Breed History of American Quarter Horse
The first question lies in the origin of American Quarter Horse. The story is like American colonies would utilize two types of horses. And these were English and Spanish horses. The story goes back to the 1600s.
Time went on and horse buffs got enthusiastic to get new horse breeds. So, they crossed those two breeds with the Chickasaw horse.
Note that the Chickasaw horse used to be the local breed in the American colonies. So, this is the brief story of the source of American Quarter Horse.
Another question lies in the source of the term American Quarter Horse. Since American colonies serve as the source, so it is called the American quarter horse.
Moreover, this breed was rather popular in quarter-mile contests. Besides, the sure-footedness of this breed created prominence in that era. So, colonists used to prefer the American quarter horse a lot.
Time was passing and the contributions of this breed kept on increasing. It is because of their uses during the westward expansion.
Another worth-noting aspect of American Quarter Horse is its excellent liveliness. And this trait was precious to farmers and cattlemen.
Besides, these horses also contributed as a means of trustworthy transportation. What was special in it? People would use American quarter horses in rough terrain transportation.
You already know that the American quarter horse was there during the 1600s. However, the AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association) registry started the journey in 1940.
This breed indeed has its origin from the colonial age. However, the 1800’s westward expansion made it quite popular.
American Mustangs used to be bred with these horses. However, the American quarter horse’s generation started the journey with cattle.
It was a natural trait developed among them. The American Quarter Horse became a prominent choice for ranches in Western America.
The American quarter horse used to help the cowboys a lot. They brought up harvest in various places throughout the country.
The American Quarter Horse used to work all along the week. And when it comes to weekends, they took part in racing. This competition became popular as “rodeo” later on.
This horse breed gained popularity for completing short distances in less time. Even some of these horses could travel at a speed of 55 miles/hour. That is why Quarter Horse racing became a well-known term throughout the world.
Physical Characteristics of American Quarter Horse
When you start knowing about any breed, it is critical to know about its physical traits. First of all, what is the size of the American Quarter Horse? It starts from 56 inches and goes up to 64 inches.
The crossing has been going on between American quarter horses and pure-bred horses. And it results in an enhancement in their height.
What is the weight range of the American quarter horse? The range is 950 to 1,200 pounds. Some of them can also develop with more weight. That means you can consider American Quarter Horse as a bulky horse breed.
Nevertheless, such a range of weight can pose some strain on their body. The weight-to-frame ratio of the American quarter horse is not an ideal one.
However, loads of excellent qualities are present in this breed. That means you can easily consider the American quarter horse for adoption.
The American Quarter Horse is found in almost every color variation. However, most of the horses are available in chestnut and sorrel colors.
Many other color options are also there. It includes buckskin, bay, cremello, palomino, dun, blue roan, and many more.
The American quarter horse shows tightly-packed and muscular bodies. It is the reason how they can ace various Western regimens. It includes roping, barrel racing, cutting, and so on.
Quarter horses exhibit a deep chest and flat structure. Its head is small with a broad forehead.
Colors
When it comes to color, you can expect the American quarter horse in different variations. It includes palominos, grullo, duns, buckskins, solid colors, etc.
Do not forget to check the white spots on the American quarter horse. These marks mostly serve as an identifiable trait in their legs as well as faces. Furthermore, the AQHA registry also allows marked patterns in the body of these horses.
However, the horse owner must prove that the parents of the offspring were the American quarter horses.
Health
American Quarter Horse comes with a muscular body. These horses also exhibit tightly-packed bodies. Steadiness is another key trait of the American quarter horse. And that is why many people prefer this breed for different tasks.
Moreover, horses of this breed show sure-footedness and liveliness. That means they are greatly active in various roles. Even they can retain these two qualities at fast speeds. The “cow sense” of the American Quarter Horse is also mind-blowing. That is they hold a natural ability to maneuver cattle.
