By Kayla Bignall
Hi there horse fans! This month we will be discussing the American Quarter Horse.
The American Quarter Horse
American Quarter Horses originated in the 1600s along the New England coast. They have a mix of Arabian, Turk, Thoroughbred, and English Horse Breed ancestry. These horses are very versatile. They are calm for trails, have strong hindquarters for reining, good cow instincts for cattle roping and other rodeo activities, good speed and stamina for barrel racing, and they are able to do virtually anything. The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) originally only accepted 17 colors for quarter horses; sorrel, bay, black, brown, chestnut, dun, buckskin, red dun, grullo, palomino, grew, red roan, blue roan, bay roan, cremello, pearlino, and white. Now, all colors are accepted if the horse has DNA testing to prove both parents are registered Quarter Horses. The American Quarter Horse ranges in size from about 14 hands to around 17 hands high. The added height comes from the introduction of the Thoroughbred into the bloodlines. The American Quarter Horse’s weight can vary depending on its use. The average weight is around 1100 pounds. These horses are very well tempered. They are intelligent, docile, agile, and strong. They are handled very easily. American Quarter Horses can live a long time. They usually live up to around 20 but can live as long as 40 years. It doesn’t seem that long but for a horse it is. That is all I have for you today. All in all, I would say the American Quarter Horse is diversely versatile. I believe, based on what I have learned, that they would make an excellent horse for a beginner or first time rider. Happy Trails!
Information found at http://horsebreedslist.com/horse-breeds/125/american-quarter-horse
If you have any questions or comments regarding horses, please contact me at 19kmb98 @ gmail.com
Kayla is 14 years old and lives in Columbiaville, MI. She has a younger sister; two dogs, Macy and Emmy; fourteen chickens; and a Morgan horse named Babylon Dark Jezebel1 (we call her DJ)!