Horse Breeds: American Quarter Horse

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.