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The American Quarter Horse is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name comes from its ability to outdistance other breeds of horses in races of a quarter mile or less. It is by far the most popular breed and currently boasts a population of about 3.2 million.

Beginner Horseback Riding Lessons – History of the American Quarter Horse

In the 1700s, colonists on the eastern seaboard of the United States began to cross imported English Thoroughbred horses with assorted “native” horses such as the Chickasaw horse (a breed developed by Native American people from horses descended from Spain, developed from Iberian, Arabian and Barb stock brought to the United States by the Conquistadors). What they got was a small, sturdy horse that was quick and nimble and showed signs of superior intelligence and a willingness to work.

Settlers in the colonies entertained themselves by match racing their horses. Since the main streets of their small towns were usually the only straight stretch of flat ground available, so this was where the races were held. The main streets were short, often a quarter mile or less; the settlers bred horses who were sprinters; they could start fast and sustain a burst of speed for a short distance. These horses were so adept at sprinting they became known as the “Celebrated Quarter of a Mile Race Horses.”

The settlers of the west bred their horses to the Spanish mares of the area, which were already known as tough, hardy, independent range horses unequaled for cow-sense and endurance. The crosses produced horses that were compact and heavily muscled.

As the quarter horse breed continued to gain popularity, its gentle nature led it to be used as a riding horse and due to its strength was soon performing other work on many of the early farms. The breed seemed to have a natural instinct for working around cattle as well. When the settlers began surging west in the 1800’s, the quarter horse breed was the horse of choice of the early cowboys, being used for cattle round-up due to their speed and agile maneuverability and quickly became the horses that cowboys counted on for their daily duties. As ranches grew in size and importance, the Quarter Horse became a fixture in the west.

The American Quarter Horse was also used for sprint races. As a result, more Thoroughbred blood was added back into the developing American Quarter Horse breed, as well as the addition of Arabian, Morgan and even Standard bred bloodlines.

The American Quarter Horse is best-known today as a show horse, race horse, reining and cutting horse, rodeo competitor, ranch horse, and all-around family horse. Quarter horses dominate rodeo events such as barrel racing, calf roping and team roping. Other stock horse events such as cutting and reining are open to all breeds but also dominated by American Quarter Horse. These horses are not only well-suited for western riding and cattle work; they have also been trained to compete in dressage and can be good jumpers. They are also used for recreational trail riding and in mounted police units. Their even temperament makes them a great animal for new riders learning about horses.

The modern Quarter Horse has a small, short, refined head with a straight profile, and a strong, well-muscled body, featuring a broad chest and powerful, rounded hindquarters. They usually stand between 14 and 16 hands high.

There are two main body types: the stock type and the hunter or racing type. The stock horse type is shorter, more compact, stocky and well muscled, yet agile. The racing and hunter type Quarter Horses are somewhat taller and smoother muscled than the stock type, more closely resembling the Thoroughbred. Their coloring varies from bay, black and brown and includes chestnut, palomino, buckskin and grey.

If you are taking Beginner Horseback Riding Lessons, I hope the information above has benefited you.

Sara D. loves to write and horses are one of her loves. If you’re a beginner horseback rider, and you want to know some horse stuff before taking lessons, then this book is for you! Replace some of the ‘fear factor’ with the confidence to know that you have done a bit of preparation and feel armed with some really helpful knowledge to help you enjoy that first horseback riding lesson more! Sign up for lots of FREE horse information here!