4 Popular Horse Breeds

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There are few animals that are more majestic than the horse. Whether running wild or serving as a domestic companion animal, horses have captivated humans for centuries. Caring for a horse requires a substantial commitment of time and money, but shopping for discount horse supplies can help minimize the cost.

1. American Quarter Horse

Known as a warm-blooded breed, the American quarter horse is medium-sized with enough energy to race yet calm enough for leisure riding. Thus, it is popular among beginning equestrians as well as professionals. It can be used for racing, pleasure riding or even herding cattle. The American quarter horse has the largest registry worldwide and is one of the oldest breeds in America, dating back to the 1600s when American settlers crossbred English Thoroughbreds with native horses. Its name comes from the fact that it dominates other breeds in quarter-mile races.

2. Arabian

The Arabian horse is a hot-blooded breed — lightweight with high energy. With the oldest registry in the world, it has a lineage that dates to 3000 BC. Having evolved in the Arabian desert, this horse has excellent endurance and lung capacity, making it an ideal racehorse. However, racing is not its only purpose — the Arabian is an excellent choice for endurance riding, showing and driving. The Arabian was introduced to America in the late 1800s by General Ulysses S. Grant and today is a great choice for recreational use among families and children as it is loyal, affectionate and highly intelligent.

3. Thoroughbred

The iconic racehorse is the Thoroughbred. This hot-blooded breed is fast, agile and high-spirited. The modern Thoroughbred has its origins in the late 1600s to early 1700s in England when English mares were bred with Oriental stallions — the Byerly Turk, Darley Arabian and Godolphin Arabian. The Thoroughbred came to America in 1730, and today the state of Kentucky breeds the most Thoroughbreds worldwide.

4. Clydesdale

While the stately Clydesdale is not the most popular horse to own, it is certainly one of the most widely recognized horse breeds. It is a large, calm draft horse ideally suited for heavy work. This horse originated in Scotland in a region called Clydesdale, which today is known as Lanarkshire, in the mid-1700s and was brought to America in the 1840s. Unfortunately, the number of Clydesdales worldwide has been declining and in 2015 was around 5,000 horses.

Horses are intelligent and beautiful animals that, with proper care and attention, make loyal, dependable companions.

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