Selecting Your Horse

The author admires an Arabian horse. This Saddle Horse was a reserve champion amateur. All American Saddle Horse. A Champion Tennessee Walking Horse has a wonderful slope to the shoulder and shows lots of quality. Most of the apparent attributes of the ideal Quarter Horse—power, speed, quality, beauty and disposition—are captured in one painting by Darol Dickinson, artist. A Colorful Appaloosa. This horse is being shown in a Western Pleasure or equitation class. A champion long-tailed hackney exhibiting extreme knee and hock flexion, so typical of the breed. Long-tail hackneys may be shown as fine harness ponies. Hackneys with docked tails are referred to as cob-tails and are shown as heavy harness ponies. Expressive eyes and ears, strong backs, and brilliant action and their hallmarks.

Usually people have a definite preference for a specific breed or type of horse or pony. They may prefer the Arabian for its unusual beauty, quality, endurance, and spirit. If it's speed, jumping ability, or considerable size, they might choose a horse of Thoroughbred type.

Arabians are solid-colored, often with white on the legs and face though bitten grays (white with black or brown tick marks) are common. The skin is black; black should show around the eyes and muzzle. Characteristically, Arabians have a slight dished face. Quality and refinement of the head, neck, and legs are the hallmarks of the breed. Arabians have excelled in endurance races and their versatility of use (ridden Western or English or hitched to a buggy), coupled with their great presence and elegance, contribute greatly to their current popularity.

The Thoroughbred excels at every use that calls for speed (racing, polo, hunting, gymkhana events, etc.). Thoroughbreds vary in size and are usually big, strong, well-muscled horses. However, they usually lack the presence of the Arabian and the action of the saddle-bred so are shown primarily in hunter-jumper performance classes and as hunter equitation mounts. Their willingness, speed, size (15 - 17 hands), and ability make them ideal jumpers. Of course their long suit is as race horses.

The American Saddle Horse excels in the gaited class, but also makes an excellent pleasure horse and may be used for stock work. They have long necks and level croups, high quality, and lots of "fire and nerve." Beauty and action are their long suits and as show horses they have few equals. However, they require much training and special shoeing to perform at their best advantage in the show ring.

The Tennessee Walking Horse is truly a pleasure horse with a good disposition. Usually they are stronger about the head, heavier-boned, and carry their heads lower than the American Saddle Horse, and have some set or excessive angle at the hocks. Their usual gait, the running walk, entitles them to special classes in horse shows. This same gait makes them a pleasure to ride whether in or out of the show ring. They have some of the same drawbacks as American Saddle Horses; they require considerable training and special and regular re-shoeing. Walking horses vary in color. Roan is quite common and horses with considerable white on the face, legs, and belly are frequently seen. Black has become the most common color since 1970.

The Quarter Horse is the most popular stock horse in the United States. Most horse shows provide special Quarter Horse classes in reining, cutting, and barrel races. In addition, a good disposition, adaptability for many uses, simple showing requirements, and easy keeping qualities make them an ideal western pleasure horse. Heavy, showy muscling (bulldog type) was at one time desired. A taller, better-moving horse is now preferred.

The Morgan is another breed well adapted to a variety of uses with many shows having special Morgan classes for riders who prefer either Western or English equipment. Morgans are also very popular driving horses. In some respects Morgans are more versatile than either the American Saddle Horse or Quarter Horse. Taller (15 to 15.3 hands), better-moving Morgans are now preferred. Chestnut, bay, and black are the usual colors.

Palaminos, Appaloosas, and Pintos are popular breeds with distinctive color patterns and may represent either the western stock horse or a type more closely resembling the American Saddle Horse. The Palomino does not breed true to color, though the Appaloosa and Pinto colors are quite easy to establish and maintain through selective breeding. The overall color pattern of Pinto or Paint horses may carry a lethal white gene.

The Shetland Pony, at a maximum height of 11.2 hands (46 inches); and the Welsh pony, and Pony of America, usually 13.2 hands (54 inches) and under; are popular youngsters' ponies. The Welsh pony (often gray or solid colored with white on the face and legs) is well suited for children's hunter and jumper classes. The Shetland comes in a variety of colors and is used in various driving classes (hitched to buggies or sulkies) besides being an excellent riding pony for small youngsters. The ideal pony should resemble a miniature saddle horse rather than a miniature draft horse, as was once the style.

For detailed information about the various breeds of horses and ponies, refer to library books and journals under categories of breeds of horses or breeds of livestock.

« Previous Section | Table of Contents | Next Section »

Produced by Communication and Educational Technology Services, University of Minnesota Extension.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this material is available in alternative formats upon request. Please contact your University of Minnesota Extension office or the Distribution Center at (800) 876-8636.

University of Minnesota Extension is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, or sexual orientation.