Quarter Horse
The Quarter Horse, America's oldest breed, is one of the most popular breeds in the world with over three million registered in the American Quarter Horse Association. This horse generally stands from 15 to 16 hands. Marguerite Henry said of this breed, "He is not a quarter of a horse or a quarter of anything. He is himself-the fastest piece of horseflesh in the world for a quarter of a mile. Hence his name, a name he has borne almost since the first colonists landed in Virginia."
The Quarter Horse was first bred by the colonists in America. He was bred to work and to race. The colonists used this breed to round up cattle. On holidays, they would hold races on straightaways anywhere from ten yards to a quarter mile long.
With the rise of the Thoroughbred breed, it was inevitable that the Quarter Horse would be matched against the Thoroughbred. The races between these two breeds always turned out the same; the Quarter Horse would lead for the first quarter of a mile, and then the Thoroughbred would push ahead to win. With the rise of the Thoroughbred, short distance racing died out.
Although short distance racing died out, the Quarter Horse's usefulness did not die out as well. As Americans moved westward, they took Quarter Horses with them to do the cattle work. And, thus, the Quarter Horse took his place as most see him, a working horse in the American west.
Although short racing is of less popularity than distance racing, it never completely expired. In 1947, Barbara B, a Quarter Horse mare, raced against a Thoroughbred in a quarter-mile dash. The purpose of this race was to prove that the Thoroughbred was superior to the Quarter Horse. But, keeping with the breed's short distance records, Barbara B won the race.
The early Quarter Horses could be compared to a bulldog. They were short-backed, with a load of muscle. They had alert, small ears, and a massive jaw. Today, this type of Quarter Horse is often referred to as the Foundation Quarter Horse (Visit the FQHR for more information). With the addition of Thoroughbred blood, a number of Quarter Horses have lost the bulldog characteristics that have made them famous. Many look a lot trimmer than their ancestors. Above, you will see a picture of Smokey. I'd like to point out that Smokey is muscled-up like his ancestors, and that many Quarter Horses today do not have the same amount of muscle.
Interested in the Quarter Horse? Visit the American Quarter Horse Association.