All about Quarter Horses

Everyone that rides horses enjoys a little speed every now and then. Quarter Horses are breed for the durability, cow sense, and quick off the line. Settlers, for cow herding used Quarter Horses, they are quick off the start and are built compact for a reason. This allows them to turn quickly. Now Quarter Horses are used in rodeo events like barrel racing, cutting, reining, team penning, and other speed games. Quarter Horses are not only used for Rodeo events or racing. They make excellent family horses; their calm temperament makes them perfect for long trail rides and all day work. Barrel Racing is my particular favorite probably because I have been competing since I was four years old. When the horse walks out into the arena and takes off to complete the race there is no other feeling. The power behind a Quarter Horse is immense on take off and throughout the turns. Some Quarter Horses have been clocked at 50 miles an hour. What a ride.

Quarter Horses do not just come in red. They come in many colors, from roans, grays, grullos, duns, palominos and even buckskins. Sometimes even color-coated horses like pintos can become registered Quarter Horses as long as the mother and father are registered as Quarter Horses.

However, the introduction of Thoroughbred into the Quarter Horse has allowed the horse to run a greater distance at a faster speed than originally. But these horses are not Pure Quarter Horses. They are Appendix Quarter Horses. These horses tend to be taller and leaner than the average Quarter Horse. The average Quarter Horse is only between 14.5 to 15.5 hands whereas the Appendix Quarter Horses can range form 14.5 to 16.



Now its time for 5 fun facts:

1.Did you know that horses sleep standing up! They also sleep lying down but are more cautious when doing so.


2.The American Quarter Horse is the most popular breed of horse because of its calm temperament and diversity to complete multiple tasks.


3.Horses like to live in herds. They do not like to be by themselves just like humans don’t.


4.Horses only have a one-way digestive system. They can’t burp, vomit or breathe through there mouths. Once it goes in it must come out the other end. That is why horses are at high risks of colic compared to cows.


5.Horses teeth can reveal its age.