Equine Breeds

Mr. Dieckhoff

Equine Science

Terminology

Color Patterns

• Bay – brown with black mane & tail

• Chestnut – dark brown with brown mane & tail

• Sorrel – light brown with brown mane & tail

• Grey• Black• White• Palomino – brown with white

mane & tail• Buckskin – yellow with black

mane & tail• Dun – yellow with dorsal stripe• Roan – mix of red/white or

blue/white

Gaits

1. Walk – slowest, 4 beats

2. Trot – 2 beats, legs are diagonal pairs

3. Pace – 2 beats, legs are in side pairs

4. Canter – 3 beats

5. Gallop – 4 beats, fastest

6. Rack – walking behind and trotting in front

Practice Gaits

Light Horses

• At least 14.2 hands tall at the withers

• 900 - 1400 pounds• Most common type of

horse in the United States

Appaloosa

• Well known for speed• Used by the Nez

Pence Indians as war horses

• Originated from Spanish horses left behind by explorers

Arabian

• Originated from Bedouin desert

• Most ancient breed• Known for strength

and stamina• Small muzzle• High tail setting• Short back

Morgan

• Developed in the United States

• America’s first breed of light horse

• Descended from one horse, Justin Morgan

Paint

• Stock Horse• Splotched Markings• Known for muscle

American Quarter Horse

• Developed in the United States as a race horse

• Named for their fast times in the 1/4 mile

• Known for speed, strength & intelligence

• Most popular horse breed in the world

Saddlebred

• Developed in the United States

• Ridden by many famous riders– Paul Revere

– Daniel Boone

– Ulysses S. Grant

– Stonewall Jackson

– Robert E. Lee

Standardbred

• Fastest harness horse in the world

• Name comes from the fact that the horses must meet a “specific” standard.

• Bay, brown or black in color

Tennessee Walking Horse

• Originated in Tennessee

• Possess a unique running walk gait

• Very easy to ride• Preferred horse of

traveling preachers

Missouri Fox Trotter

• Known for its unique gait

• Used for pleasure

Thoroughbred

• Designed to sustain speed over distances while carrying weight

• Average 16 hands in height

• Revolutionized the racing industry

Draft Horse Breeds

Belgian

• Originated in Belgium• American Belgian

Association is headquartered in Wabash, IN

Clydesdale

• Developed in Scotland• Commonly bay in

color• Known for four white

socks with hairy fetlocks

• Made famous in US beer commercials

Percheron• Unclear origin• The oldest equine

breed• Most popular draft

breed in the early 1900s

Shire

• Developed in England• Most common draft

breed in England• Once used to carry

knights into battle• Mostly black with

white legs