Lecture 3: Equine Breeds, Colors, and Industries

how many beats is a horse walk?

4

what are the variations of a horse walk?

stepping pace, rack, tolt

how many beats is a horse trot?

2

what are the variations of a horse trot?

pace, jog, passage, piaffe, extended/medium/lengthen

what is the gait used to diagnose lameness?

trot

how many beats is a horse canter?

3

what is the variation of horse canter?

lope

how many beats is a gallop?

4

american quarter horse

• well-muscled

• 14-16 h

• good tempered

• variation in type/conformation by job

what breed is this?

american quarter horse

buckskin color for quarter horse

• golden with black mane and tail

• no dorsal stripe

dun color for quarter horse

red, bay, black

grullo color for quarter horse

black dun

roan color for quarter horse

white hairs in base color

palomino color for quarter horse

golden with cream mane and tail

dun factor markings

• distinct dorsal stripe

• shoulder shadow

• lower face masks

• ear barring and ear tips

• cobwebbing

• leg barring

american paint horse

not quarter horse type → pinto

pinto

any type of paint regardless of “breed type”

western performance and ranch work for quarter horses

• cutting and working cattle

• roping

• reining

speed work for quarter horses

barrel racing and sprinters

breed shows for quarter horses

• halter

• hunt seat

• trail

• western pleasure

ethical considerations for quarter horses

• more than training may go into making a horse look like a QH

• genetic diseases from line breeding

appaloosa

• tend to be QH type but don’t have to be

• known for having attitude

what kind of horse is this?

appaloosa

what kind of horse is this?

knabstrupper horse

thoroughbred

• bred for speed

• very old breed

• 15-17 h

• lighter muscled and longer limbed

• high energy

• identification via lip tattoo

what kind of horse is this?

thoroughbred

thoroughbred jobs

dirt, steeplechase, turf

ethical considerations for thoroughbred horses

• making horses run fast → breakdowns

• money → welfare

• controversial medications and treatments

standardbred

• similar to thoroughbreds → jug heads, much calmer temperament

• harness racing → trotters vs pacers

• identification via freeze brand on neck

what kind of horse is this?

standardbred

ethical considerations of standardbreds

• same as TBs

• amish horses are not companion animals

arabian

• foundational breed from the middle east

• “hot” horse

• 14-15 h

• refined features

• some have 5 instead of 6 lumbar vertebrae

• some have 17 instead of 18 rib pairs

what kind of horse is this?

arabian

american saddlebred

• built for specialty movement and comfort

• 15-16 h

• tail set

• high-set neck

• can be gaited → 4 beat ambling gait

what kind of horse is this?

american saddlebred

tennessee walking horse

• gaited → comfortable gait = running walk, big lick, not really supposed to trot or canter

• 15-17 h

• show horses vs trail horses

what kind of horse is this?

tennessee walking horse

ethical considerations for american saddlebred and tennessee walking horse

• tail sets

• training aids to make them lift feet higher → soring, chain, stacks

what are some other horses that are gaited?

• missouri fox trotter

• rocky mountain

• spotted saddle horse

what kind of horse is this?

rocky mountain

what kind of horse is this?

spotted saddle horse

what does it mean when a horse is gaited?

it has a gait other than the traditional walk, trot, canter

draft horses

percheron, clydesdale, belgian

what are these?

draft horses

ethical considerations for draft horses

tail docking

PMU horses in canada

• pregnant mare urine used to make an estrogen drug (premarin) for women going through menopause

• major decline in the 2000s due to synthetic replacement

european warmbloods

• hanoverian, holsteiner, dutch, belgian

• characteristics of “hot” breed and “cold”

• 16-18 h

what kind of horse is this?

european warmblood

what are other warmblood horses?

friesian and gypsy vanner

what kind of horse is this?

friesian

what kind of horse is this?

gypsy vanner

ethical considerations for warmblood horses?

not as nature intended

types of ponies

welsh, shetland, miniature horses, pony of americas, halflinger