horse breeds

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Belgian stallion with sorrel coat and flaxen mane and tail.

horse breeds

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Related Topics:: American Quarter Horse; Thoroughbred; pony; heavy horse; light horse

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Horses were among the last species of livestock to be domesticated. Their domestication took place at least as early as 3000 bce, probably in the Near East, and likely occurred through more than one domestication event. From the 2nd millennium bce, and probably even earlier, the horse was employed as a riding animal by nomadic peoples of central Asia.

Horse breeds can be grouped into three general types: heavy horses, light horses, and ponies. Heavy horses, also called draft horses, have been bred to pull heavy loads, such as wagons or farm equipment. These include the ancient Belgian and Percheron breeds and the famous Clydesdale. Light horses are used mostly for riding and equestrian sports, such as dressage, show jumping, and rodeo events. They include the Arabian, the oldest recognized breed of horse in the world, and the Thoroughbred, used in horse racing. The smallest breeds are called ponies, which are commonly used as pack animals and as docile riding horses for children.

A comparison of selected heavy horse breeds is provided in the following table.

Selected breeds of heavy horses
	name	origin	height (hands)*	aptitude	characteristics	comments
*1 hand = 4 inches (10.16 cm).
	Belgian, also called Brabant	Belgium	15.3–17	heavy draft, farm work	broad and powerful; small, square head; short, heavy neck with sloping shoulders; short back with well-rounded, massive hindquarters; the American Belgian being typically chestnut and sorrel with a flaxen mane and tail	ancient breed; matures quickly; long-lived
	Clydesdale	Scotland	16.1–18	heavy draft, farm work	lighter build than most heavy breeds; fine head with long, well-arched neck; withers higher than croup; lower legs are heavily feathered	noted for the soundness of its legs and feet; noted for high-stepping gait
	Percheron	France	16	draft, farm work	typically gray or black in colour; fine head with broad forehead; wide chest with prominent breastbone; no feathering on legs	ancient breed; heavily influenced by Arabian breed; long and low action distinguishing it from other heavy breeds
	Shire	England	17 (sometimes reaching 19)	heavy draft, farm work	convex profile; relatively long neck; long, sloping shoulders; short back with sloping croup; legs heavily feathered below the knee	world's largest horse; descended from England's "great horse," the massive charger used in medieval jousting tournaments

The table provides a comparison of selected light horse breeds.

