Download - HORSE BREEDS ALPHABET
HORSE BREEDS ALPHABET
By Tosha Wixom
ARABIAN HORSE
The Arabian Horse originated on the Arabian Peninsula
It’s head shape & high tail carriage is very recognizable.
They’ve developed high spirit and alertness, since they were often used for war
Fact: Arabian Horses are about 14.3 hands high, and weighs around 900 pounds
BLACK FOREST HORSE
Fact: Black Forest Horse is about 14-15 hands high & weighs around 1,100 pounds
Also known as the Black Forest Cold Blood
They originated in Germany They are a draft horse, &
originally worked in forests, plus pulled carriages
Since Black Forest Horses are gentle and good-natured they have became a common riding horse
CLYDESDALE HORSEo Clydesdales developed on a
farm in Clydesdale Scotland
o They are a type of draft horse
o Their neck is long & arched, their shoulders are sloped and muscular
o Clydesdale's actions are energetic and ground covering
Fact: Clydesdale Horses are about 16-17 hands high, & weigh around 2,000 pounds
DANISH WARMBLOOD A sport horse breed of
Denmark Common competitions, in
which Danish Warmblood perform is dressage
They are an uncommon breed in the U.S., but a new Association is promoting the breed
Fact: Danish Warmblood Horses are about 16.2-17 hands high
EAST BULGARIAN HORSE East Bulgarian Horse is a
Warmblood breed of horse Their a light work horse,
and can do several competitive sports like dressage and eventing
They have a long straight back as well as muscular neck & legs Fact: East Bulgarian
horse is about 15-16 hands high
FRIESIAN HORSE• The Friesian horse originated in
Friesland, Netherlands • Some characteristics include a
black coat, a black long, thick (often wavy) mane and tail, plus silky hair on their lower legs
• They are a light draft horse and are very quick & graceful for their size
• Their used in harness, under saddle, and dressage Fact: Friesian Horses
are about 14.2-17 hands high
GYPSY VANNER HORSEThe Gypsy Vanner Horse
originated in Ireland They are usually a tobiano
color (a spotted color pattern) Plus they have some draft
horse characteristics, they are heavy boned, and powerful with a short neck & back
They have a outstanding endurance and can go long distances without tiring
Fact: Gypsy Vanner Horses are about 14-17 hands high
HOLSTEINER HORSE The Holsteiner Horse originated in
Germany Before the use of mechanization
Holsteiner horses were used in agriculture as coach horses, and sometimes just for riding
They are very talented in show jumping, dressage, combined driving & eventing
In general Holsteiners will have a round, soft, light gait
Fact: Holsteiner Horses are about 16-17 hands high
Icelandic Horse The Icelandic Horse originated
from Iceland Since horses are prohibited from
being imported to Iceland, and not allowed to return once they are exported they have very few diseases
The breed first developed in the 12th century and brought by early settlers
During this time the Icelandic Horse was almost wiped out due to Iceland’s harsh temperatures, and a volcanic eruption in the 1780s
Fact: Icelandic Horses are about 13-14 hands high and weigh around 730-830 pounds
JUTLAND HORSEo Jutland Horses are a
breed of draft horse which was originated in Denmark
o They are traced back to the Middle Ages when knights would use them for jousting
o They have short stocky legs, usually a high carried, muscular neck and upright shoulders
Fact: Jutland Horses are about 15-16.1 hands high and weigh around 1,430 – 1,760
KENTUCKY MOUNTAIN SADDLE HORSE Developed in eastern
Kentucky United States A distinguished trait that the
Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse has is a natural gait called a amble; this gait is gentle and smooth over rough terrain which allows the rider to sit almost motionless
They are compact well muscled, refined and athletic
Fact: Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horses are about 11-16 hands high
LIPIZZANER HORSE Lipizzaner Horses were
developed in the 16th century at a stud farm in modern day Slovenia
Lipizzaner horses are a sport horse that competes in dressage and driving
They have a sturdy arched neck, small ears, a long head, straight body and are well muscled and strong
The Lipizzaner Horse usually matures slowly, but lives and performs longer than most breeds
Fact: Lipizzaner Horses are about 14.2-15.2 hands high
MORGAN HORSE• Morgan Horse is one of the earliest
breeds of horses developed in the U.S.
