Horse Riding
Horse riding is popular around the globe, and the American Quarter Horse is an excellent companion for horse riders from all walks of life. The American Quarter Horse we know today is a champion in racing, cutting, reining, ranching, barrel racing, calf roping, team roping, gymkhana, and other activities. These equines are renowned for their exceptional endurance, superb intelligence, mild temperament and natural willingness to work.
The American Quarter Horse is often referred to as the first purely American breed. Initially, the horse was supposed to have enough muscular mass to withstand physical strains that accompany quarter-mile racing. Breeders have been cultivating this feature ever since the beginning of the horse’s history, and thus they have made him but the world’s fastest and most athletic equine. Needless to say, that with the array of designations so diverse, a Quarter Horse is the best option for every eligible fan of horse riding.
The American Quarter Horse has a rich genetic background. These horses are thought to have resulted from crossbreeding the English Thoroughbred that arrived in the New World in the 1700s with the Chickasaw horse descending from the Arab and the Barb. The new breed immediately showed striking physical capacity. It proved very helpful in cattle driving and manifested a great potential for competitive racing, as it could develop a speed of about 55 miles per hour, being second to none in the entire equine world. The breed was named so because it was traditionally used in quarter-of-a-mile racing contests. The animal became an irreplaceable companion for early horse riding cowboys and ranch owners, who appreciated his easy-going temperament, intelligence, strength and maneurability.
The American Quarter Horse is compact in size, measuring 14-16 hands tall at the withers. This horse has a short and refined head with wide jowls. The ears are relatively small and placed widely apart. The legs are straight and muscular. The chest is broad and powerful, and the hindquarters are particularly strong. According to the body type, American Quarter Horses are divided into two groups: the stock type and the racing type. Stock type horses are conspicuously compact and sturdy, yet stunningly agile and hence they do better as labor horses. Racing type horses are a little more slender, and they tend to be speedier than their stock type relatives. Racing type Quarter Horses are best suited for quarter-mile racing and recreation horse riding.
Although the horse has been around for about 300 years, it was not until 1940 that the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) was founded and the breed received an official recognition. By that time, the breed had accumulated a rich and diverse pedigree with some unique breeds of horses incorporated, such as the Thoroughbred, Arab, Morgan and the Standardbred. Horse riding amateurs and professionals all over the world, even those dealing in other horse breeds, do have at least some knowledge on this unique member of the equine world.
