Quarter Horse History

To be suitable for western riding a horse must have a quiet reliable temperament. It must be able to react immediately and responsively to it's riders instructions. Any horse possessing these qualities will respond positively to western riding techniques. Around the world many breeds are extensively trained and used in the western style. In Britain Arabs and Cobs are frequently used and the traditional western breeds of Paints and Appaloosas are firmly established. However, if there is one breed of horse to be classified as the most popular then it is the American Quarter Horse. The original horses taken to America by the Spanish were predominately Barbs, hot bloodied and powerful. Over time many of these horses were sold stolen or lost. It was not long before many found their way into Indian hands. Through indiscriminate breeding these horses diminished in size but became tougher and better able to fend for themselves in a harsh environment. It was with these ponies that the later English settlers crossed their own horses brought from England and Ireland. This cross breeding provided the origins of the Quarter Horse. It was still to go through much refinement but the key qualities of the breed were laid down in these foundations. In the early seventeenth century these horses were, to a great extent, bred selectively for the increasingly popular pursuit of quarter mile racing. Further introductions of Thoroughbred blood enhanced the breeds natural speed soon these new "Quarter mile running horses" were the fastest sprinters in the American horse world. Then, gradually, the developing Eastern seaboard society began to establish longer race tracks and the pre-eminence of the Quarter Horse began to fade in favour of the longer speed endurance of the Thoroughbred. At the same time however this fast agile horse with its quiet disposition and ability to withstand the harshest conditions began to prove itself as a hard working pioneer and ranch horse. Despite often standing barely 15hh, this muscular horse proved itself easily capable of carrying a man all day and still turning on a burst of speed to run down an errant steer. Breeding objectives quickly switched to developing "cow sense" and before long the Quarter Horse was firmly established in a role that would make it forever famous as a part of American history. Nowadays the Quarter Horse is proving its versatility once again as a sports and pleasure horse. Along with the colourful Paints and Appaloosas, pure and part bred Quarter Horses can be found competing successfully in every equestrian discipline from show jumping, through dressage and polo, to all of the western disciplines including Reining, recently recognised as an international discipline.

 

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