• In the 1840’s they were used as harness racing horses because of their trotting ability
• They were also used in many wars as well as the Pony Express
• They have strong legs, laid back shoulders, and a arched neck
• All Morgans can be traced back a stallion named Figure, his owner Justin Morgan is how the breed got it’s name
Fact: (Morgan Horses are about 14.1-15.2 hands high & weigh around 950 pounds)
NORTH SWEDISH HORSE The North Swedish Horse
originated from Sweden They are considered to be a light
draft horse, and are used for agriculture & forestry work, as well as harness racing
They are easy to work with, strong, durable, plus have a long- stride and energetic trot
The North Swedish horse is also a very healthy, & active horse Fact: North Swedish
horses are about 15.1-15.3 hands high
ORLOV TROTTER HORSE The Orlov Trotter Horse
originated in Russia Usually Orlov Trotter horses
are born with a darker gray or black coat, but will eventually lighten up as they get older until their coat is completely white
They are mainly used for riding & harness racing
They are valued for their ability to work hard, combined with their elegance & beauty
Fact: Orlov Horse is about 14-17 hands high
PERCHERON HORSE The Percheron Horse originated
as a draft horse in northern France
The Percheron was specifically bred to be a war horse, it was mostly used in World War 1 by the British, & hauling heavy items
They are now used for forestry work, show jumping, and pulling carriages
Some characteristics include being alert, intelligent, willing to work, and easy to train
Fact: Percheron Horses can be from 16.2-19 hands high and weigh anywhere from 1,900 pounds to 2,600 pounds
QUARTER HORSEo The Quarter Horse was a mixed
breed of English horses, & a Chickasaw breed brought to the U.S. by Spanish Conquistadors.
o They are a sturdy, quick, nimble horse, which soon dominated the quarter mile track (that’s how they got their name)
o Due to their speed, maneuverability, and instinct for working with cattle, Quarter horses soon became a favorite for Cowboys
Fact: Quarter Horses are about 14-16 hands high, and weigh around 1,000 pounds
RUSSIAN DON HORSE The Russian Don horse
originated in Russia Some characteristics are
straight shoulders, long back strong tendons, and tough hooves
They were used in cavalry, since they could cover lots of distance in little time, with energy left for battles, they also pulled tachankas
They are now commonly used just for ridding, & harness
Fact: Russian Don horses are about 15.1-15.3 hands high
SPOTTED SADDLE HORSE The Spotted Saddle breed was
developed in the United States Since it was cross bred with
pinto & gaited horses, the bred possess a smooth gait, strength, gentleness, plus it’s good on rough, or steep trails
Their ears are long, & are very alert, they have long slopping shoulders and hips (very common in gaited horses Fact: Spotted Saddle horses
are about 13.3-16 hands high
THOROUGHBRED HORSE• The Thoroughbred horse
originated in England• Since they are known for their
speed & agility, thoroughbreds are used as racing horses
• They are also used in combined training, show jumping, dressage, & polo
• Because thoroughbreds perform with maximum effort, they have a higher chance of having an accident, or having health problems (including bleeding from the lungs)
Fact: Thoroughbred horses are about 15.2 – 17 hands high
UKRAINIAN RIDING HORSE The Ukrainian Riding
horse was developed in Ukraine
They do compete riding, and are talented at eventing, show jumping, and dressage
They have a long muscular neck, the back is long also Fact: Ukrainian Riding
horses are about 15.1 – 16.1 hands high
VIRGINIA HIGHLANDER HORSE The Virginia Highlander
horse originated in United States
They are very well tempered, and have a natural single foot gait
Their coat colors include gray, roan, chestnut, and white Fact: Virginia Highlander
horses are about 13 - 14 hands high
WALER HORSE The Waler Horse originated
in Australia They have great endurance
and are strong when under extreme stress from lack of water and food due to Australia’s climate
Waler horses were used in cavalry because of their steady gaits allow them to walk fast, for a long time without going into a trot
Fact: Waler horses are about 15 – 16 hands high
XILINGOL HORSEo The Xilingol horse
originated in Mongoliao They are used as a light
draft horse and for riding
o They were developed by breeding a Chinese Mongolian, and Russian Thoroughbreds
Fact: Xilingol horses are about 15.2 hands high
YAKUTIAN HORSE The Yakutian horse was
originated in Siberia They have a thick mane,
and a heavy hair coat in order to stand the extreme frozen climate of Yakutia
They have the ability to search through deep snow to graze on the vegetation
Fact: Yakutian horses are about 14.3 hands high
ZWEIBRUCKER HORSE The Zweibrucker horse
is a type of German warmblood breed
They are a type of sport horse, & compete in dressage, eventing, show jumping, & combined driving
They are a large framed, powerful, elegant horse with a flexible gait
Fact: Zweibruker horses are about 15.3 – 16.3 hands high