Horse Breeds Classification

Horse Breeds Classification

Introduction

Horses are very loving, sensitive, noble, and friendly animals. All age groups love them. While horses are beneficial to human society, they are also expensive animals to have around. Just like any other animal, horses can be classified according to their breeds. Each horse breed is notable due to their specific characteristics, which include their color, temperament, origin, background, and gait. The main features of a horse, its origin, and the type of training devoted to a particular breed are the elements used in determining the horse class. While the classification of horses is not a streamlined system where there is an either/or type of horse for each breed, the breeds can be determined by looking at its characteristics and evaluating its origin. This paper will examine the classification of horse breeds.

Through inbreeding, outcrossing, and selection, many horses of different breeds have been created for their athletic ability, speed, beauty, size, and good nature. Today, more than 300 breeds of horses exist. These breeds represent a variety of types and classes. A horse breed is a group of horses with a common ancestry that gives birth to an offspring, which will have nearly the same characteristics as the parents, such as conformation, color, and function. In addition to horses being classified according to their breeds, they can further be classified according to their size, build, and weight. The breed features are fixed in their genetic makeup of the equine breed and are often passed down from the parents to the offspring. The most common horse breed classifications include;

The stock horse breed classification

The stock horse classifications have horses that are suited for working with livestock, especially cattle. They have high intelligence, quickness, powerful hindquarters, and cow senses, which helps them to understand and respond to the movement of livestock. They have standard features such as short-coupled, well-muscled, and deep-bodied structures. They were developed to work cattle but can also be used to compete in rodeos. The stock horse includes predominant breeds such as quarter horse, paint, morgan, and Arabian. The most famous horse breed in America is the American quarter horse. The American quarter horse is a workhorse used in most ranches and also renowned for competing in speed events such as barrel racing. Another famous horse breed is the paint horse, which is similar to the American quarter horse except for their black or brown color with white patches.

The English style horse breed classification

Horses of this type are found in all light breeds. The way they walk, canter and trot are suitable for pleasure riding. They are usually more angular as compared to the stock horses and have extreme action and style. Some of the most popular breeds in this category include Morgan, Arab horse, and saddlebred..

The hunter horse breed classification

Horses belonging to this category are huge, clean-cut horses bred for cross-country jumping and riding. The term hunter was given to this classification due to the breeds’ essential features, which make them suitable for hunting animals. Hunter horses have factors such as endurance, hardiness conformation as well as a good temperament. The hunter horse moves boldly and energetically with their long, purposeful strides. They can manage well in different climatic conditions and are fit and able to gallop and take fences with ease. Hunter horses can be used in competitive events such as working hunter classes, show hunter events, and field hunting. They are usually crossbred or thoroughbred selected for speed as well as stamina.

Pony breed classifications

Ponies include small horses with a height of less than 14.2 hands at maturity. They originated from rugged and harsh terrains. The most common breeds in this classification are welsh pony and the Shetland. Most of these breeds are used as work animals to pull carts and loads. Ponies are short with dense and thick manes and coats. These breeds are often crossed with large breeds such as Morgan and Arabians to produce larger and more spirited ponies. Hackney ponies are recognized due to their briskly walking and light carriage use. They are therefore used in sports and recreation due to their pleasurable features while riding. Children love horses in this classification due to their small sizes. They are also evenly mannered with good temperament except for a few that tend to be stubborn.

Sports horse

Warmblood horse breed classification includes a group of middle-weight horse types and breeds which originated in Europe. This term differentiates these horses from light saddle horses and heavy draft horses. They are a more refined and versatile equine athlete. These horses were bred for specific uses, including pulling carriages, pulling logs, and were, therefore, healthy stalwart horses. However, with the changing work needs, the breeds started focusing on sports and competition. This famous horse breed classification includes breeds such as Hanoverian, Anglo-Arab, and Holsteiner. These breeds are renowned for their use in jumping, combined training, and driving as well as dressage.

Gaited horse breed classifications

Horses belonging to this breed classification have a unique gait, which results in a rhythmic, smooth and comfortable ride. Although it is not known where gaited breeds originated from, it is thought that they came from the Far East. Most Iberian breeds have gaited movement, just like a great variety of the South American and southern North American breeds that they procreated. Each breed in this category has a precise synchronous lateral gait that is a common feature to the breed. The gaited breed horses are considered rare, with only about 30 of the 300 horse breeds being naturally gaited. Some of the gaited breeds include Peruvian Paso, Missouri fox trotter, rocky mountain, and Paso Fino horse. Due to their smooth rides and willing temperament, gaited breeds became the typical plantation riding horses.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are approximately 300 breeds of horses that exist in the world today. They range in sizes from the miniature horses, which are barely three feet in height to the gentle giant draft horse with a height of about 6 feet. Human society has bred and selected horses for particular, standard features such as their function, color, and conformation. Horse breeding with common ancestry is registered in the breed registry association after meeting the set standards. In addition to breeds, horses are classified by use, such as driving, riding, sport, gaited, all-purpose, and stock or by types such as light, pony, or draft. While some breeds have specific functions, other breeds serve a variety of functions. Some horse breeds are becoming distinct due to the changing agriculture in America. Most of the horse breeds have lost their popularity and are faced with the threat of extinction. However, as some become distinct, others are being procreated through thorough and crossbreed selecting.

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