The American Quarter Horse is the first breed of horse native to the United States. The breed evolved when the bloodlines of horses brought to the New World were mixed. Foundation American Quarter Horse stock originated from Arab, Turk and Barb breeds. Selected Stallions and Mares were crossed with horses brought to Colonial America from England and Ireland in the 1600's. This combination resulted in a compact, heavily muscled horse that evolved to fill the colonists passion for short distance racing.

The amazing power behind a quarter horse enabled this great animal to run short distances over a straightaway faster than any other horse with the fastest being named Celebrated American Running Horse. The names for this breed has changed many times over the years until 1940 when a registry was formed to preserve the breed which officially became the American Quarter Horse Association.

In the year 1674 in Enrico County, Virginia the first American Quarter Horse Race was held. They were one-on-one match races down village streets, county lanes and level pastures. Many disagreements and fights were generated from heavy betting of large purse races by 1690.

The American Quarter Horse, due to their calm disposition and quick response time, the horse became known for its "cow sense", being able to outmaneuver cattle. During the 1800's as many pioneer folk moved westward, so did the American Quarter Horse. An abundant amount of cattle ranches stretched across the plains. Making this breed well suited for the cattle ranchers.

In today's world, the American Quarter Horse still remains a great sprinter known for their heavy muscling, but they have exceeded way past the cattle horse. These amazing horses compete in almost every discipline available, from rodeo events, such as barrel racing and calf roping to English disciplines such as dressage and show jumping. The make a nice little children's hunter as well, with the ability to jump a wide range of heights. They are one of the most versatile breeds in the world.

Many pleasure riders still look to the American Quarter horse for recreational riding, as they make a nice pleasure horse as well.

Breeders, since the creation of the breed over fifty years ago, have diligently been trying to perfect the bloodlines to produce a high quality versatile animal.. Strict guidelines have been set by the American Quarter Horse Association regarding registration of the American Quarter Horses. Some of these guidelines include:

1. Limited white markings on the face and below the knee

2. Only thirteen accepted colors recognized by the AQHA. These are sorrel (reddish brown), bay, black, brown, buckskin, chestnut, dun, red dun, gray, grullo, palomino, red roan and blue roan. The official gray color is what most people call white, but there are no "white" American Quarter Horses.

3. A quarter horse foal must be the product of a numbered American Quarter Horse dam and a numbered American Quarter Horse sire. There is an appendiz registry for foals with one numbered American Quarter Horse parent and one Throughbred parent registered with The Jockey Club.

Some other notable characteristics of the American Quarter Horse is their speed, versatility, gentle nature, heavy muscling and keen cow sense.

If you own an American Quarter Horse, no matter what discipline you choose to ride, your horse will excel. This breed is one of the most enjoyable horse breeds around today and one of the most popular.

When it comes to weekends at the rodeo, riders and their horses must be equally athletic. Particularly when it comes to the rodeo's timed events - barrel racing, steer wrestling and calf roping - athleticism is essential. The success of the rodeo cowboy is measured as much by having the right horse, as it is by the cowboy's athletic skills and timing.

In timed events, horses must be willing and able to respond well to their riders, make quick turns and be able to burst forward at full speed, when it is necessary to do so.

Because of their strong hind legs and muscular power, it is most often the American Quarter Horse that is used in rodeo events. Given that the American Quarter Horse got its name because the breed clocks the fastest quarter mile runs, it's little wonder that, when it comes to timed events in the rodeo ring, Quarter Horses are used for barrel racing and steer wrestling and are considered to be great calf roping horses as well.

Calf roping horses aren't just in the rodeo ring for their speed and precision; they play a greater role in the event as well. For those who are unfamiliar with calf roping, the event involves the calf roping horse, his rider and a calf. The roping horses are brought up to a full gallop; the rider throws the lasso around the calf and dismounts. The horse then backs up enough to keep tension on the rope while the rider ties the calf. When he returns to the horse, the rider mounts and the tension on the lasso rope is eased to determine whether or not the calf will remain tied.

Calf roping horses, therefore, not only need to be trained and athletic in order to work with the bursts of speed and sudden stops, but also they need to be able to respond well to their riders. The relationship that calf roping horses have with their riders is essential to the success that will be had during this exciting competitive event.

Therefore, when most riders look to buy a horse as a calf roping horse, temperament and intelligence are characteristics that most horse buyers are looking to find in a horse. Calf roping horses - as well as all American Quarter Horses that are going to be used on a ranch and in similar settings - should have a calm disposition, and they should be able to respond quickly to their riders and the situation where they are used.

As with shopping for most products, when you are looking at any horse, you'll want to determine how you will be using the horse. Those who are going to be riding in rodeo events on a regular basis - in other words, a rider who will be taking his calf roping horses from one rodeo to another and competing as a professional athlete - will probably be looking at a horse differently than someone who intends to compete in only a few events during the year.

