Information about Quarter horses, Quarter Horse Pictures, and Quarter horses for sale.

Quarter Horses
The American Quarter Horse is a breed of horse originally bred for sprinting short distances, typically races of a quarter mile or less. The Quarter Horse is the most popular breed in the United States, and is the largest breed society in the world, with over 3.2 million Quarter Horses registered worldwide. It is commonly believed to be the world's fastest horse over short distances, and has been clocked at 55 mph. The Quarter Horse is well known both as a race horse and for its performance in rodeos, horse shows and as a working ranch horse. The compact body of the Quarter Horse is well-suited to the intricate and speedy maneuvers required in calf roping, reining, cutting, working cow horse and other western riding events, especially those involving live cattle. The versatile Quarter Horse is also shown in English disciplines, driving, and many other equestrian activities.  The breed is not only well-suited for western events and cattle work; at the race track the American Quarter Horse offers a wide assortment of parimutuel races with purses as high as two million dollars per race

Quarter Horse Characteristics
The modern American Quarter Horse has a small, short, refined head with a straight profile, and a strong, well-muscled body, featuring a broad chest and powerful hindquarters. They usually stand 14-16 hands high, although some may grow as tall as 17 hands.

There are two main body types: the stock type and the racing type. The stock horse type is shorter, more compact, stocky and well muscled, yet agile. The racing Quarter Horse is built to sprint short distances ranging from 220 - 870 yards, and therefore is somewhat taller and smoother muscled than the stock type, more closely resembling the Thoroughbred.

Quarter Horses shown in-hand in "halter" (conformation) competition are larger horses, with a muscular appearance, small heads with wide jowls, and refined muzzles. Reining and cutting horses are smaller, with quick, agile movement and very powerful hindquarters.

Quarter Horses come in nearly all colors. The most prominent color is sorrel (a brownish red, sometimes called chestnut). Other recognized colors are bay, black, brown, buckskin, dun, red dun, gray, grullo, palomino, red roan, blue roan, bay roan, perlino, and cremello.

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