the choice for me was simple: western.
I’m sure if you don’t have your own horse yet, you’ve dreamed and thought a lot about what your first horse will be. Perhaps you’ve already had a horse, but now you’re thinking of buying another one. What kind should you get?
Let’s look at some of the breeds that are the most popular for both western and English riders today. We’ll briefly trace a few breeds’ roots and characteristics while you decide if that kind of horse might be the one for you. Please keep in mind that this information speaks to generalities of the breeds. If given the proper care and training, most any breeds of horses make excellent mounts as well.
Some Popular Breeds (Based on Body Confirmation)
The Arabian
Sometimes called “The China Doll of the Horse Kingdom,” the Arabian is known as the most beautiful of horse breeds because of its delicate features. Although research indicates Arabians are the world’s oldest and purest breed, it is not known whether they originated in Arabia. However, many Bible scholars believe that the first horse that God created in the Garden of Eden must have embodied the strength and beauty that we see in the Arabian horse of today. It is also believed that all other breeds descended from this gorgeous breed that has stamina as well as courage and intelligence.
A purebred Arabian has a height of only 14 or 15 hands, a graceful arch in his neck, and a high carriage in his tail. It is easy to identify one of these horses by examining his head. If you see a small, delicate “dish” face with a broad forehead and tiny muzzle, two ears that point inward and large eyes that are often ringed in black, you are probably looking at an Arabian. The breed comes in all colors, (including dappled and some paint), but if you run your finger against the grain of any pureblood Arabian’s coat, you will see an underlying bed of black skin. Perhaps that’s why whites are often called “grays.”
Generally, Arabians are labeled spirited and skittish, even though they might have been well trained. If you have your heart set on buying an Arabian, make sure you first have the experience to handle a horse that, although he might be loyal, will also want to run with the wind.
The Morgan
The Morgan Horse, like a Quarter Horse (see below), can explode into a gallop for a short distance. The Morgan, with its short legs, muscles, and fox ears, also looks very much like the Quarter Horse. How can we tell the two breeds apart?
A Morgan is chunkier than a Quarter Horse, especially in his stout neck. His long, wavy tail often flows to the ground. His trot is quick and short and with such great stamina, he can trot all day long.
So where are the Morgan’s roots?
The horse breed was named after Justin Morgan, a frail music teacher who lived in Vermont at the turn of the eighteenth century. Instead of receiving cash for a debt owed, Mr. Morgan was given two colts. The smallest one, which he called Figure, was an undersized dark bay with a black mane and tail. Mr. Morgan sold the one colt, but he kept Figure, which he thought was a cross between a Thoroughbred and an Arabian. Over the years, he found the horse to be strong enough to pull logs and fast enough to beat Thoroughbreds in one afternoon and eager to do it all over again the same day!
When Mr. Morgan died, his short but powerful horse was called “Justin Morgan” in honor of his owner. After that, all of Justin Morgan’s foals were called Morgans. The first volume of the Morgan Horse Register was published in 1894. Since then, hundreds of thousands of Morgans have been registered.
If you go Morgan hunting, you will find the breed in any combination of blacks, browns, and whites. Don’t look for a tall horse because all Morgans are between 14 and 15 hands tall, just right for beginners. If you’re fortunate enough to find a well-trained Morgan, he’ll give you years of pleasure whether you ask him to gallop down a country
I’m sure if you don’t have your own horse yet, you’ve dreamed and thought a lot about what your first horse will be. Perhaps you’ve already had a horse, but now you’re thinking of buying another one. What kind should you get?
Let’s look at some of the breeds that are the most popular for both western and English riders today. We’ll briefly trace a few breeds’ roots and characteristics while you decide if that kind of horse might be the one for you. Please keep in mind that this information speaks to generalities of the breeds. If given the proper care and training, most any breeds of horses make excellent mounts as well.
Some Popular Breeds (Based on Body Confirmation)
The Arabian
Sometimes called “The China Doll of the Horse Kingdom,” the Arabian is known as the most beautiful of horse breeds because of its delicate features. Although research indicates Arabians are the world’s oldest and purest breed, it is not known whether they originated in Arabia. However, many Bible scholars believe that the first horse that God created in the Garden of Eden must have embodied the strength and beauty that we see in the Arabian horse of today. It is also believed that all other breeds descended from this gorgeous breed that has stamina as well as courage and intelligence.
A purebred Arabian has a height of only 14 or 15 hands, a graceful arch in his neck, and a high carriage in his tail. It is easy to identify one of these horses by examining his head. If you see a small, delicate “dish” face with a broad forehead and tiny muzzle, two ears that point inward and large eyes that are often ringed in black, you are probably looking at an Arabian. The breed comes in all colors, (including dappled and some paint), but if you run your finger against the grain of any pureblood Arabian’s coat, you will see an underlying bed of black skin. Perhaps that’s why whites are often called “grays.”
Generally, Arabians are labeled spirited and skittish, even though they might have been well trained. If you have your heart set on buying an Arabian, make sure you first have the experience to handle a horse that, although he might be loyal, will also want to run with the wind.
The Morgan
The Morgan Horse, like a Quarter Horse (see below), can explode into a gallop for a short distance. The Morgan, with its short legs, muscles, and fox ears, also looks very much like the Quarter Horse. How can we tell the two breeds apart?
A Morgan is chunkier than a Quarter Horse, especially in his stout neck. His long, wavy tail often flows to the ground. His trot is quick and short and with such great stamina, he can trot all day long.
So where are the Morgan’s roots?
The horse breed was named after Justin Morgan, a frail music teacher who lived in Vermont at the turn of the eighteenth century. Instead of receiving cash for a debt owed, Mr. Morgan was given two colts. The smallest one, which he called Figure, was an undersized dark bay with a black mane and tail. Mr. Morgan sold the one colt, but he kept Figure, which he thought was a cross between a Thoroughbred and an Arabian. Over the years, he found the horse to be strong enough to pull logs and fast enough to beat Thoroughbreds in one afternoon and eager to do it all over again the same day!
When Mr. Morgan died, his short but powerful horse was called “Justin Morgan” in honor of his owner. After that, all of Justin Morgan’s foals were called Morgans. The first volume of the Morgan Horse Register was published in 1894. Since then, hundreds of thousands of Morgans have been registered.
If you go Morgan hunting, you will find the breed in any combination of blacks, browns, and whites. Don’t look for a tall horse because all Morgans are between 14 and 15 hands tall, just right for beginners. If you’re fortunate enough to find a well-trained Morgan, he’ll give you years of pleasure whether you ask him to gallop down a country
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