Horses hold a special place in many people’s hearts and play an integral role in daily life – they can be found all around the world!
Consider what kind of horse you will use it for when choosing one – some horses excel at competitions such as dressage or three-day eventing while others make excellent companion animals for pleasure riding.
Dutch Warmblood
Dutch Warmbloods are well-renowned for their beauty, athleticism and versatility. These horses excel at dressage and show jumping competition, often seen competing at the highest levels of equestrian sport. Since these horses were specifically bred for competition purposes, their pedigrees may include other breeds.
An intersection between Trakhener and Selle Francais lines could yield one of the world’s premier dressage horses – maybe even you! — and Dutch Warmblood lines is known to produce some highly competitive dressage horses which compete under their home countries’ flags at international competitions or Olympic events.
Registere Warmblood breeding first started in the Netherlands over 100 years ago with an emphasis on producing farm workhorses. Two distinct breeds developed: Gelderlander and Groningen. Each had distinctive qualities but as mechanization replaced manual labor, breeders began adding athletic imported breeds.
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbreds are known for their speed and spirit, making them great sports horses. Intelligent and sensitive in temperament, Thoroughbreds make training simple.
This breed was initially developed for horse racing, but is also commonly utilized for other equestrian disciplines including dressage, show jumping, combined training and polo. Furthermore, these horses are often crossbred to create additional breeds or improve existing ones.
Beginning equestrians often find OTTBs (off-track Thoroughbreds) too lively for them, while former racehorses may require considerable retraining in other disciplines. This is particularly true of former racehorses that were programmed for racing; former racehorses can become easily excited or startled at loud noises, often getting excited by anything other than running itself. A healthy diet featuring essential fatty acids – like those found in Mad Barn’s Omneity product – may help reduce their excitability.
Arabian
The Arabian has the stamina needed for long treks through the desert, making them the go-to horses in endurance racing competitions that last over 100 miles with frequent veterinary checkpoints to assess each horse’s condition. They remain an impressive force when competing at endurance horse shows with over 100 miles on offer!
This breed’s combination of a dished face, short back and high carriage of its tail gives it an elegant appearance which conveys nobility, energy and courage. Used both for pleasure riding and dressage purposes.
An Arabian should receive a diet rich in vitamins and minerals. Feeding them ration balancers or complete feed can provide them with additional sources of nutrition they might otherwise miss in forage, helping the animal perform at its optimal. Flax, soybean or canola oil or fat supplements may provide additional sources of calories as an extra source.
Morgan
Morgans are compact yet powerful horses with an attractive combination of might and grace in their posture and appearance. These horses typically possess long necks, arched backs and expressive eyes. When in herd settings they tend to remain calm while building close ties to their handlers and other members.
Generations of selective breeding have produced Morgans as the epitome of American culture. Morgans excel as pleasure mounts, work in harness, and compete both English and Western disciplines.
Today’s Morgans can be divided into four bloodline groups, known as Brunk, Government, Lippitt and Working Western families. Each line can trace back to different founding herds or stallions with Government Morgans being descendants from those bred at the US Government farm between 1905 and 1951; most common colors among Morgans being chestnut, black or roan.
Missouri Fox Trotter
This breed is well known for its signature fox trot. Strong and durable, they make great trail riding companions or trustworthy family horses.
The Missouri Fox Trotter is a gaited breed that excels at trotting, running walk and canter. Additionally, this versatile breed can be used for long distance trails, barrel racing dressage or jumping competitions.
These horses tend to be strong and rarely experience common health problems like influenza or equine viral arthritis. Their basic maintenance needs include daily food, water and vitamin supplements as well as exercise sessions in an enclosed arena and access to fenced spaces where they can roam freely. Furthermore, vaccination can provide added protection from illness or infections.
Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse
The Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse is an adaptable gaited breed created out of necessity by mountain people for use both as farm horses and surefooted mounts on hilly Appalachian terrain. They are famous for their smooth four-beat gait resembling that of walking which allows riders to remain almost motionless as the horse travels at speeds equivalent to that of cantering.
This breed of pony is gentle and docile enough to be ridden by children of all ages and is an ideal companion for those living with physical limitations. They come in small to medium size with strong, athletic builds and graceful legs – boasting bold eyes, well-shaped ears, a flat facial profile with balanced necks.
Gaited Horses
Gaited breeds exhibit specialty gaits. These gaits include slow walking or “stepping pace”, trotting with one footfall at a time and canter/gallop. Stepping pace provides greater rider comfort as it doesn’t produce the same sidestepping movements that occur with regular trotting.
Cattlemen were among those responsible for breeding these horse breeds, who needed horses that could move at a steady speed while herding cows from rural terrain. Their steady pace makes for smooth riding and excellent maneuverability – making these breeds perfect for trail rides or parades.
Gaited horses are like any other horses in that they eat, drink and communicate; the main difference lies in their genes; they were born to gait!
Leave a Reply