Selected breeds of light horses
	name	origin	height (hands)*	aptitude	characteristics	comments
*1 hand = 4 inches (10.16 cm).
	Akhal-Teke	Turkmenistan	14.2–16	riding, racing	long neck carried almost perpendicular to body; long, slender legs; metallic golden-dun colour is unique to the breed	ancient breed; noted for its endurance and speed
	American Paint Horse	U.S.	15–16	riding	two colour patterns—overo and tobiano—determined by location of white markings	developed from Quarter Horse, Thoroughbred, and Paint breeds; versatile riding horse
	American Quarter Horse	U.S.	14.2–16	riding, racing, herding	short, fine head with a straight profile; short back; long, powerful croup and shoulders; well-muscled thighs, gaskins, and forearms	one of the most popular breeds; noted for its agility and quick bursts of speed; adapts easily to any riding discipline
	American Saddlebred	U.S.	15–16	riding, light draft	small head with long neck lying almost vertical to shoulder; short back; level croup with high tail carriage	performs three gaits (walk, trot, canter) or five gaits (three plus slow gait, rack)
	Andalusian	Spain	15.1–15.3	riding	arched neck; round and muscular hindquarters with low-set tail; mane and tail are often profuse and wavy	influenced breeds worldwide; used in bullfights
	Appaloosa	U.S.	14.2–16	riding	several colour patterns: snowflake, leopard, marble, frost, and blanket; black and white striped hooves	descended from the spotted horses of the Nez Percé Indians; influenced by Arabian and, most recently, American Quarter Horse blood
	Arabian	Middle East	14–15	riding, light draft	head profile is uniquely concave (dished), tapering to a dainty muzzle; wide-set, large eyes; long, graceful neck; short back; flat croup with distinctive high tail carriage	has refined almost every breed worldwide; considered one of the most beautiful horses; noted for its stamina, excels in endurance competitions
	Argentine Criollo	Argentina	14	riding	short, deep body; long head; heavily muscled	one of the soundest breeds; descended from the Barb, Arab, and Andalusian; common throughout South America; noted for its endurance
	Cleveland Bay	England	16–16.2	riding, light and medium draft, farm work	powerful and substantial build; short legs; always bay in colour	oldest British breed; often crossed with Thoroughbreds to produce excellent hunters and sport horses
	Hanoverian	Germany	15.3–17	riding, light draft	long, muscular neck; deep body; powerful hindquarters	excels in dressage and show jumping; elegant, fluid gaits; developed from Holstein, influenced by Thoroughbred and Trakehner blood
	Lipizzaner	Austria (now in Slovenia)	15–16.1	riding, harness, draft, farm work	long head with crested neck; compact, powerful body; foals are born black or brown in colour and usually mature to white-gray	descended from Spanish horses; famous for its association with the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, where it is trained in difficult "high school" movements
	Missouri Fox Trotting Horse	U.S.	14–16	riding	wide, deep-chested body; muscular hind legs	noted for its natural smooth "fox-trot" gait, the horse canters with the front feet while trotting with the hind, producing little movement in the back
	Morgan	U.S.	14.1–15.2	riding, light draft	fine head with arched neck; well-defined withers; long, sloping shoulders; muscular hindquarters	descended from one prepotent stallion; noted for its versatility; possesses great stamina
	Paso Fino	Puerto Rico	14–15	riding	medium-sized; small head with large, wide-set eyes; legs delicate in appearance	noted for its natural four-beat lateral gait, in which the hind foot touches the ground a fraction of a second before the front; gait executed at three speeds—paso fino, paso corto, and paso largo
	Standardbred	U.S.	15–16	harness racing, riding	long, sloping, muscular hindquarters; long, thick mane and tail; typically bay in colour	primarily used for harness racing
	Tennessee Walking Horse	U.S.	15–16	riding	solid build; sturdy, muscular legs; numerous colours and markings	noted for its running walk, a natural smooth four-beat gait in which the horse's head nods in rhythm with the rise and fall of its hooves; considered the most naturally good-tempered horse breed
	Thoroughbred, also called English Thoroughbred	England	15–17	riding, flat and jump racing	large, expressive eyes; exceptionally long, sloping shoulders; fine-boned legs with small hooves; thin skin	bred primarily for racing, but also excels at dressage, eventing, and jumping; possesses great stamina and courage; bred extensively to improve other breeds
	Trakehner	East Prussia (now in Lithuania)	16–17	riding, light draft	refined head with large, expressive eyes; long, elegant neck; strong, sloping shoulders	considered one of the most elegant European warmbloods; excels at dressage and show jumping; influenced by Thoroughbred and Arabian blood

A comparison of selected breeds of pony is provided in the following table.

Selected breeds of ponies
	name	origin	height (hands)*	aptitude	characteristics	comments
*1 hand = 4 inches (10.16 cm).
	Connemara	Ireland	13–14.2	riding; light draft	well-formed hindquarters with high-set tail; long neck with full mane; well-muscled legs	Ireland's only indigenous breed; extremely hardy; known for its exceptional jumping ability and the ease of its gait
	Pony of the Americas	U.S.	11.2–13.2	riding	Appaloosa colouring; well-pricked ears; large, prominent eyes	cross between a Shetland pony stallion and an Appaloosa mare; developed as a versatile child's mount
	Shetland	Shetland Islands, Scotland	10	riding, light draft	thick mane and tail; small head with pronounced jaw; short, muscular neck	thought to have existed since the Bronze Age; very powerful; used as a pit pony in mines of Great Britain in the 19th century; a popular child's mount
	Welsh	Wales	12.2–13.2	riding, light draft	fine head with large eyes and small ears; typically gray in colour	very hardy; Arabian influence; excellent gaits

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.