Average Height
The Quarter Horse has an average height between 14.3 – 16 hands.
Colors
- Bay
- Black
- Brown
- Dun
- Chestnut
- Cremello
- Buckskin
- Palomino
- Grullo
- Sorrel
- Grey
- Roan
Conformation
The Quarter Horse is a stocky, broad chested breed with well-muscled hindquarters and a compact body. The head should be short and wide and the eyes wide-set. The cannons should be short and the hocks should be flat and low set.
Temperament
Quarter horses are generally very sensible, intelligent mounts.
Members of this breed often excel in the following disciplines:
- Rodeo / Ranch
- Show / Pleasure
- Gymkhana
Breed History
The Quarter Horse was once known primarily as a short-distance racehorse—hence the name “Quarter Horse,” derived from the quarter mile races it was famous for.
But the Quarter Horse’s origins go back to a time before racing was a popular pastime. It is a truly American breed that can trace its ancestry to the 17th and 18th Centuries, when English settlers crossed their own stock with the descendants of horses brought to the New World by Spanish Conquistadors. This new breed had something the settlers needed, the inate “cow sense” that would help them manage cattle on the open plains. Today, the Quarter Horse is known for that quality above all others.
Quarter Horses are popular in rodeo, gymkhana, and any other equine sport that requires a short burst of speed and the ability to turn sharply and quickly. Its good disposition and intelligence have also made it a popular family breed.