dales are most commonly used for work

Pony of the Americas

• The Pony of the Americas is referred to as the POA
• POA, are of American origin
• POA, height ranges from is 11.2 – 13 hands
• POA, color comes in of Appaloosa color pattern
• POA, cross between Appaloosa and Shetland
• POA, is one of the newest breeds
• POA, is very good for young riders

Philippine/Baguio Pony

• The Philippine/Baguio Pony originated in the Philippines
• The Philippine/Baguio Pony has an average height of 13.2 hands
• The Philippine/Baguio Pony comes in all colors
• The ponies are extremely hardy & strong
• Ponies are sure footed
• These are commonly used as Trail ponies and Riding ponies
• Useful and very common form of Transportation and Racing

American Cream Draft

• The American Cream Draft originated in the United States
• They are 12.2-17 hands high
• There are 3 variations of cream that are accepted
• The American Cream Draft are Color based breed

Belgian

• The Belgian originated in Belgium
• The Belgian is Up to 17 hands
• The Belgian's color is Mostly roan with black points, chestnut, and sometimes bay, brown, dun, gray
• This breed is known for Feathering on its feet
• The Belgian is one of the most powerful horses in the work

Clydesdale

• The Clydesdale originated from Scotland
• The height has been noted to be 16.2-18 hands
• The Clydesdale commonly stands in a Bay, brown, roan, with much white on face and legs and sometimes on the body
• It has been noted that the Clydesdale displays action
• Commonly is used in the action of pulling
• Clydesdale has Feathering on feet

Percheron

• The Percheron originated in France
• The Percheron ranges in height from 15.2-17 hands
• Percherons vary in color of Gray and Black
• Percherons are Known to be Most popular cart horses
• And display Slight Arab features in their face

Shire

• The Shire, originated in England
• Stands approximately 17 hands average
• Consists of Bay and brown most commonly with white markings
• Is very docile
• Considered the Tallest horse
• Commonly display Heavy feathering on legs
• Is known as a popular team horse

Suffolk Punch

• The Suffolk Punch originated in England
• Typically ranging from 15.2 to 16.2 hands
• Usually a Chestnut color
• Are Workhorse
• Smallest draft horse