Why quarter horse

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This ultimate five day, four night Kimberley retreat celebrates this transfixing ancient landscape in white-gloved luxury. Beginner - reasonably confident on a horse at a walk, rising trot and learning to canter. Intermediate - confident and in control on a moving horse at a steady canter over even ground, but does not ride regularly. Strong Intermediate - an intermediate rider who rides regularly and is comfortable in the saddle for at least 6 hours per day.

Advanced - All of the mentioned abilities, plus an independent seat, soft hands, confident and in control on a moving horse at a fast canter over uneven ground. Instruction - you're keen to learn or up-skill with dressage, jumping or horse training. Exploratory Ride - accompanying a Globetrotting guide when they're road-testing a new ride destination. Beautifully furnished spacious tents with made-up beds and access to hot showers and camp toilets. We use cookies to offer you a better experience.

By continuing to use this website, you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Or looking to book a ride? Most all of the important Quarter Horse lines were represented in the open range and trail-driving era in Texas.

The legendary Steel Dust came to Texas around , and five years later, the great horse Shiloh also arrived. The range cattle industry began to develop in earnest following the end of the Civil War.

At first, wild cattle were gathered in the brush country of South Texas, thrown together into herds and driven north to the railroad in Kansas.

Cowmen and cowboys alike prized the Quarter Horse. This was the one that could get the job done, roping wild cattle in the brush, moving herds up the Chisholm Trail and then racing against others of their own kind down the dusty streets of Kansas cowtowns like Dodge City and Abilene. In the second phase of the range cattle industry, ranching was established all across the Great Plains.

Good horses were as important to a successful ranch operation as water and grass. The men who opened the Plains to ranching bred good horses long before they tried to improve their cattle. They recognized the value of the horses that the Texans called Steeldusts. Many of these early cowmen knew what they needed, and they bred their cow horses with a purpose.

Quarter Horses could do the job, and they bred true. The cowman who recognized this was satisfied, and he kept the blood pure. From Colonial sprint horse to open range cow horse, these race and ranch roots provided the foundations upon which the American Quarter Horse stands.

A large debt is owed to the men who, without the benefit of a breed registry or formal stud book, appreciated the merit of these fine horses, preserved the integrity of the blood and perpetuated the breed. The most steadfast and eloquent of all those who championed the Steel Dust kind was Dan Casement of Kansas and Colorado.

He was to become an instrumental figure in organizing the American Quarter Horse Association. Down in South Texas there were men whose names will forever be linked to the development of the Quarter Horse. They were Ott Adams and George Clegg, both of whom believed that speed was the essential quality in a Quarter Horse, whether you ran on the track or roped steers in the pasture or arena.

Ott Adams and George Clegg left indelible marks on the breed. The first man to actually attempt to define the Quarter Horse as a distinct breed was William Anson. He was born in England, grew up around fine horses and was a good polo player. At the age of 21, Anson came to America and established a ranch near Christoval, Texas. He was fascinated by the quick, smart cow horses with which he came in contact and began to trace their origins.

Anson published the first information that linked the western cow horse to its Colonial beginnings. Another man whose horses contributed greatly to the development of the breed was Samuel Watkins of the Little Grove Stock Farm in Illinois.

Watkins was a racehorse man, and he believed in the Steel Dust line. It was from Watkins that many of the great Texas breeders got their foundation horses.

Coke T. Roberds was another man who kept the faith when it came to preserving the original blood. He was a fast horse. Many say he ran a quarter mile in 21 seconds flat.

Watkins stood Peter McCue until and the bay stallion went through two more owners before his death in at the age of Peter McCue, foaled in , is considered the most influential sire of the modern Quarter Horse. Though the most notable sires, such as Steel Dust and Peter McCue, were race horses, the breed quickly became well known for its superior ability to work cows on the ranches of the American west.

Quarter Horses have been the primary mount for cattlemen since the s. Ranches, in turn, have played a vital role in their development since that time.

Photo: ChristinaHandleyStock. In the early s, ranches such as the famous King Ranch in Texas began selectively breeding their cattle and improving their horse herds as well.

Finding full Thoroughbreds too nervous and delicate for ranch work, King Ranch set out to breed more traditional Quarter type horses. They found the best cow horse the ranch would own in Old Sorrel, who was purchased in While a few men had recorded pedigrees of their horses, most were based on memory.

Pedigrees from the s to early s were especially muddy. He had begun researching Steel Dust horses and soon began compiling information and pedigrees on the breed, forming a history of the Quarter Horse and foundation stock, which has been published in many of his books.

In March at the Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show, Denhardt held a meeting with several breeders, where he presented his idea to form a breed association. Bylaws included registration requirements based on conformation, pedigree, and performance in both shows and races.

Wimpy was by Solis and out of Panda, who were half brother and sister by Old Sorrel. Quarter Horses are extremely athletic, able to do fast stops, starts, and turns. AQHA shows feature the versatility of the breed with over 30 classes to choose from. The meeting in March also set out guidelines for the ideal conformation of the Quarter Horse.

The head was to be short and broad, with large jaws and small ears. The neck medium in length, with sloping shoulders, and medium-high withers.

The chest should be deep and broad, with wide-set forelegs. Short cannon bones and well muscled forearms should rest on medium length pasterns and sound feet. The back should be short, the barrel deep, with well sprung ribs. The rear quarters are perhaps the most prominent feature of the Quarter Horse and give him his great driving power: they should be broad, deep, and heavy, with great muscling down to the hock.

Visitors can view photos and paintings of famous quarter horses, as well as various displays showcasing the breed's history. Hall of Fame inductees include hundreds of horses and people who have been instrumental in shaping the breed. Among them are:. Another well-known horse—more infamous than famous—was Impressive, who passed on the breed's propensity for hyperkalemic periodic paralysis. All foals known to be descendants of a horse that carries this condition must be tested.

With a calm, gentle demeanor, this breed is the ideal choice for families and beginning riders. American quarter horses typically have a steady temperament, but this does not mean they are slow to learn. Their intuitive nature makes them easy to train for ranch work or competition, and the same is true for recreational purposes.

They need very little guidance from riders once trained and tend to be "easy keepers" that thrive on good pasture or hay. Pricing is dependent on age, health, whether the horse is coming from a rescue or a breeder, and any notable characteristics, such as lineage. When choosing a horse, be on the lookout for red flags. For rescues, check that the organization is a registered nonprofit with a c 3 status, which means it had to go through more checks to be considered safe and legitimate.

Also, especially for breeders, make sure you can receive documentation on where the horse was bred, its lineage, and any health history. If none of this is provided, you might not be dealing with a quality organization. Spend plenty of time with the horse while it's still in the hands of the organization, so you can get to know it and make sure it's as healthy as the organization says. Look for any lameness, pain, trouble breathing, or other obvious signs of illness. You don't want to end up bringing home a special-needs horse when you are not prepared to care for one.

If you're interested in similar breeds, check out:. Otherwise, you can check out all of our other horse breed profiles. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile.