Able to trace its roots to early American, the American Quarter Horse is both compact and muscular. This popular breed can be found in virutally all horse disciplines and is still used to race at quarter-mile tracks throughout the United States. These horses are as varied as they are beautiful and can be found in most areas of the world.
Early American settlers created this breed by crossing Spanish horses to those of more English ancestry. This was done for a variety of reasons, but mostly because a well-rounded horse was most desired on the plains. A horse that could outrun all others, be useful on the farm, and still serve as a family mount was exactly what the Quarter Horse became. At first, however, these horses were called Celebrated American Quarter Running Horses. When thoroughbred blood was introduced, the horse moved further west with the settlers and showed that they were uniquely suited for cattle work. This endeared them to the ranchers and only increased their popularlity. Though known as the Quarter Horse for many years, it wasn't until 1940 that the American Quarter Horse Association was founded and the horse received its official name.
Today, Quarter Horses are used in everything from barrel racing to dressage. They are racehorses, reining champions, and family mounts. Though the most common color for the American Quarter Horse is sorrel, which is a brownish red, there are many other acceptable colors. These include black, brown, gray, buckskin, chestnut, red dun, dun, palomino, grullo, bay roan, blue roan, red roan, cremello, and perlino. These horses vary in size, standing 14 to more than 16 hands high.
Thought to originate in North America, the American Paint is still popular today. These magnificent beasts are used in traditional stock-horse western events and often show up at barrel races. They are also common in reining events. American Paints are white with patches of any other color found in many areas of the body and head. These horses stand between 14.2 and 16.2 hands high and are popular with hobby riders in many areas of the world.
It is difficult to say where exactly the American Paint came from. There is a reference to two horses having pinto markings crossing to North America with the explorer Hernando Cortes in 1519. This is the earliest reference to this type of horse appearing in North America, though it is possible they arrived slightly earlier. Regardless, but the early 1800s, horses with distinctive Paint coloring were common throughout the West. The Paint was well-liked by many of the native tribes in North America, particularly the Comanche.
Throughout the 1800s and into the early 1900s, these horses were referred to by many different names. Pinto, paint, piebald, and shewbald were just a few of the labels attached to these creatures. Finally, in the 1960s interest in preserving the unique coloring increased. The American Paint Horse Association was formed in 1965 to protect and promote this sweet-natured breed.
American Paints are very distinctive in appearance. The primarly coat color is a brilliant white with patches of any one of the recognized equine colors, including dun, roan, black, brown, bay, chestnut, sorrel, grullo, gray, buckskin, or palamino. These patches can appear anywhere on the body and typically appear in one of three distinct patterns: tovero, tobiano, or overo.
The American Cream Draft is a horse that is still used today for hobby farming, logging, driving, and hay rides. Some of these impressive horses are even ridden. All horses of this breed have cream colored coats with white manes and tales. They also have some other white markings and pink skin. The American Cream Draft Horse typically stands 15.1 to 16.3 hands high. Foals are born with almost white eyes. The eyes darken to amber as the horse ages.
Almost all American Cream Draft Horses, 98% to be specific, can be traced to a lowan cream-colored draft mare named Old Granny. Old Granny's beauty and unique coat prompted breeders to try and produce a consistently cream-colored draft horse at the beginning of the 20th century. Though other breeds were later added to the mix, including Belgian, Shire, and Percheron, blood typing has shown that the American Cream Draft is a distinct breed and not merely one of these other breeds with a cream coat.
At the beginning of the 20th century, these horses were used primarily on farms and in logging areas. They also make excellent drive horses. Today, however, they are used in parades around the world for their beauty and poise. Some riders even prefer this breed over others for their smooth motion.