In other words, those who will be training their horses for a few weekend rodeos are more likely to be looking at American Quarter Horses that are not only adept in the rodeo ring, but that also are comfortable working throughout the week at the ranch. Of course, other individuals may be looking at calf roping horses that they have seen during rodeo events and may decide to choose a Quarter Horse as a cattle horse, solely for use on their own ranch without the intention of competing. Many ranchers find that the calf roping horse is well-trained and well-suited for average, everyday activities in the ranching business.

Of course, the right calf roping horse for one rider isn't always going to be the right horse for another. When looking at horses for sale, if you are looking at Quarter Horses particularly for calf roping, it's important to choose a horse that a good fit. In some cases, that will mean choosing a horse that's solid and gentle and will be great for those who are learning the sport. In other cases, it will mean a taller horse, for others it will mean a shorter horse: it's a matter of personal comfort and preference.

As always, you'll want to be sure that the horse is in good health, that its legs and back are strong enough to carry your weight, and that the horse you choose either is already in great shape or can easily be conditioned for your chosen competitive sport or other use.

Quarter Horse seems like a strange name for an animal, but only until you understand that Quarter horses are able to run a quarter mile faster than any other horse can run the same distance (in some situations, a Quarter Horse has been recorded at over 50 miles per hour while running at full speed), then its given name makes good sense. In part, that is a testament to the horse's athletic ability, along with its strong, well-muscled hind legs.

Combine versatility and an even temper with those characteristics (athleticism and muscle structure) and you can see why Quarter Horses are some of the most popular choices among those who are buying from a list of horses for sale. Not only is the American Quarter Horse common with a lot of general buyers, but the breed is popular overall; the majority of horses registered worldwide are registered with the American Quarter Horse Association.

Of the registered Quarter Horses, many run races thanks to their speed. Many others are participants in horse shows. Others work on ranches around the world. Still others - thanks to the Quarter Horse's compact body - are used in working with cows, calf roping, barrel racing, reining, cutting as well as other riding events. But don't think of the Quarter Horse as merely a workhorse: the Quarter Horse is equally at home in other equestrian events.

Sport and speed both create environments in which the American Quarter Horse feels at home. With Thoroughbred, Arabian and Morgan bloodlines all contributing to the genetic pool of the American Quarter Horse, it's not difficult to see why the Quarter Horse excels in most situations.

Because of this, the American Quarter Horse is often seen in show environments, in racing events, in rodeos as well as on the ranch, and even in stables that are home to horses that are owned by individuals and families, who just want a horse that they can take out for enjoyable rides on trails. It's important to note, however that just because Quarter Horses are used for ranch working purposes as well as for trail riding doesn't mean that they don't serve other purposes as well; for example, many quarter horses have been used for dressage and for jumping competitions.

As with anything else in life, not all Quarter Horses are created equal. Most grow to between 14 and 16 hands high with some growing to 17 hands. Stock Quarter Horses are agile and muscled, however they appear to be compact and a bit stocky. Halter Quarter Horses, on the other hand tend to be taller and have similar smooth muscling to the Thoroughbred.

Regardless of whether or not the horses are of the stock or halter variety, you're likely to discover that Quarter Horses are available in a wide variety of colors. Most commonly, you'll find them listed as sorrel - a brownish-red, chestnut brown shade. That, however, doesn't mean that you won't find Quarter Horses listed that are described as black, bay, gray, dun, palomino, red roan or a number of other shades. All of these colors - along with spotted or pinto colors - are found to be acceptable when it comes time to register a horse with the American Quarter Horse Association, provided the horse's parents were registered as well.

If you are looking for a family horse, lineage and registration with the American Quarter Horse Association may not be among your top priorities when you're looking through listings of horses for sale. Instead, you may be focused on a child's request for "a brown one," or on finding a Quarter Horse that is closer to 14 hands rather than 16 or 17, which will make it easier for even the youngest members of your family to ride.

On the other hand, if you are looking for an American Quarter Horse because you are looking for the right animal to help you around the ranch, when it comes to reigning in cattle, you may actually want to know whether or not the Quarter Horse is from a working line.

In other words, when you're making an effort to research Quarter Horses for any purpose, focus on your needs first and foremost. You will be more likely to find a Quarter Horse that will meet your expectations if you know what your expectations really are. This way you are sure to find exactly the Quarter Horse you need and want.

Dulla asked:

I have an Arabian and I still haven't found a saddle that fits her well. I have been using a friends western saddle. I don't want to buy a treeless and then regret it later. But I need a saddle of my own. I've also heard they can be used on a lot of different horses if that's so I could use one if I decide to use my friends Quarter horse sometimes.