Horses: Different breeds for different uses

Choosing a horse breed is a specialized task in itself. On the surface, all of them are horses, but your choice should depend on what kind of use you have in mind. There are certain breeds that are more famous than the others, like mustang and stallion. Applying a blanket rule in choosing a horse is not a good idea. Instead of focusing on the physical beauty of the horse, you should put emphasis on the exact outcome you have in mind. The needs and uses vary from person to person; horses are used for racing, for dressage, western riding events like roping and cutting etc. some people specifically buys ponies as amount and companion for their kids. Here is a complete guide of different horses and their different uses.

1. Light Horse Breeds

Breeds deployed for riding under saddle are known as light horses. They are the polar opposites of heavy workhorses. It is obvious that a light weight horse is faster than a heavy workhorse. Some of the most popular light weight horses are thoroughbred and the Arabian.

2. Thoroughbred

This is one of the most common horse breeds. Its legends and stories regarding its racetrack victories are a medium of study for horse enthusiasts. Thought it is counted as a separate breed to the Arabian, its ancestry does links it with them. Thoroughbreds are so fast that they can cover twenty feet in a single stride. Its remarkable speed is the outcome of its lean and muscular body formation and an excellent lung capacity. Their agility and life cycle is vastly different from other horses. For example a thoroughbred is already past its prime when it’s five, whereas in case of saddle horses their carrier begins at five. If you are planning on buy one, make sure you are picking the horse with right lineage and body structure. Getting a young horse is feasible as it is easy to train them.

3. Arabian

Arabian horse is stuff of legend. Its sheer physical beauty is itself breathtaking. The origins of the breed can be traced back to the deserts region of Arabia. It is indeed one of the most polar horses in the racing arena, based on its remarkable speed and endurance. Their physical structure is vastly different from a thoroughbred. Number of bones in their spine is lesser in number compared to a conventional horse. A shorter back serves as an advantage and not as a disadvantage in their speed. Their physical growth takes longer compared to a thoroughbred. An Arabian horse is considered fully grown up only when it has reached the age of seven.

4. Morgan

They are named after a gentleman called Justin Morgan, who popularized this rare breed of horse. They are also referred to as carriage breed. They are much more useful in a farming or village environment. Quite commonly they are used to pull a wagon or a cart. Morgan horses are known for their sturdiness, their hardy feet and small structure makes them a formidable force.

5. American quarter Horse

This is a native to the United States of America. Commonly it is also referred to as a cowboy horse. It is common in western rodeo circuits. Another use of this horse involves barrel racing. These days they are not considered ideal for racing purpose, but there was a time when they were specifically bred for short distance races. In some parts of the country they are still considered the best and fastest race horses. But their dominance has clearly been overthrown by Arabian and Thoroughbred. In the domestic environment it is still a very popular horse.