The Quarter Horse, named for its extraordinary speed over a quarter of a mile, is
America's most popular and successful breed. In the fifty-seven years from the
beginning of registration in 1940 nearly 3 million horses have been registered and the
breed is represented in over sixty countries around the world.
Traditionally the horse of the Western ranches and the short distance racetrack, the
Quarter Horse now competes for huge prizes on the racetrack and in many events
under Western and English saddle.
The History of the Quarter Horse
American Quarter Horse history goes back well before America was a self-governing
country, however it wasn't until the late 1800's that the Quarter Horse was an
established and recognized type. He was often known by other names - Billy horses,
Steeldusts, Rondos, after famous ancestors or after ranch and racing capabilities.
A superb animal in its own right, the early Quarter Horse derived great benefit from
judicious use of Thoroughbred blood which helped to improve its saddle horse qualities
and to concentrate its racing ability. Around the turn of the century a clutch of horses
left an indelible mark on the breeds reputation, mainly in the area of short distance
racing, although it was not until the 1940s that formalised track events took over from
match racing. Such names as Steel Dust, Shiloh, Old Billy and Lock's Rondo cropped up
again and again in this respect, and later Traveler, Peter McCue and Joe Bailey.
Although mares of note are recorded, the stallion's exploits received greater
recognition due to the broader dissemination of their blood in succeeding generations.
With closer attention being paid to record keeping, pedigrees tracing to these horses
began to be accurately verified.
The Quarter Horse was prized for his tremendous speed over a short distance, and for
his ability to out-think and out-manoeuvre stock, and after a furious burst of activity to
revert back to a calm but alert animal conserving energy.
In time the early twentieth-century Quarter Horse evolved by breeding selectively for
an animal that combined a low centre of gravity for rapid manoeuvrability, muscle and
sufficient weight to hold a steer, rapid acceleration and blinding speed over a relatively
short distance and not too much height which made mounting and dismounting easy for a
working ranchman. This, combined with the equable disposition and intelligence made the
other attributes a workable package.
Quarter Horse Characteristics
Head: Relatively short and wide with a small muzzle and a shallow firm mouth. Full and
sensitive nostrils, large eyes set wide apart reflecting intelligence and placid
disposition. Well developed jowls.
Neck: Of sufficient length and flexibility to be well balanced and give good
manoeuvrability. Throatlatch should be trim and clean.
Shoulders: Long and set at an angle of about 45 degrees. Smooth and relatively heavily
muscled.
Chest: Deep and broad with well set forelegs and shoulders. Muscling inside forearm
gives the appearance of a well defined inverted V.
Barrel: Back is short and close coupled. Full and powerful across the loins. The girth is
deep with well sprung ribs. Underline is longer than the back.
Hindquarters: Broad, deep and heavy. Muscled so that they are full at the stifle, thigh,
gaskin and down to the hock. The rump is long and sloping gently from hip to tailhead.
Muscling on the hip is long, extending down into the stifle which is deep and ties in well
with the gaskin. When viewed from the rear it is the widest part of the Quarter Horse.
The gaskin is wide and well muscled inside and outside. The hock is broad, flat, clean,
strong, low set and free from excess tissue. The muscling ties well into the hock joint
and there is no play or give except directly forward.
Stance: The Quarter Horse stands with his legs well under him and flat on the ground.
Mature Size: Although the Quarter Horse usually weighs between 500 and 600 kilos, he
is relatively small by comparison to other breeds. Average height is between 14.1 and
15.2 hands high.
Action: square and true. His action is both balanced and easy. Whenever he turns or
stops, it is with his hocks well under him.
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