Temperament of American Quarter Horse
Now, you know that the American Quarter Horse has a rich history of the way long back. In fact, this horse breed is among the oldest ones in North America. Moreover, they are greatly popular as well.
The popularity of the American quarter horse is sourced from its excellent traits. First of all, these horses exhibit a gentle nature.
Moreover, they hold attractive appearance and amazing versatility. The American Quarter Horse is a loyal breed. Their liveliness and speed also deserve a special mention here.
These horses are an ideal choice for all kinds of riders. It is because of their friendly nature. Their ability to grasp training faster is also a key reason.
Activities
The American Quarter Horse is quite popular as racehorses. Besides, they also work a lot as ranch horses.
You can also adopt them as family pets. The American quarter horse is amazingly versatile. They can work in different roles with the ace.
Whether as a family member or working horse, quarter horse excels in all. On the other hand, they can also complete farm tasks with proficiency. They can also work on the trails.
American Quarter Horse used to pull wagons way back in time. Moreover, people also took their support to maneuver cattle. Nowadays, quarter horses have become a popular name in different rodeo events. It includes team penning and reining.
Quarter horses also exhibit strong haunches. This is the secret of their fast movements. These horses also perform well in barrel races. And you already know how much they are efficient in quarter horse racing.
Horses belonged to this breed also show excellence on different English occasions. Furthermore, the American Quarter Horse is also a well-known breed in halter shows.
Diet
Serving a proper diet is essential for any breed. Quarter horses need a perfect balance of six essential nutrients.
These horses can live on rolled oats, hay, fresh grass, and various other grains. It includes bran and barley. They can also tolerate apples and carrots in moderate quantities.
Quarter horses usually consume food between 1.5 to 2% of the bodyweight per day. For instance, you have a 1,000-pound American quarter horse. So, you need to serve 15 to 20 pounds of healthy food to it each day.
Grooming and Upkeep
Grooming is essential to keep up the health of the coat and skin of quarter horses. You need to plan a regular grooming regimen for your American Quarter Horse. Are you up for a ride?
Do not forget to brush its legs and saddle parts. Do the same for its girth as well as the face. Brushing provides comfort to the horse. Moreover, it also helps in the even distribution of oil on their bodies.
Not only pre-riding grooming but post-riding grooming is also mandatory. It aids the distribution of sweat and oils in their bodies. It is especially important in summers.
You can take a detangler when it comes to brushing off your horse’s tail. Thus, it can handle flies with the ace while becoming much thicker.
What should you use during winters? Waterless shampoo is ideal for cleaning and conditioning the tail as well as the mane. Such type of shampoo can also help to detangle these parts.
Adoption
Do you want to adopt an American Quarter Horse? Then, you need to plan your budget first. The price starts at $1,000 and it goes up to $4,000.
However, the cost varies with different factors, such as health or age. Moreover, special qualities or traits also influence the price structure.
Does a quarter horse come from a breeder? Or, it is sourced from a rescue? Prices will differ in these two scenarios. Lineage also creates a difference in the price.
What are the other factors?
Do not forget to check red flags before finalizing your adoption. Are you going to opt for a rescue quarter horse?
Ensure that the respective organization must be a registered nonprofit. Moreover, it must exhibit a 501(c)(3) status. It implies that you need to check each and every aspect before making it a legal and safe adoption.
Are you thinking about adopting a breeder quarter horse? It needs you to check the information about the location of its breeding.
Moreover, the respective document must come with its health history (if any). If you do not get clear information on the same, do not consider proceeding to this deal. Check for other sources.
Devote enough time to analyze the horse before finalizing your decision. It will help you to opt for a healthy horse. Do make sure to check symptoms of ailments (if any). It includes breathing difficulty, pain, etc.
Things to know about American Quarter Horse
Height – 14 hands to 16 hands
Live Weight – 950 to 1,200 pounds
Average Running Speed- 88.5 km/h
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